ABSTRACT
THIS BOOK IS AIMED first and foremost at being a practical guide for the small animal veterinary practitioner. For this reason, the investigative procedures and surgical techniques described are those that the author considers practicable in a reasonably well-equipped veterinary practice. The book is not intended to be read from cover to cover. Apart from certificate or diploma examination candidates, I am aware of few people who do this. Rather, this book is meant to be referred to for practical information on a specific problem as and when the need arises, and copious cross-referencing is used to direct the reader to related material within the book. I have always investigated as well as treated my own cases and no apology is made for allocating a large section of this book to the investigation of animals with urological signs. An accurate diagnosis is the foundation upon which any treatment plan is built. Detailed descriptions of advanced techniques such as scintigraphy and MRI or CT scanning will not be described. Apart from the lack of facilities in most practices, these are specialized techniques requiring specialized equipment and expertise in their use and interpretation.
