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
PROCEDURE 1-1 Physical Examination
2. Venous Blood Collection
PROCEDURE 2-1 Jugular Venipuncture
PROCEDURE 2-2 Jugular Venipuncture, Inverted Technique
PROCEDURE 2-3 Cephalic Venipuncture
PROCEDURE 2-4 Lateral Saphenous Venipuncture
PROCEDURE 2-5 Medial Saphenous Venipuncture
PROCEDURE 2-6 Marginal Ear Vein Blood Collection
PROCEDURE 2-7 Applying a Continuous Glucose Monitor
3. Arterial Blood Collection
PROCEDURE 3-1 Arterial Blood Collection From the Femoral Artery
PROCEDURE 3-2 Arterial Blood Collection From the Dorsal Pedal Artery
PROCEDURE 3-3 Interpretation of Arterial Blood Gas Results
4. Injection Techniques
PROCEDURE 4-1 Intravenous Injections
PROCEDURE 4-2 Intramuscular Injections
PROCEDURE 4-3 Subcutaneous Injections
5. Vascular Access Techniques
PROCEDURE 5-1 Peripheral Venous Catheter Placement in the Cephalic Vein
PROCEDURE 5-2 Central Venous Catheter Placement in the Jugular Vein
PROCEDURE 5-3 Intraosseous Catheterization
6. Dermatologic Techniques
PROCEDURE 6-1 Flea Comb
PROCEDURE 6-2 Skin Scraping
PROCEDURE 6-3 Cellophane Tape Method
PROCEDURE 6-4 Impression Smear
PROCEDURE 6-5 Hair Pluck/Trichogram
PROCEDURE 6-6 Bacterial Culture of Skin Pustule
PROCEDURE 6-7 Fine-Needle Collection of Cells for Cytological Evaluation
PROCEDURE 6-8 Skin Biopsy
PROCEDURE 6-9 Wood's Lamp Examination
PROCEDURE 6-10 Collect Coat Brushings
PROCEDURE 6-11 Clipping Nails
7. Ear Examination
PROCEDURE 7-1 Ear Examination
8. Ocular Techniques
PROCEDURE 8-1 Complete Ophthalmic Exam
PROCEDURE 8-2 Schirmer Tear Test
PROCEDURE 8-3 Fluorescein Staining
PROCEDURE 8-4 Flushing the Nasolacrimal Ducts
PROCEDURE 8-5 Applying Topical Medications in the Eye
PROCEDURE 8-6 Tonometry
9. Respiratory System Techniques
PROCEDURE 9-1 Respiratory Examination and Auscultation
PROCEDURE 9-2 Internal Nasal Examination
PROCEDURE 9-3 Pharyngeal Examination
PROCEDURE 9-4 Laryngeal Examination
PROCEDURE 9-5 Transtracheal Wash
PROCEDURE 9-6 Transtracheal Wash
PROCEDURE 9-7 Endotracheal Wash
PROCEDURE 9-8 Bronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage
PROCEDURE 9-9 Transthoracic Lung Aspiration
PROCEDURE 9-10 Thoracentesis
PROCEDURE 9-11 Chest Tube Placement
10. Cardiac Techniques
PROCEDURE 10-1 Cardiac Examination and Auscultation
PROCEDURE 10-2 Electrocardiography
PROCEDURE 10-3 Pericardiocentesis
PROCEDURE 10-4 Blood Pressure Measurement
11. Gastrointestinal System Techniques
PROCEDURE 11-1 Oral Examination
PROCEDURE 11-2 Orogastric Intubation (Passing a Stomach Tube)
PROCEDURE 11-3 Stomach Tubing Neonates
PROCEDURE 11-4 Nasogastric/Nasoesophageal Intubation
PROCEDURE 11-5 Esophageal Feeding Tube Placement in Cats
PROCEDURE 11-6 Anal Sac Palpation and Expression
PROCEDURE 11-7 Abdominocentesis
PROCEDURE 11-8 Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage
12. Urinary System Techniques
PROCEDURE 12-1 Urine Collection by Cystocentesis
PROCEDURE 12-2 Urinary Catheterization: Male Cat
PROCEDURE 12-3 Urinary Catheterization: Male Dog
PROCEDURE 12-4 Urinary Catheterization: Female Dog
PROCEDURE 12-5 Prostatic Wash
13. Vaginal Cytology
PROCEDURE 13-1 Obtaining Vaginal Samples
14. Bone Marrow Collection
PROCEDURE 14-1 Bone Marrow Aspiration
PROCEDURE 14-2 Bone Marrow Core
15. Arthrocentesis
PROCEDURE 15-1 Arthrocentesis
16. Neurologic Examination
PROCEDURE 16-1 Neurologic Examination
17. Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection
PROCEDURE 17-1 Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection
18. Tests to Assess Clotting
PROCEDURE 18-1 Buccal Mucosal Bleeding Time
PROCEDURE 18-2 Activated Clotting Time
PROCEDURE 1-1 Physical Examination
2. Venous Blood Collection
PROCEDURE 2-1 Jugular Venipuncture
PROCEDURE 2-2 Jugular Venipuncture, Inverted Technique
PROCEDURE 2-3 Cephalic Venipuncture
PROCEDURE 2-4 Lateral Saphenous Venipuncture
PROCEDURE 2-5 Medial Saphenous Venipuncture
PROCEDURE 2-6 Marginal Ear Vein Blood Collection
PROCEDURE 2-7 Applying a Continuous Glucose Monitor
3. Arterial Blood Collection
PROCEDURE 3-1 Arterial Blood Collection From the Femoral Artery
PROCEDURE 3-2 Arterial Blood Collection From the Dorsal Pedal Artery
PROCEDURE 3-3 Interpretation of Arterial Blood Gas Results
4. Injection Techniques
PROCEDURE 4-1 Intravenous Injections
PROCEDURE 4-2 Intramuscular Injections
PROCEDURE 4-3 Subcutaneous Injections
5. Vascular Access Techniques
PROCEDURE 5-1 Peripheral Venous Catheter Placement in the Cephalic Vein
PROCEDURE 5-2 Central Venous Catheter Placement in the Jugular Vein
PROCEDURE 5-3 Intraosseous Catheterization
6. Dermatologic Techniques
PROCEDURE 6-1 Flea Comb
PROCEDURE 6-2 Skin Scraping
PROCEDURE 6-3 Cellophane Tape Method
PROCEDURE 6-4 Impression Smear
PROCEDURE 6-5 Hair Pluck/Trichogram
PROCEDURE 6-6 Bacterial Culture of Skin Pustule
PROCEDURE 6-7 Fine-Needle Collection of Cells for Cytological Evaluation
PROCEDURE 6-8 Skin Biopsy
PROCEDURE 6-9 Wood's Lamp Examination
PROCEDURE 6-10 Collect Coat Brushings
PROCEDURE 6-11 Clipping Nails
7. Ear Examination
PROCEDURE 7-1 Ear Examination
8. Ocular Techniques
PROCEDURE 8-1 Complete Ophthalmic Exam
PROCEDURE 8-2 Schirmer Tear Test
PROCEDURE 8-3 Fluorescein Staining
PROCEDURE 8-4 Flushing the Nasolacrimal Ducts
PROCEDURE 8-5 Applying Topical Medications in the Eye
PROCEDURE 8-6 Tonometry
9. Respiratory System Techniques
PROCEDURE 9-1 Respiratory Examination and Auscultation
PROCEDURE 9-2 Internal Nasal Examination
PROCEDURE 9-3 Pharyngeal Examination
PROCEDURE 9-4 Laryngeal Examination
PROCEDURE 9-5 Transtracheal Wash
PROCEDURE 9-6 Transtracheal Wash
PROCEDURE 9-7 Endotracheal Wash
PROCEDURE 9-8 Bronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage
PROCEDURE 9-9 Transthoracic Lung Aspiration
PROCEDURE 9-10 Thoracentesis
PROCEDURE 9-11 Chest Tube Placement
10. Cardiac Techniques
PROCEDURE 10-1 Cardiac Examination and Auscultation
PROCEDURE 10-2 Electrocardiography
PROCEDURE 10-3 Pericardiocentesis
PROCEDURE 10-4 Blood Pressure Measurement
11. Gastrointestinal System Techniques
PROCEDURE 11-1 Oral Examination
PROCEDURE 11-2 Orogastric Intubation (Passing a Stomach Tube)
PROCEDURE 11-3 Stomach Tubing Neonates
PROCEDURE 11-4 Nasogastric/Nasoesophageal Intubation
PROCEDURE 11-5 Esophageal Feeding Tube Placement in Cats
PROCEDURE 11-6 Anal Sac Palpation and Expression
PROCEDURE 11-7 Abdominocentesis
PROCEDURE 11-8 Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage
12. Urinary System Techniques
PROCEDURE 12-1 Urine Collection by Cystocentesis
PROCEDURE 12-2 Urinary Catheterization: Male Cat
PROCEDURE 12-3 Urinary Catheterization: Male Dog
PROCEDURE 12-4 Urinary Catheterization: Female Dog
PROCEDURE 12-5 Prostatic Wash
13. Vaginal Cytology
PROCEDURE 13-1 Obtaining Vaginal Samples
14. Bone Marrow Collection
PROCEDURE 14-1 Bone Marrow Aspiration
PROCEDURE 14-2 Bone Marrow Core
15. Arthrocentesis
PROCEDURE 15-1 Arthrocentesis
16. Neurologic Examination
PROCEDURE 16-1 Neurologic Examination
17. Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection
PROCEDURE 17-1 Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection
18. Tests to Assess Clotting
PROCEDURE 18-1 Buccal Mucosal Bleeding Time
PROCEDURE 18-2 Activated Clotting Time
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