UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Book of Horses: A Complete Medical Reference Guide for Horses and Foals
Knowledge of equine diseases has exploded in the last few years, and the goal of this book is to provide basic information for horse owners who want to understand how to keep their horses in good health and at peak performance. It was written by 37 experts from the faculty and staff of the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.The book is divided into eight parts. The first two cover selecting and caring for a horse. The next three deal with nutrition, reproduction, and the equine body. Parts 6 and 7 cover infectious diseases, cancer, geriatrics, and home care. The final part consists of appendixes on zoonotic diseases, vaccinations, diagnostic tests, transportation, and a glossary. A detailed index concludes the book. Black-and-white photographs and drawings illustrate entries; there is also an insert of color drawings of horse anatomy.A good example of the type of information contained in this work can be seen in chapter 7, "Feeding Horses," which covers the nutritional needs of horses in general and specific requirements for pregnant mares, weanlings, performing horses, older horses, and orphan foals. The next chapter covers diseases caused by diet. All the articles are written in simple terms but are detailed enough even for the novice horse owner. For those terms that may require additional explanation, the glossary gives good one-to two-sentence definitions.TheUC Davis Book of Horsesis an excellent work with clear guidance on when to call in a professional and when a problem can be treated by an owner. It is a suitable purchase for any public or academic library that serves a population of horse owners.