Ever wondered what the must-read Veterinary Science Books are? Here is our take.
This list is for you if you’ve ever wanted to self-study but didn’t know what book to read.
Here are the 15 best books for veterinary students that even established veterinarians may want to read when looking for the top books on veterinary medicine.
This list helps researchers who are tucked away in their daily grind to develop their next breakthrough idea.
For a layperson, this helps you become a well-read lifetime learner.
Let’s look at the top books that explore topics such as animal behavior, common diseases, shelter medicine, and more.
Table of Contents
Must-Read Veterinary Science Books Overview
- When Elephants Weep [Get the Book]
- Unlikely Companions [Get the Book]
- Lucky Dog [Get the Book]
- Tell Me Where It Hurts [Get the Book]
- Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary [Get the Book]
- Alex & Me [Get the Book]
- In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall [Get the Book]
- The Rhino with Glue [Get the Book]
- Merck Veterinary Manual [Get the Book]
- Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy [Get the Book]
- Once Bitten [Get the Book]
- Doc, Did I Wake You Up? [Get the Book]
- Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook [Get the Book]
- All Dogs Go to Kevin [Get the Book]
- The Chicken Health Handbook [Get the Book]
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals by Jeffrey Mason and Susan McCarthy
Intro-Why you should read it
This fascinating study material draws scientific findings from anecdotal evidence to explain helpful insight into the veterinary profession.
If you want to learn more about different animal species and their relationships with human beings, you may consider When Elephants Weep.
Summary-What this book is about
This best-selling book delves into what we know about animals, including their emotions.
Mason and McCarthy’s book covers topics on loneliness, compassion, fear, shame, anger, and joy.
Key Takeaways
- This book offers detailed findings on animal emotions that are key to understanding animals.
- The author discusses human perceptions of animals’ emotions in a way that appeals to veterinarians and those interested in this field.
Unlikely Companions: Adventures of an Exotic Animal Doctor by Laurie Hess
Intro-Why you should read it
Dr. Laurie Hess recounts her personal experiences managing her family and career.
Summary-What this book is about
This interesting book offers you the chance to understand exotic animals and explore animal welfare.
The author takes us through a moment in her life as she works to reveal the disease killing her animals.
Key Takeaways
- The book provides insights into key relationships with spouses, children, coworkers, and friends.
- We should show compassion to everyone. Dr. Hess treats all her patients with love.
Lucky Dog: How Being a Veterinarian Saved My Life by Sarah Boston
Intro-Why you should read it
This book explores the journey of a veterinary surgical oncologist, Dr. Boston, when she developed thyroid cancer.
Summary-What this book is about
This book takes us through human medicine from a new viewpoint of a veterinary doctor.
Dr. Sarah Boston incorporates stories to highlight how our healthcare can benefit from veterinary medicine.
Key Takeaways
- Lucky Dog stresses the themes of love, healthcare, and illness.
- Humans have a lot to learn from animals. Therefore, this book remains invaluable to dog lovers, students, and every animal lover today.
Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing, and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon by Nick Trout
Intro-Why you should read it
Tell Me Where It Hurts is a book that talks about the struggle in veterinary practice.
Vet students and every veterinarian will appreciate the depth and the book’s unique perspective.
Summary-What this book is about
This book describes how a day in the veterinary clinic can be for veterinary doctors, making it a great read for students looking to join veterinary medicine.
Tell Me Where It Hurts outlines the advances in modern medicine, including cancer treatments, joint replacement, and organ transplants.
Key Takeaways
- Nick Trout gives his views on the controversies that have arisen in this field due to the advancements in technology.
- The internet influences veterinary medicine, including cosmetic surgery and pet care.
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary by Virginia Studdert, Clive Gay, and Douglas Blood
Intro-Why you should read it
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary will help you learn pronunciations of terms essential to every veterinarian.
Summary-What this book is about
This book provides a comprehensive dictionary for veterinarians.
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary contains more than 1000 color illustrations and terms.
Key Takeaways
- This book is valuable as reference material for veterinary students and practitioners. It comes with key terms animal doctors need to have a successful career.
- Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary is accessible, giving readers access to important information in a single glimpse.
Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence–and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene Pepperberg
Intro-Why you should read it
Written by Irene Pepperberg, Alex & Me is an interesting and emotional study material perfect for students interested in animals.
Summary-What this book is about
Alex & Me is a personal account of Irene Pepperberg. She explains important insights into animal intelligence.
Her companion, Alex, leads us into the animal world, highlighting how animals communicate, learn, and understand.
Key Takeaways
- Animals, particularly the Alex-the parrot-can understand complicated ideas.
- This book underscores the relationship between human beings and their pets.
In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall
Intro-Why you should read it
Jane Goodall, a renowned humanitarian, conservationist, and primatologist, tells her story with chimpanzees in this book.
Summary-What this book is about
She uses an exciting story that teaches about chimpanzees, their relationships, and their behaviors.
The author combines her work, travels, and wildlife research to create an insightful book for veterinary science students.
Key Takeaways
- Animals can make and use tools just like human beings.
- Her research on wild animals changed our comprehension of the human-chimpanzee relationship.
The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes, And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients by Lucy Spelman
Intro-Why you should read it
The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes is an amazing book with personal tales of veterinary technicians, making it a valuable read for veterinary students.
Summary-What this book is about
This fascinating book features animal stories, each with a unique condition, including diagnosis and treatment.
The book tells the story of animals, their distinct conditions, and the veterinary doctors who offer medical care to them.
Key Takeaways
- The book contains animals’ true stories, offering insights into the animal and human beings’ relationship.
- The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes highlights compassion, discovery, and modern medicine.
Merck Veterinary Manual 11th edition
Intro-Why you should read it
Merck’s Veterinary Manual 11th edition is up-to-date and a popular veterinary book for vet students.
Summary-What this book is about
This book utilizes tables and images to explore pet diseases, public health, poultry, zoonoses, and aquaculture.
Key Takeaways
- The 3000-paged book contains in-depth information on pets and animals you need in your veterinary career.
- Merck manual boasts a tradition of adding updates regularly to make it an authority in the field.
You might also like:
Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy by K.M. Dyce, Wolfgang Sack, and C. Wensing
Intro-Why you should read it
The Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy presents an overview of anatomy, including its structure and role in vet medicine.
Summary-What this book is about
This book offers detailed coverage of key anatomic concepts that vet students need to understand veterinary anatomy.
You’ll also learn knowledge applicable to animals’ care, including birds, sheep, goats, pigs, cats, horses, dogs, and cows.
Key Takeaways
- The author organized this book into two broad sections with logically arranged content to improve the reader’s understanding of the text.
- This book has all the anatomic concepts you need to understand vet medicine.
Once Bitten: The Adventures and Misadventures of Young Veterinary Surgeon by Nick Marsh
Intro-Why you should read it
Once Bitten follows a veterinarian, exploring his tough start to practice.
Summary-What this book is about
Nick Marsh shares the story of Alan Reece, who faces problems in his quest for a better animal and human medical world.
Alan meets vicious pets, troublesome cat owners, unfriendly farmers, and annoying children.
Key Takeaways
- The beginning of a career is the toughest and most decisive phase in all professions.
- This witty read highlights how hard decisions, long hours, harsh pet owners, tragic cases, and love affects young vets.
Doc, Did I Wake You Up? by William Green
Intro-Why you should read it
Doc, Did I Wake You Up is a unique book on this list. It offers you insights into the lives of rural veterinarians.
Summary-What this book is about
Dr. William Green recounts heartwarming, humorous, and true tales about the animals he treated during his career.
Key Takeaways
- Veterinarians, just like healthcare specialists, may need to extend their sleeping hours to show compassion to one more patient.
- Animal doctors work diligently, sometimes through harsh conditions to cure sick animals.
Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook by Donald Plumb
Intro-Why you should read it
This book is a bible for vet students and a must-read for graduate vets.
Written by Donald Plumb, this text continues to benefit vets just like when it was first published.
Summary-What this book is about
Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook 9th edition contains dosages for farm animals, cats, horses, and exotic animals.
Besides the updated monographs, this new edition also explores toxic compounds and drug sensitivity.
Key Takeaways
- The nineteenth edition comes with 16 additional essential drugs for a veterinary team.
- This book is detailed, making it one of the perfect texts for this fast-changing veterinary field.
All Dogs Go to Kevin: Everything Three Dogs Taught Me (That I Didn’t Learn in Veterinary School) by Dr. Jessica Vogelsang
Intro-Why you should read it
This exciting autobiography explores veterinary medicine from an easy-to-understand perspective.
Summary-What this book is about
Jessica goes through adolescence, school, and motherhood with her three dogs-Taffy, Emmett, and Kekoa.
Her companions educate her on various issues, including bringing her attention to her boyfriend’s wayward behaviors.
Key Takeaways
- Pets are sometimes more loyal than our friends.
- This book gives us insights into loss, family, and friends.
The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow
Intro-Why you should read it
This reference material covers health problems reported in chickens.
Gail Damerow‘s book boasts clarity, detail, and a simple publication language, making it a good book for every reader looking to learn about animal life.
Summary-What this book is about
The Chicken Health Handbook discusses diseases, including types, signs, causes, and treatment advice.
Key Takeaways
- This book contains practical advice you need to keep your chickens happy.
- The Chicken Health Handbook provides information that applies to all chickens, regardless of breed or age.
Conclusion
We recommend these top veterinary books for students, veterinary professionals, and animal lovers.
These books will enhance your understanding of different species of animals, body parts, and their history.
We aim to assist you in growing your self-study library with the best veterinary books available.
Choose between a hardcover or an e-book.
We hope this article helped you achieve that.
Q&A
Q: Who is Dr. Jeff, and why is he mentioned in veterinary science literature?
A: Dr. Jeff is a renowned veterinarian known for his expertise in veterinary internal medicine. He is mentioned in veterinary science literature due to his contributions to the field and his impact on aspiring veterinarians.
Q: What is the significance of Dr. Jeff’s legacy in veterinary science?
A: Dr. Jeff’s legacy in veterinary science is significant due to his dedication to advancing the field of internal medicine. His work has inspired countless veterinary professionals and continues to influence the next generation of practitioners.
Q: What is the relevance of Dr. Pol in veterinary science literature?
A: Dr. Pol, another prominent figure in veterinary medicine, is known for his long-running television series “The Incredible Dr. Pol.” He has contributed to popularizing veterinary science and raising awareness about animal care.
Q: How old is Dr. Pol, and why is his age relevant in the context of veterinary science?
A: Dr. Pol’s age is relevant as he has amassed a wealth of experience over the years, making him a respected authority in the field. His longevity in veterinary practice underscores the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in veterinary science.
Q: Are there any recommended veterinary science books that focus on internal medicine?
A: Yes, several must-read veterinary science books cover internal medicine topics. These books provide valuable insights and knowledge for veterinary professionals, including veterinary internal medicine nursing and internal medicine veterinary technicians.
Q: Can you recommend some must-read veterinary science books for lifetime learners?
A: Certainly! Some recommended veterinary science books include “Small Animal Internal Medicine” by Dr. Richard W. Nelson and Dr. C. Guillermo Couto, “Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine” edited by Dr. Stephen J. Ettinger and Dr. Edward C. Feldman, and “Veterinary Internal Medicine: A Case-Based Approach” by Dr. Stephen Ettinger and Dr. Edward Feldman. These books cover a wide range of topics and are essential for lifetime learners in veterinary science.
