This is a gem of textbook, which at 804 pages can still be held in one hand, and yet covers in an appealing, accessible manner the detailed comparative physiology that a veterinary student needs to understand.

….I particularly liked the opening chapters on chemistry, physics and cell biology, which are usefully cross-referenced throughout the text. The comparative nature of this book covers the traditional species of interest to the veterinary surgeon….

 

….The book is clearly aimed at veterinary students who are studying physiology for the first time, and the authors do their utmost to aid comprehension and retention of important details….

 

….There are short overviews of each topic at the start of each chapter, which are well written and make each topic immediately accessible to the novice. The subsequent body of each chapter describes in detail the complexity of each system….

 

…. The book uses state-of-the art techniques to help readers and guide them through the text. There are over 3000 margin statements that summarise the major points to be gleaned from the accompanying text and provide a useful page-by-page index for the reader who wants to identify a specific topic. There are also over 2000 questions, which are highlighted in blocks on most pages and allow students to review their understanding of the take-home message provided by the text. To further motivate veterinary students, there are nearly 200 examples of the underlying physiology behind common clinical conditions, such as heart failure in dogs and bloat in cattle….”

 

….This is a modern text, and as such the figures are excellent and include enough anatomy to make sense of the accompanying physiology. Crossreferencing between each chapter is extensive, and the index is clearly set out and seems systematic….

 

.…This is an excellent modern text for the veterinary student and a good starting point for those wanting to study for further postgraduate qualifications in veterinary medicine.