Small Animal Clinical Techniques
- 4th Edition - May 18, 2026
- Latest edition
- Author: Susan Meric Taylor
- Language: English
Master the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures essential to small animal veterinary practice! Small Animal Clinical Techniques, 4th Edition, provides an illustrated, step-by… Read more
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Description
Description
Master the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures essential to small animal veterinary practice! Small Animal Clinical Techniques, 4th Edition, provides an illustrated, step-by-step guide to more than 100 of the most common clinical procedures performed on dogs, cats, and other small animals. For quick reference, the text is organized by body system and describes the purpose, indications and contraindications, potential complications, equipment, positioning, and restraint for each technique. Written by Susan M. Taylor, an experienced educator in Small Animal Medicine, this resource also helps you prepare for success on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
Key features
Key features
- The 100 most common procedures performed by veterinary technicians and assistants are described in a clear, concise, and highly visual way
- Consistent approach to procedures includes step-by-step instructions, principles, drawings, and color photographs to show you how to think through the procedures in a logical manner and perform the skills well
- Case studies reinforce clinical experience and help you apply your knowledge to everyday practice
- Detailed photographs and drawings provide an in-depth understanding of relevant anatomy
Readership
Readership
Veterinary technology students
Table of contents
Table of contents
1. Physical Examination
PROCEDURE1-1 Physical Examination
2. Venous Blood Collection
PROCEDURE2-1 Jugular Venipuncture
PROCEDURE2-2 Jugular Venipuncture, Inverted Technique
PROCEDURE2-3 Cephalic Venipuncture
PROCEDURE2-4 Lateral Saphenous Venipuncture
PROCEDURE2-5 Medial Saphenous Venipuncture
PROCEDURE2-6 Marginal Ear Vein Blood Collection
PROCEDURE2-7 Applying a Continuous Glucose Monitor
3. Arterial Blood Collection
PROCEDURE3-1 Arterial Blood Collection From the Femoral Artery
PROCEDURE3-2 Arterial Blood Collection From the Dorsal Pedal Artery
PROCEDURE3-3 Interpretation of Arterial Blood Gas Results
4. Injection Techniques
PROCEDURE4-1 Intravenous Injections
PROCEDURE4-2 Intramuscular Injections
PROCEDURE4-3 Subcutaneous Injections
5. Vascular Access Techniques
PROCEDURE5-1 Peripheral Venous Catheter Placement in the Cephalic Vein
PROCEDURE5-2 Central Venous Catheter Placement in the Jugular Vein
PROCEDURE5-3 Intraosseous Catheterization
6. Dermatologic Techniques
PROCEDURE6-1 Flea Comb
PROCEDURE6-2 Skin Scraping
PROCEDURE6-3 Cellophane Tape Method
PROCEDURE6-4 Impression Smear
PROCEDURE6-5 Hair Pluck/Trichogram
PROCEDURE6-6 Bacterial Culture of Skin Pustule
PROCEDURE6-7 Fine-Needle Collection of Cells for Cytological Evaluation
PROCEDURE6-8 Skin Biopsy
PROCEDURE6-9 Wood's Lamp Examination
PROCEDURE6-10 Collect Coat Brushings
PROCEDURE6-11 Clipping Nails
7. Ear Examination
PROCEDURE7-1 Ear Examination
8. Ocular Techniques
PROCEDURE8-1 Complete Ophthalmic Exam
PROCEDURE8-2 Schirmer Tear Test
PROCEDURE8-3 Fluorescein Staining
PROCEDURE8-4 Flushing the Nasolacrimal Ducts
PROCEDURE8-5 Applying Topical Medications in the Eye
PROCEDURE8-6 Tonometry
9. Respiratory System Techniques
PROCEDURE9-1 Respiratory Examination and Auscultation
PROCEDURE9-2 Internal Nasal Examination
PROCEDURE9-3 Pharyngeal Examination
PROCEDURE9-4 Laryngeal Examination
PROCEDURE9-5 Transtracheal Wash
PROCEDURE9-6 Transtracheal Wash
PROCEDURE9-7 Endotracheal Wash
PROCEDURE9-8 Bronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage
PROCEDURE9-9 Transthoracic Lung Aspiration
PROCEDURE9-10 Thoracentesis
PROCEDURE9-11 Chest Tube Placement
10. Cardiac Techniques
PROCEDURE10-1 Cardiac Examination and Auscultation
PROCEDURE10-2 Electrocardiography
PROCEDURE10-3 Pericardiocentesis
PROCEDURE10-4 Blood Pressure Measurement
11. Gastrointestinal System Techniques
PROCEDURE11-1 Oral Examination
PROCEDURE11-2 Orogastric Intubation (Passing a Stomach Tube)
PROCEDURE11-3 Stomach Tubing Neonates
PROCEDURE11-4 Nasogastric/Nasoesophageal Intubation
PROCEDURE11-5 Esophageal Feeding Tube Placement in Cats
PROCEDURE11-6 Anal Sac Palpation and Expression
PROCEDURE11-7 Abdominocentesis
PROCEDURE11-8 Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage
12. Urinary System Techniques
PROCEDURE12-1 Urine Collection by Cystocentesis
PROCEDURE12-2 Urinary Catheterization: Male Cat
PROCEDURE12-3 Urinary Catheterization: Male Dog
PROCEDURE12-4 Urinary Catheterization: Female Dog
PROCEDURE12-5 Prostatic Wash
13. Vaginal Cytology
PROCEDURE13-1 Obtaining Vaginal Samples
14. Bone Marrow Collection
PROCEDURE14-1 Bone Marrow Aspiration
PROCEDURE14-2 Bone Marrow Core
15. Arthrocentesis
PROCEDURE15-1 Arthrocentesis
16. Neurologic Examination
PROCEDURE16-1 Neurologic Examination
17. Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection
PROCEDURE17-1 Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection
18. Tests to Assess Clotting
PROCEDURE18-1 Buccal Mucosal Bleeding Time
PROCEDURE18-2 Activated Clotting Time
Index
PROCEDURE1-1 Physical Examination
2. Venous Blood Collection
PROCEDURE2-1 Jugular Venipuncture
PROCEDURE2-2 Jugular Venipuncture, Inverted Technique
PROCEDURE2-3 Cephalic Venipuncture
PROCEDURE2-4 Lateral Saphenous Venipuncture
PROCEDURE2-5 Medial Saphenous Venipuncture
PROCEDURE2-6 Marginal Ear Vein Blood Collection
PROCEDURE2-7 Applying a Continuous Glucose Monitor
3. Arterial Blood Collection
PROCEDURE3-1 Arterial Blood Collection From the Femoral Artery
PROCEDURE3-2 Arterial Blood Collection From the Dorsal Pedal Artery
PROCEDURE3-3 Interpretation of Arterial Blood Gas Results
4. Injection Techniques
PROCEDURE4-1 Intravenous Injections
PROCEDURE4-2 Intramuscular Injections
PROCEDURE4-3 Subcutaneous Injections
5. Vascular Access Techniques
PROCEDURE5-1 Peripheral Venous Catheter Placement in the Cephalic Vein
PROCEDURE5-2 Central Venous Catheter Placement in the Jugular Vein
PROCEDURE5-3 Intraosseous Catheterization
6. Dermatologic Techniques
PROCEDURE6-1 Flea Comb
PROCEDURE6-2 Skin Scraping
PROCEDURE6-3 Cellophane Tape Method
PROCEDURE6-4 Impression Smear
PROCEDURE6-5 Hair Pluck/Trichogram
PROCEDURE6-6 Bacterial Culture of Skin Pustule
PROCEDURE6-7 Fine-Needle Collection of Cells for Cytological Evaluation
PROCEDURE6-8 Skin Biopsy
PROCEDURE6-9 Wood's Lamp Examination
PROCEDURE6-10 Collect Coat Brushings
PROCEDURE6-11 Clipping Nails
7. Ear Examination
PROCEDURE7-1 Ear Examination
8. Ocular Techniques
PROCEDURE8-1 Complete Ophthalmic Exam
PROCEDURE8-2 Schirmer Tear Test
PROCEDURE8-3 Fluorescein Staining
PROCEDURE8-4 Flushing the Nasolacrimal Ducts
PROCEDURE8-5 Applying Topical Medications in the Eye
PROCEDURE8-6 Tonometry
9. Respiratory System Techniques
PROCEDURE9-1 Respiratory Examination and Auscultation
PROCEDURE9-2 Internal Nasal Examination
PROCEDURE9-3 Pharyngeal Examination
PROCEDURE9-4 Laryngeal Examination
PROCEDURE9-5 Transtracheal Wash
PROCEDURE9-6 Transtracheal Wash
PROCEDURE9-7 Endotracheal Wash
PROCEDURE9-8 Bronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage
PROCEDURE9-9 Transthoracic Lung Aspiration
PROCEDURE9-10 Thoracentesis
PROCEDURE9-11 Chest Tube Placement
10. Cardiac Techniques
PROCEDURE10-1 Cardiac Examination and Auscultation
PROCEDURE10-2 Electrocardiography
PROCEDURE10-3 Pericardiocentesis
PROCEDURE10-4 Blood Pressure Measurement
11. Gastrointestinal System Techniques
PROCEDURE11-1 Oral Examination
PROCEDURE11-2 Orogastric Intubation (Passing a Stomach Tube)
PROCEDURE11-3 Stomach Tubing Neonates
PROCEDURE11-4 Nasogastric/Nasoesophageal Intubation
PROCEDURE11-5 Esophageal Feeding Tube Placement in Cats
PROCEDURE11-6 Anal Sac Palpation and Expression
PROCEDURE11-7 Abdominocentesis
PROCEDURE11-8 Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage
12. Urinary System Techniques
PROCEDURE12-1 Urine Collection by Cystocentesis
PROCEDURE12-2 Urinary Catheterization: Male Cat
PROCEDURE12-3 Urinary Catheterization: Male Dog
PROCEDURE12-4 Urinary Catheterization: Female Dog
PROCEDURE12-5 Prostatic Wash
13. Vaginal Cytology
PROCEDURE13-1 Obtaining Vaginal Samples
14. Bone Marrow Collection
PROCEDURE14-1 Bone Marrow Aspiration
PROCEDURE14-2 Bone Marrow Core
15. Arthrocentesis
PROCEDURE15-1 Arthrocentesis
16. Neurologic Examination
PROCEDURE16-1 Neurologic Examination
17. Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection
PROCEDURE17-1 Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection
18. Tests to Assess Clotting
PROCEDURE18-1 Buccal Mucosal Bleeding Time
PROCEDURE18-2 Activated Clotting Time
Index
Product details
Product details
- Edition: 4
- Latest edition
- Published: May 18, 2026
- Language: English
About the author
About the author
ST
Susan Meric Taylor
Affiliations and expertise
Professor of Small Animal Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada