SVM LEADER Team
Veterinary Medical Library
Purdue University
LynnHall,
Rm 1133
West Lafayette, IN  47907
(765) 494-2853

Comments:
G. Stephens

The flow of knowledge & information in the science of veterinary medicine is shown by black arrows. 
Blue arrows show the flow of knowledge & information into veterinary web sites.

 Journal articles:

• Original research published in scientific journals; reaches a wide audience rapidly.
• Most current source for information on diagnosis and therapy.
  • Journals produced by national professional associations, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), contain more material of interest to practicing veterinarians. 
    • Examples: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, Veterinary record.
  • Associations and veterinary specialty organizations also produce journals containing reports of basic or specialized research. 
    • Examples:  American journal of veterinary research, British veterinary journal, Avian diseases, Equine veterinary journal, Veterinary parasitology.

Review articles:

• Organize and summarize new information drawn from journal articles as well as earlier review articles and books.
• Bridge the gap between the original research published as journal articles and the more formal presentation of current knowledge in textbooks.
• Commonly deal with topics in great depth.
• Usually contain extensive bibliographies of earlier journal articles, book chapters, and books.
• Uses/Purposes: 
  • Acquiring needed information in unfamiliar fields.
  • Updating one's knowledge of a subject.
• Examples found in:
  • Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian
  • Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small animal, Large animal, Equine, & Exotics sections.
  • In practice [British]

Textbooks and Monographs/Books:

• Compile, organize and summarize information found in journal and review articles as well as earlier monographs/books and textbooks. 
• Are only as current as two to three years prior to the date published.
• Veterinary medicine's scope is so wide that textbooks in the field frequently are multi-authored and focus either on:
  • Medicine and surgery of particular groups of animals, or
    • Examples: Rebhun's Diseases of Dairy Cattle, Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery.
  • Specific veterinary specialties:
    • Veterinary specialty textbooks and monographs/books usually emphasize either:
      • Basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology, cytology, microbiology, pathology,immunology, parasitology, etc.) or
        • Example: Dyce's Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy
      • Clinical sciences (surgery, radiology, clinical pathology, ophthalmology, dermatology,oncology, etc.).
        • Example: Morrison's Cancer in Dogs and Cat

Reference books are resources for concise/quick [not usually comprehensive] information, such as:

• Dictionaries define words or terms used in specific disciplines such as medicine or veterinary medicine.
  • Example:  Blood and Studdert's Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary. 
• Single volume reference books provide an overview of major fields of practice as well as diagnosis
• Example:  Tilley's 5-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline.
• Drug books provide information on pharmacology, uses, adverse effects, drug interactions, etc.
  • Example:  Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
• Current therapy books provide brief articles on clinical problems, approaches to diagnosis, and treatment.
  • Example: Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy [Small Animal]

Veterinary Web Sites on the Internet:

• Publish either original material or compiles or summarizes print formats (e.g. journal articles, textbooks, reference books) into web pages to reach a wide audience instantaneously.
• Web sites of professional veterinary organizations, societies, or colleges as well as those of the government or universities provide the most accurate information. 
  • Examples: American Animal Hospital Association, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, US Animal and Plant Heath Inspection Service.
  • Always check the currency and authority of the information provided in web pages. 
    • See "ABCs of Evaluating Web Sites" for more tips.
  • Example:  NetVet/Electronic Zoo   http://netvet.wustl.edu/