A practical reference for the general veterinary clinician, Small Animal Pediatrics: The First 12 Months of Life compiles into a single location the latest information in the rapidly developing field of canine and feline pediatrics. Editors Michael Peterson, DVM, MS, and Michelle Kutzler, DVM, PhD, DACT are joined by more than 40 expert contributors in providing coverage from prenatal care to one year of age. For ease of use, the text is divided into four sections. A General Considerations section opens the book by covering prenatal care of the bitch and queen, birth, normal physical examinations, growth, husbandry, nutrition, care of orphans, neonatal mortality, behavior, emergency and critical care, and immunology. The second section, Common Infectious Diseases, covers bacterial, viral, fungal, rickettsial, and parasitic infections. The third section describes diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the young patient including radiology, ultrasound, aesthetic and surgical considerations, pain management, pharmacology, and clinical pathology. Finally, the fourth section covers a variety of organ systems with discussions on normal development, congenital conditions, and acquired diseases. The text also includes information that is usually difficult to find, including a pediatric formulary, care of orphan puppies, clinical pathology values, prenatal care, and normal growth and development guidelines. This book will be a significant asset to any veterinary library! Offers a practical, clinically oriented resource for the unique diagnostic and treatment challenges posed by pediatric and juvenile animal patients. Includes comprehensive coverage of all special problems encountered in pet management from birth through the first 12 months of life. Provides clear, step-by-step guidelines for important clinical procedures and techniques for the most vulnerable of small animal patients. Covers procedures such as intraosseous catheterization and fluid therapy, venipuncture, and tube feeding. Includes guidelines for designing and implementing a successful pediatric wellness program tailored to your own practice. Discusses infectious diseases in young animals, zoonotic potential, and human public health concerns. Provides key new information on puppy and kitten behavioral development including guidance for prevention and intervention for problem behaviors, the leading cause of pet euthanasia. Includes guidelines for kennel and cattery health management as well as shelter medicine health considerations. Discusses controversial health and ethical issues in veterinary pediatrics, such as ear cropping, tail docking, declawing, and early spay/neuter surgery (including both pro and con positions). Includes the latest recommendations for nutritional care of healthy and "special needs" puppies and kittens as well as the post-parturient and nursing dam. Offers an easy-to-use, well-organized format for quick and easy access to the most relevant information.

This revised and expanded reference is a valuable aid for the practicing veterinary clinician in diagnosing and determining treatment for toxic exposures in small animals, and for veterinary students as a supplement to their classroom instruction. It contains chapters addressings nontraditional areas of toxicology not covered in conventional toxicology texts. It also covers areas of toxicology which seem basic but are rarely discussed, such as taking a toxicological history, establishing a minimum database, providing supportive care, and managing emergency treatment of the poisoned patient. The book is organized into three sections, including 20 new chapters and new topics such as grapes and raisins, lilies, "Christmas time" plants, mercury, and accidental poisoning in non-traditional pets. Comprehensive coverage of toxins/poisons includes the full range of substances from acetaminophen to zinc, including home products, prescription medicines, recreational drugs, and more. Guidelines to evaluation, diagnosis and treatment include examinations of the source, toxic dose, toxicokinetics, clinical signs, minimum database, confirming tests, treatment progress and differential diagnosis for each specific toxicant. Coverage of common poisonous substances includes grapes and raisins, nicotine, mercury, mushrooms, Christmas-time plants, and snake and spider venoms. Toxicological Concepts section provides information on toxicologic principles such as history taking, providing supportive care, and managing emergency treatment. General Exposures section addresses nontraditional toxicology such as indoor environmental air, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and toxicities in pregnant and lactating animals. Miscellaneous Toxicant Groups section covers commonly encountered specific toxicants, the proper use of diagnostic laboratories, use of human poison control centers, and antidotes for specific toxins. More than 50 international contributors provide up-to-date, authoritative advice on treating poisonings and intoxications. 8 NEW chapters cover topics including legal considerations in toxicology cases, responding to mass exposures, and poisonings in birds, small mammals, and geriatric patients. NEW color insert shows 85 of the most commonly encountered toxic substances for at-a-glance identification. UPDATED Signs and Symptoms index makes it easier to find information on a toxic agent by presenting signs rather than requiring the formulation of a diagnosis. UPDATED information on agents most likely to cause a toxic reaction includes natural flea products and an expanded section on human medications. NEW quick-access format with bold headings and convenient tables and boxes allows quick retrieval of information in emergency situations.

Today's Air Force faces manning cuts and constrained budgets, while the global war on terror continues to produce an extremely high operations tempo. Many in the Air Force believe that these force shaping initiatives and empty coffers constitute a serious crisis, but the real danger to the Air Force institution might be lurking in the shadows. The actual crisis might lie in the bedrock of the Air Force officer corps with its Company Grade Officers (CGOs) . . . the lieutenants and captains. At any given time, USAF CGOs are conducting military operations in over 100 countries worldwide. The challenges they face are immense, and the nation expects and needs them to perform at the highest levels of excellence each and every day. Unfortunately, today's CGOs are not adequately prepared to deal with the leadership challenges they are encountering in a more complex warfighting environment. CGOs in 2007 have greatly increased developmental needs compared to those of their pre-9/11 counterparts. They must be tactical leaders of a leaner, smarter, more lethal team. Current Basic Developmental Education (BDE) programs accomplish much, but they are not enough. The increased developmental needs of today's CGOs cannot be satisfied with two schools, the Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC) and the Squadron Officer School (SOS). Combined, these two programs only provide eleven weeks of Professional Military Education (PME) out of an officer's first nine to ten years of service. Frequent deployments, early Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) leadership opportunities, and a worldwide scope requiring depth in culture and language have presented young officers with unique challenges.