Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets and Wildlife, 3rd Edition

Simon J. Girling 

ISBN: 9781119868620

Wiley-Blackwell

January 2025

512 pages

Description

Learn the principles and practice of veterinary nursing for exotic pets and wildlife

The third edition of Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets and Wildlife is a revised and expanded update of the essential text for veterinary nurses caring for exotic pets and wildlife species.

Organised into logical sections, the text covers the anatomy and physiology, housing, husbandry, handling, nutrition, diseases, therapeutics, diagnostic imaging, and critical care medicine of a wide variety of exotic species, as well as a an entirely new section on wildlife treatment and rehabilitation.

From small mammals like rabbits and mice to avian species, reptiles, amphibians, and Eurasian wildlife species, the author includes everything you need to succeed as a veterinary nurse studying for the RCVS nursing syllabus, as well as postgraduate and advanced programs in Veterinary Nursing of Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife species.

Readers will find:

• Information on common exotic pet species, such as rabbits, rodents, African pygmy hedgehogs, lizards, snakes, tortoises and cage birds

• An entirely new section on wildlife species, including chemical restraints, therapeutics, and rehabilitation

• A focus on evidence-based care practice and the latest guidance for veterinary nursing

• Appendices, including nursing care plans for exotic pets and wildlife with filled out example cases

Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets and Wildlife is essential reading for both students and practitioners, and the new edition remains the gold standard in the field of veterinary nursing.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Abbreviations viii

Part I Small Mammals 1

Chapter 1 Basic Small Mammal Anatomy and Physiology 2

Chapter 2 Small Mammal Housing, Husbandry and Rearing 28

Chapter 3 Small Mammal Handling and Chemical Restraint 38

Chapter 4 Small Mammal Nutrition 52

Chapter 5 Common Diseases of Small Mammals 61

Chapter 6 An Overview of Small Mammal Therapeutics 99

Chapter 7 Small Mammal Diagnostic Imaging 119

Chapter 8 Small Mammal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine 131

Part II Avian Species 141

Chapter 9 Basic Avian Anatomy and Physiology 142

Chapter 10 Avian Housing and Husbandry 164

Chapter 11 Avian Handling and Chemical Restraint 171

Chapter 12 Avian Nutrition 186

Chapter 13 Common Avian Diseases 201

Chapter 14 An Overview of Avian Therapeutics 226

Chapter 15 Avian Diagnostic Imaging 240

Chapter 16 Avian Emergency and Critical Care Medicine 250

Part III Reptiles and Amphibians 261

Chapter 17 Basic Reptile and Amphibian Anatomy and Physiology 262

Chapter 18 Reptile and Amphibian Housing, Husbandry and Rearing 284

Chapter 19 Reptile and Amphibian Handling and Chemical Restraint 290

Chapter 20 Reptile and Amphibian Nutrition 304

Chapter 21 Common Reptile and Amphibian Diseases 315

Chapter 22 An Overview of Reptile and Amphibian Therapeutics 334

Chapter 23 Reptile and Amphibian Diagnostic Imaging 350

Chapter 24 Reptile and Amphibian Emergency and Critical Care Medicine 360

Part IV Wildlife 369

Chapter 25 Common Mammalian Wildlife Species Biology, Anatomy and Physiology 370

Chapter 26 Wildlife Species Temporary Captive Husbandry and Nutrition 392

Chapter 27 Wildlife Handling and Chemical Restraint 410

Chapter 28 Common Wildlife Disease 424

Chapter 29 An Overview of Wildlife Therapeutics 452

Chapter 30 Wildlife Emergency and Critical Care Medicine 466

Chapter 31 Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release Considerations 474

Appendix 1 Utilising Nursing Care Plans in the Care of Exotic Pets and Wildlife 479

Appendix 2 Legislation Affecting Exotic Pets and Wildlife in the UK 484

Appendix 3 Useful Resources 486

Index 487

About the Author

Simon J. Girling is Director of Girling & Fraser Ltd., as well as Head of Veterinary Services at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a Visiting Professor at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow and Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, UK.