Page 10 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
VetBooks.ir ix

The fields of equine medicine, surgery, and repro- clinically relevant information that is required for
duction have developed massively over the last 25–30 good case management, but with enough concise
years and new knowledge and techniques for the information about aetiology and pathophysiology to
diagnosis and treatment of all sorts of conditions enable readers to understand the conditions and the
and diseases continue to be added. This new knowl- rationale for diagnostic and treatment options. Some
edge is presented initially in scientific papers and conditions that produce multisystem manifestations
congresses around the world and gradually is dis- may be discussed in more than one chapter, with
tilled down to appear in new editions of textbooks. each chapter providing a different emphasis, thereby
There continues to be published an increasing num- ensuring a complete overall content, but with less
ber of equine-based textbooks, often concentrating duplication.
on one body system and written from a specialist The scope of equine veterinary medicine makes
point of view. Very few have been produced in the it impossible for any one book to act as the sole
last 10 years that specifically address the needs of the resource for all areas. With this in mind and consid-
clinician who is not a full-time equine specialist or ering the target readership of this book, complicated
the equine-interested undergraduate or postgradu- or advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques are
ate veterinary student. This textbook is designed and mentioned, but not covered in detail; however, fur-
written with these colleagues very much in mind. ther reading lists are provided to guide the reader to
The breadth of content in this book is large, cover- additional information. These include material such
ing a comprehensive range of topics in equine medi- as reviews deemed to be of particularly high quality
cine, surgery, and reproduction, and it is organised by chapter authors, as well as selected primary scien-
into chapters using a systems-based approach. Each tific reports and websites.
individual system is introduced with precise infor- Patterns of disease can be highly variable between
mation on the relevant basic anatomy and physiol- different geographic regions, and while no book
ogy, standard clinical examination techniques, and can provide a comprehensive overview of all geo-
useful differential diagnostic aids. The remainder graphical differences, the editors and authors have
of the chapter is split up into diseases and disorders endeavoured to make the chapters in this book use-
that are pertinent to that system. The diseases and ful and relevant to a broad international audience. It
disorders are grouped together, either anatomically is hoped that in the future this aim will be enhanced
or based on presenting clinical signs, into sections by the translation of the text into several of the major
where specific problems or diseases are presented in languages of the world.
a strict format that is common to the whole book. A unique feature of this book is the inclusion of
Thus each disorder is presented under the individual a large number of images, including colour pho-
headings of definition/overview, aetiology/patho- tographs, radiographic and ultrasound images,
physiology, clinical presentation, differential diag- and diagrams. Images are provided for the major-
nosis, diagnosis, management, and prognosis. These ity of topics and are intended to complement the
systems-based chapters are complemented by addi- text on the basis that a ‘picture speaks a thousand
tional chapters on specific areas such as behaviourial words’. The inclusion of clinical images can be use-
problems and wounds. The focus is on providing ful in further understanding the pathogenesis and