American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Inc.

www.abvp.com | 618 Church Street, Suite 220 | Nashville, Tennessee 37219 | Phone: 615-250-7794 | Fax: 615-254-7047

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ABVP Self-Study Guide for Certification Self-study is a large part of preparation for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) certification.

Your study emphasis will vary with your individual experience and academic training. The fundamental anatomic and physiologic features of your chosen species must be understood in order to understand and apply more advanced information.

Your Examination Blueprint

A “blueprint” for your examination can be found on the ABVP website (http://www.abvp.com) under the “Certification” tab (just click on the selected species). The blueprint provides a breakdown, by percentage, of areas from which examination items will be selected. Be sure to review this blueprint for your species, as well as review the Applicant Handbook and other useful information found on the ABVP website (http://www.abvp.com) under the “Resources” tab.

Recommended Study Techniques

As you have discovered during veterinary school, individual study techniques and methods vary. Some suggestions:

• Form a study group. Online study groups work well for many candidates.

Recommendations for study groups:

o Divide the recommended reading list, having each member be responsible for reading and summarizing text chapters or journal articles

o Quiz each other after various sections to broaden the information base from each section • Start early! It is not until you begin studying that the amount of work required will be apparent. Begin early to

ensure you have sufficient time to prepare. • Use the examination blueprint and self-evaluation form to develop study objectives. This will give you an

alternate method for approaching and assimilating necessary information that differs from reading a physiology text or reading a series of journal articles chronologically. For example, you may have as objectives:

o Explain avian renal physiology as it differs from mammalian o Describe the dog pancreas anatomically and physiologically o Discuss the common infectious respiratory diseases of cats

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Recommended Reading and Study Advice

Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that aren’t listed.

Recommended reading lists include the texts and journals from which many of the examination items will be developed. They encompass both basic species science and the most recent research. These documents were selected for their comprehensive representation of veterinary knowledge regarding the particular species. Our recommended reading lists include additional suggestions for each species regarding areas of study.

Important: To ensure you are receiving the most complete information, be sure to check the ABVP website (http://www.abvp.com/exam.htm) for updates once you begin your studies.

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Avian Practice Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that aren’t listed.

Examination items will be taken in large part from the sources designated in the recommended reading list.

Additional citations for examination items may include veterinary informational sources common to multiple species, such as the most current editions of Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook and the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Journals

(The last five years ending Jan. 1 of the year the exam is taken).

American Journal of Veterinary Research (http://www.avma.org/journals/ajvr/ajvr_index.asp)

Avian Diseases (http://avdi.allenpress.com/avdionline/?request=get-current-issue&issn=0005-2086)

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javma?cookieSet=1)

Journal of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (http://www.aav.org/publications.html)

Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery (http://www.aav.org/publications.html)

Journal of Wildlife Diseases (http://www.jwildlifedis.org)

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-archive&issn=1042-7260&ct=1)

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/707222/description#description) Formerly, Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine

Vet Clinics of North America - Exotics (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/623252/description - description)

Monographs

Note: ABVP recognizes the scarcity of several of these texts. Please bear in mind that these are recommended, not required, and that most information on monographs can be found in more than one publication.

Atlas of Avian Radiographic Anatomy, Smith and Smith

Atlas of Diagnostic Radiology of Exotic Pets, Rubel, Isenbugel and Wolvekamp

Atlas of Radiographic Anatomy and Diagnosis of Cage Birds, Krautwald et al.

Avian and Exotic Hematology and Cytology, Third Edition, Campbell and Ellis

Avian Medicine: Principles and Application, Ritchie, Harrison and Harrison

Sturkie's Avian Physiology, Fifth Edition, Academic Press

Avian Surgical Anatomy, Orosz, Ensley and Haynes

Avian Viruses: Function and Control, Ritchie

Birds, Their Structure and Function, Second Edition, King and McLelland

Diseases of Poultry, 10th Edition, Calnek

Avian Medicine and Surgery, Altman, Clubb, Dorrestein and Quesenberry

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Diseases & Disorders of the Domestic Fowl & Turkey, Color Atlas of, Second Edition, Randall

Avian Anatomy, a Color Atlas of, McLelland

Psittacine Aviculture, Perspectives, Techniques and Research, Schubot and Clubb

Exotic Animal Formulary, Third Edition, Carpenter

BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds, Second Edition, Chitty and Harcourt-Brown

Clinical Avian Medicine, (Two Volumes) Harrison and Lightfoot

Manual of Avian Practice, Rupley

Avian Medicine, Samour

Manual of Avian Medicine, Olsen and Orosz

Self-Assessment Color Review of Avian Medicine, Altman and Forbes

Ratite Management, Medicine and Surgery, Tully, Simon and Krieger

Manual of Parrot Behavior, Luescher

Exotic Pet Behavior - Birds, Reptiles and Small Mammals, Bays, Lightfoot and Mayer

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Beef Cattle Practice Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that aren’t listed.

Advice From Those Who Have Been Certified

Those who have been certified in this practice category reported sharing a number of common factors. Advice based on those attributes:

• Start preparing early. One year seems to be a recommended minimum. • Study frequently. Set aside time daily to study. Most successful candidates reported spending one to three

hours a day in preparation. • Get organized. Assess yourself and focus on your weaknesses when planning your study strategy. Use the

exam blueprint as you plan. • Try to use your daily case load to focus your study habits. It is easier to relate test questions to actual case

work. • Self-assessment questions in The Compendium and in Pratt's Q & A for Food Animal Practitioners may be

helpful. However, questions on the ABVP exams may be more difficult than these self-assessment questions. • You can't possibly read all the texts and publications listed as references. Concentrate on a few primary

references and use others as needed to fill in deficiencies. The list is not exclusive. • Consider the various aspects of the process, credentialing and testing, to be challenges instead of stumbling

blocks. • Remember, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the massive amounts of material to cover. Set a broad and careful

plan and stick to it. • Follow the credentialing guidelines to the letter. • On test day, get a good night's sleep, come to the test relaxed and stay calm. Realize that you have three

chances to pass all three parts of the exam.

The following study guide includes ratings by successful candidates.

Recommended Textbooks (latest editions)

Key: R - Recommended, SR - Strongly Recommended, O - Optional

Veterinary Medicine, Radostits, Blood and Gay — SR

Herd Health: Food Animal Production Medicine, Radostits, Leslie and Fetrow — SR

Large Animal Internal Medicine, 1996 Edition, Smith — SR

Current Veterinary Therapy: Food Animal Practice, Howard — SR

Current Therapy in Theriogenology, Morrow — SR

Veterinary Obstetrics and Genital Diseases, Roberts — R

Abnormal Morphology of Bovine Spermatozoa, Barth and Oko — O

Principles of Epidemiology, Seedle, or other basic epidemiology text — SR

Veterinary Immunology, Tizard — SR

Animal Feeding and Nutrition, Jurgens — R

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Nitrogen and Energy Nutrition of Ruminants, Shirley — O

Principals of Accounting, Strawser or other basic accounting text — SR

Hagan/Bruner's Microbiology and Infectious Diseases — R

Handbook of Clinical Veterinary Pharmacology, Upson; or other basic pharmacology text — R

Textbook of Large Animal Surgery, Hendrickson — R

Bovine and Equine Urogenital Surgery, Walker and Vaughn — R

Basic Physiology and Anatomy texts — O

Beef Production Medicine, Bechtol and Kidenour — R

Farm Management, Boehlje — R

Financial Management: Theory and Practice, Bringham and Gapenski — O

Food Safety and Quality Assurance: Foods of Animal Origin, Hubert and Hagstad — R

Merck Veterinary Manual — R

Self-Assessment Questions and Answers for Food Animal Practitioners, Pratt — R

Food Animal Surgery, Noordsy — O

Periodicals

Key: R - Recommended, SR - Strongly Recommended, O – Optional

National Research Council (NRC), Beef Cattle, National Academy of Sciences — SR

Veterinary Accreditation: A Reference Guide for Practitioners — R

Report: National Beef Quality Audit, 1994 — R

Veterinary Clinics of North America - Food Animal Practice — SR

Compendium on Continuing Education — SR

Compendium's Food Animal Medicine and Management — SR

Large Animal Practice — R

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) - Food Animal Features — R

Journal of Animal Science — O

American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP)

Proceedings of Annual Meetings — SR

Bovine Practitioner, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners — SR

Society for Theriogenology Proceedings of Annual Meetings — R

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Canine and Feline Practice Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that aren’t listed.

Recommended Reading Lists and Study Advice

Journals

The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, published by Veterinary Learning Systems (compendiumvet.com or 800/426-9119). The multiple-choice questions after each article help reinforce the material and have a similar format to the ABVP exam, so test-taking skills can be practiced.

The Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice, published by Elsevier (vetsmall.theclinics.com or 800/654-2452).

The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and The Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association are research-oriented journals that include helpful topic reviews.

Research Studies

• The exam does not include specific research studies • Due to the length of time between formulation of an exam item, validation and organization into the databank,

the examination will not reflect very recent research studies • The exam is more likely to include information from journals published in the previous two to ten year time

period

Advice and Resources

• The Veterinary Information Network (www.vin.com or 800/700-4636) offers many helpful resources for examination preparation, including continuing education courses, rounds sessions, message boards, abstracts from literature, proceedings and search capabilities.

• ABVP’s message board, listed under Associations and Foundations (http://www.abvp.com/exam.htm). • The International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org) maintains a library of books, proceedings and

articles. • The American Veterinary Medical Association (www.avma.org) has valuable information on its website and in

its members-only section (NOAH). • National conferences and university continuing education seminars may present ABVP-level material. Note:

state and local conferences are generally not as valuable. Check the current information about ABVP meetings at http://abvp.com/events.htm#workshops.

• Studying with others is an excellent way to stay on track. Your regent is also happy to help facilitate the study process.

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Textbooks

The following is a list of topics typically covered on the examination along with suggested textbooks. The newest editions of these texts are recommended, and other recently published books may also be helpful. Candidates are not expected to purchase or read all of these texts, emphasis should be on the areas of medicine and surgery where candidates feel deficient.

General Medicine

Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIV, Bonagura and Twedt

Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIII Small Animal Practice, Bonagura

The Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline, Fourth Edition, Tilley and Smith

General Medicine and Surgery

Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice, Third Edition, Birchard and Sherding

Handbook of Small Animal Practice, Fifth Edition, Morgan

Internal Medicine

Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine, Volume 5, August

Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Sixth Edition, Ettinger and Feldman

Small Animal Internal Medicine, Third Edition, Nelson and Couto

Clinical Medicine of the Dog and Cat, Schaer

Behavior

Canine and Feline Behavioral Therapy, Second Edition, Hart B.L., Hart L.A. and Bain

Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat, Second Edition, Landsberg, Hunthausen and Ackerman

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine, Horwitz, Mills and Heath

Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior, Hortwitz and Neilson

Cardiovascular

Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiology, Fourth Edition, Tilley et al.

Cardiovascular Disease in Small Animal Medicine, Ware

Endocrine

Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction, Third Edition, Feldman and Nelson

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Endocrinology, Third Edition, Mooney and Peterson

Endocrinology for the Small Animal Practitioner, Panciera and Carr

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Gastrointestinal

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology, Hall et al.

Small Animal Gastroenterology, Steiner

Handbook of Small Animal Gastroenterology, Second Edition, Tams

Genetic

Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs, Ackerman

Hemic/Lymphatic

Diagnostic Cytology and Hematology of the Dog and Cat, Third Edition, Cowell et al.

Manual of Canine and Feline Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Day, Mackin and Littlewood

Immunologic

Veterinary Immunology: An Introduction, Eighth Edition, Tizard

Clinical Immunology of the Dog and Cat, Second Edition, Day

Infectious

Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, Third Edition, Greene

The Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion, Canine and Feline Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, Barr and Bowman

Integument/Mammary

BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Dermatology, Second Edition, Foil and Foster

Muller & Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology, Sixth Edition, Scott, Miller, Griffin

Small Animal Dermatology, Second Edition, Medleau and Hnilica

Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat, Second Edition, Gross, Ihrke, Walder et al.

Metabolic

Textbook of Veterinary Physiology, Fourth Edition, Cunningham and Klein

Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders, Third Edition, DiBartola

Small Animal Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods, Fourth Edition, Willard and Tvedten

Musculoskeletal

British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Manual of Canine and Feline Musculoskeletal Disorders, Houlton et al.

Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, Third Edition, Slatter

Small Animal Surgery, Third Edition, Fossum

Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Repair, Fourth Edition, Piermattei et al.

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Nervous

Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Neurology, Bagley

Neurology for the Small Animal Practitioner, Chrisman

Atlas and Textbook of Small Animal Neurology, Jaggy

Handbook of Veterinary Neurology, Fourth Edition, Oliver, Lorenz and Kornegay

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology, Platt and Olby

Nutritional

Manual of Veterinary Dietetics, Buffington et al.

Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, Fourth Edition, Hand et al.

Oral/Dentition

Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner, Gorrel

The Practice of Veterinary Dentistry: A Team Effort, Bellows

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dentistry, Third Edition, Tutt et al.

Veterinary Dentistry, Wiggs and Lobprise

Pathologic

Introduction to Veterinary Pathology, Third Edition, Cheville

Thomson's Special Veterinary Pathology, Third Edition, McGavin et al.

Pharmacologic

Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Boothe

Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Eighth Edition, Adams

Reproductive

Canine and Feline Theriogenology, Johnston, Kustritz and Olson

Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction, Third Edition, Feldman and Nelson

Respiratory

Textbook of Respiratory Disease in Dogs and Cats, King

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Special Senses

Diagnostic Atlas of Veterinary Ophthalmology, Second Edition, Barnett

Color Atlas of Canine and Feline Ophthalmology, Dziezyc and Millichamp

Veterinary Ophthalmology, Fourth Edition, Gelatt

Essentials of Veterinary Ophthalmology, Second Edition, Gelatt

BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology, Second Edition, Jones and Crispin

Slatter’s Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmology, Fourth Edition, Maggs et al.

Ear, Nose, Throat and Tracheobronchial Diseases in Dogs and Cats, Van Haagen

Ear Diseases of the Dog and Cat, Harvey et al.

Small Animal Ear Diseases: An Illustrated Guide, Second Edition, Gotthelf

Surgical (General)

Small Animal Surgery, Third Edition, Fossum

Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, Third Edition, Slatter

Toxicologic

Handbook of Small Animal Toxicology and Poisonings, Second Edition, Gfeller and Messonnier

Small Animal Toxicology, Second Edition, Peterson and Talcott

Urogenital

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Nephrology and Urology, Second Edition, Elliott and Grauer

Urological Disorders of the Dog and Cat, Holt

Zoonotic

Handbook of Zoonoses - Identification and Prevention, Colville and Berryhill

Zoonoses: Recognition, Control, and Prevention, Hugh-Jones et al.

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Dairy Practice Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that are not listed.

Study Advice

Becoming credentialed in the Dairy Practice category of ABVP requires the demonstration of quality practice developed over a period of time, through the completion of a qualified residency program or six years in private practice. Through this training, the qualified practitioner should be competent in certain skills that are the sign of quality dairy practice. This minimum level of knowledge and skill includes a sound understanding of the following:

• The parameters involved in the economics of the dairy industry and how these economic parameters interact with the production parameters of the dairy industry

• The various diseases that affect the dairy animal and how these varied disorders can impact the economics of the dairy unit as a whole. (All of this needs to be tempered with an understanding of the economic impact of a particular disease.) This includes how to:

o Conduct a complete physical examination o Correlate the physical findings with the history given o Formulate a diagnosis, understand the pathophysiology, pathology and epidemiology of the disease o Deliver the proper treatment and make the proper recommendations for prevention and control

• Collection of pertinent production data for analysis of the production unit in terms of herd performance and economic health. Utilization of this analysis to troubleshoot herd-based disorders, deliver solutions and measure response to recommendations should also be developed through a qualified practice.

• Familiarity with the various aspects and components of herd health, reproduction and economic health programs that are the mark of quality dairy practice, including:

o Calf raising and replacement management o Nutrition, feed inventory control and feedbunk management o Infectious disease control o Dairy economic health parameters and analysis o Environmental impacts on the dairy production unit o Milk and dairy beef quality control o Epidemiology o Federal regulations pertaining to the dairy industry o Risk management and hazard analysis and control

The qualified dairy practitioner should be familiar with the differences in dairy production units due to geographic and climatic differences across the country and how these differences affect the productivity and profitability of the dairy production unit.

Specialty and Practice Examinations

These examinations cover a wide range of topics, including the following disciplines: • Anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology • Disease processes, etiological agents, diagnostics, therapeutics and pharmacology • Medicine, surgery and public health/preventative medicine • Animal production, toxicology and immunology

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The Practical Examination covers: • Production analysis • Economic analysis • Epidemiology, mastitis control, Theriogenology and nutrition • Replacement management and disease control

Your own preparation will be unique because of the distinct differences in your experience and orientation.

Textbooks

Herd Health: Food Animal Production Medicine, Radostits, Leslie and Fetrow

Current Therapy (1-4): Food Animal Practice, Howard

Current Therapy in Theriogenology, Morrow

Current Therapy in Large Animal Theriogenology, Youngquist

Lameness in Cattle, Greenough

Large Animal Internal Medicine, Smith

Large Dairy Herd Management, Van Horne et al.

Large Animal Clinical Nutrition, Ralston and Naylor

Food Animal Surgery, Noordsy

The Merck Veterinary Manual, Ninth Edition

Veterinary Medicine, Rhadostits et al.

Periodicals

Bovine Practitioner (http://www.aabp.org/about/about.asp)

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice (http://www.vetfood.theclinics.com)

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javma)

American Journal of Veterinary Research (http://www.avma.org/journals/ajvr/ajvr_index.asp)

Journal of Dairy Science (http://jds.fass.org)

Journal of Animal Science (http://jas.fass.org)

Theriogenology (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/525024/description - description)

Other Resources

National Mastitis Council Proceedings (http://www.nmconline.org)

AABP Proceedings, especially 1985 to present (http://www.aabp.org)

Society for Theriogenology Proceedings (http://www.therio.org)

Dairy Production Medicine Meeting Proceedings (http://vetextension.psu.edu/meetings_ce/dpm)

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Continuing Education

AABP, especially the pre-convention seminars on nutrition, quality milk production, dairy economic health, calf rearing and records analysis, among other topics (http://www.aabp.org)

Society for Theriogenology (http://www.therio.org)

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) meetings

American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) meetings

American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) meetings

ABVP bovine sessions

Dairy Production Medicine meetings

National Mastitis Council (http://www.nmconline.org)

Certification programs currently being offered at Penn State, University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Upon completion, these programs certify the practitioner as having completed extensive course work in dairy production medicine.

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Equine Practice Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that are not listed.

In order to help you create an efficient and productive learning experience and prepare for the certification examinations, the following study guide has been prepared with information obtained through a survey of successful candidates. Although the "formula for success" varied somewhat according to individual experiences and resources, those who passed the exam reported sharing a number of common factors. They include:

• The average time of general preparation for the examinations was one year, with 200 to 300 hours devoted specifically to study time.

• Setting aside time for study on a regular basis, over an extended period (usually one to three hours per session, for a period of one year).

• Reading time averaging one hour per day was felt to be the single most important factor by those who achieved certification.

• Allocating study time on the basis of the examination blueprint and a frank self-analysis of your strengths and weaknesses.

• Since most candidates are at least six years from graduation, there usually was a need to focus on the pathophysiology of disease and therapy, or other areas in which the candidate may be least knowledgeable.

• When studying a particular disease, it was important to understand all aspects of that disease (e.g., pathophysiology, clinical laboratory or other diagnostic findings, pharmacology, and prognosis).

• Study for the practical examination should emphasize disciplines where visual recognition of lesions or abnormalities is important (e.g. endoscopy, radiography, lameness and dermatology). Since a large percentage of the questions relate to respiratory and gastro-intestinal systems, an appropriate amount of time should be devoted to these areas.

• Since physiology, pharmacology and internal medicine are closely-related topics, you will find a number of questions addressing these areas. Many candidates found that networking with a colleague, other candidates, diplomates or College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) faculty was helpful for review sessions. Some felt that a visit to a CVM was useful to access the library and/or attend clinical rounds.

• A reasonable study plan for the year preceding the examination should be created, using a calendar with one page for each month of the year.

• You should schedule study time during each month according to your own assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. The first month, for example, could be used for self-assessment (practice questions), planning a study schedule, acquiring resource materials and finding a location to study with minimal distractions. The final month prior to the examination should be set aside for review and to reinforce areas in which you may be having some difficulty.

• The most useful continuing education opportunities were felt to be the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) annual convention and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) annual meeting. A few successful candidates also recommended the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) annual meeting.

• Successful candidates felt that the most detrimental factors or pitfalls along the way were inconsistent or erratic study habits and a failure to keep up-to-date on current literature.

• Remember to get plenty of rest prior to the examination day and realize that you have three chances to pass all three portions of the examination.

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Textbooks

Current Therapy in Equine Medicine, Third and Fourth and Editions, Robinson

Large Animal Internal Medicine, Second Edition, Smith

Equine Internal Medicine, First Edition, Reed and Bayly

Current Practice of Equine Surgery, First Edition, White and Moore

Adams Lameness in Horses, Fourth and Fifth Editions, Stashak

Manuel of Equine Reproduction, Varner

Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse, Ross and Dyson

Current Therapy in Equine Medicine, Fourth and Fifth Editions, Robinson

Equine Internal Medicine, Second Edition, Reed, Bayly and Sellon

Manuel of Equine Reproduction, Second Edition, Blanchard

Equine Medicine and Surgery, Fifth Edition, Colahan, Mayhew, Merritt and Moore

Current Therapy in Equine Reproduction (July 2006) Sampler, Pycock and McKinnon

Other Resources

A physiology text, Guyton or Ganong

Clinical pathology, Coffman or Meyer and Coles

Neely's reproduction monograph

A clinical pharmacology text, Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Booth and McDonald

An immunology text, Veterinary Immunology, by Tizard

Veterinary Clinics of North America Equine Practice

Practice Questions

The Compendium on Continuing Education, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Equine Veterinary Journal, and AAEP proceedings, in-depth seminars, in particular. The self-assessment questions in the Compendium can be useful to practice examination-taking skills, although it is likely that you will find the degree of difficulty of many of the ABVP examination questions to be significantly greater than that of the questions in this journal. Your knowledge of a subject needs to be extensive to correctly differentiate the distracters in the multiple choice questions.

Self-Assessment Questions and Answers for Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Publications

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Exotic Mammals Practice Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that are not listed.

Recommended Reading List

Textbooks

Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, Quesenberry and Carpenter

Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits, Second Edition, Percy and Barthold

Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, Harcourt-Brown and Butterworth-Heinemann

Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine, First Edition, Laber-Laird, Swindle and Flecknell

Rabbit and Rodent Dentistry Handbook, Capello, Gracis and Lennox

The Clinical Chemistry of Laboratory Animals, Second Edition, Loeb and Quimby

Laboratory Animal Medicine, Second Edition, Fox, Anderson, Loew and Quimby

Biology and Diseases of the Ferret, Second Edition, Fox

Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs, Richardson

British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Manual of Exotic Pets, Fourth Edition, Meredith and Redrobe

Journals

Please select from the five years immediately prior to the year of testing. There are seven journals on the list.

Comparative Medicine, published six times a year by American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, published six times a year by American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, published 24 times a year by American Veterinary Medical Association

The following four journals can provide an excellent source of examples for questions.

Important: Please note that these publications contain reviews and clinical reports – you must make sure that the statements from each article are well referenced.

Exotic DVM, published six times a year by the Zoological Education Network

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, published four times a year by Elsevier. It can also be combined with the Journal of Exotic Mammal Medicine and Surgery, published twice a year by the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians & Veterinary Learning Systems.

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotics, published three times a year

Lab Animal, published 11 times a year by Nature America Inc.

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Feline Practice Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that are not listed.

Textbooks

The Cat: Diseases and Clinical Management, Second Edition, Sherding (provides a solid, basic reference as it is fairly comprehensive; however, being published in 1994, it does not cover current information in many areas)

Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine, Volumes 3-4, August

Journals (Articles from the past three years) Compendium on Continuing Education

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

Additional Resources

The following texts can be used to supplement more specific information not available in the resources listed above or to cover areas in which you feel you may need more work.

Veterinary Clinics of North America, Small Animal Practice, past three years only

Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals, 1997, Overall

Small Animal Surgery, 1997, Fossum (or other surgery text)

Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, Greene

Feline Infectious Diseases, Pederson

Plumbs Veterinary Drug Handbook, Fourth Edition (or other pharmacology reference)

Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmalogy, Slatter

Veterinary Ophthalmology, Gelatt

Feline Oncology, Ogilvie and Moore

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ABVP Feline Practice Category Examination

This section was designed to help give you a "feel" for the exam.

Facts About the Exam

• Prior to the exam, you will be mailed a card with your identification number printed on it. • Make sure you bring this card with you. You will need to put this number on all your exams and exam

booklets for identification. • The exam is given over a two-day period and consists of two parts - the Specialty and Practical. • The Specialty Exam consists of 300 multiple choice questions administered in two sections of 150 questions

each. Each section is given during a four-hour-plus period. For the Specialty Exam, you will be in a large room with candidates taking exams for all of the specialty categories (for example, avian, equine).

The exams for each practice category are unique for that category; however, all groups have tests made up of 150 multiple choice questions for each section.

Make sure you listen carefully to all instructions and follow them completely. You can write in your exam booklet, which will need to be turned in with your answer sheet (please see sample answer sheet).

All answers are marked with a No. 2 pencil, which is provided. If you erase on your answer sheet, do so completely, so that only one answer is read for each question.

The Specialty Exam tests applied sciences as used in the process of handling cases in daily practice. See the blueprint for a more detailed description (http://www.abvp.com/lib_categories/blueprint_feline.pdf).

Example Questions

To avoid the major complication of urethral stomal stenosis in perineal urethrostomy, which structures anchoring the urethra must be identified and transected?

• Ventral ligament and the bilateral ischiocavernosus/ischiourethralis muscles • Ventral ligament, dorsal ligament, and bilateral retractor penile muscles • Dorsal ligament and the bilateral bulbourethralis muscles

Which one of the following breeds has the highest frequency of type B blood? • British Shorthair • Tonkinese • Himalayan

In the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, it is important to monitor for which of the following complications? • Hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia • Hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia • Hypokalemia and hypercalcemia

Nystagmus may be associated with peripheral vestibular, central vestibular and occasionally, cerebellar lesions. The nystagmus associated with a peripheral vestibular lesion is most likely to:

• Be horizontal or rotary with the quick phase directed away from the side of the lesion • Be vertical or rotary with the quick phase directed toward the side of the lesion • Be horizontal or rotary with quick phase directed toward the side of the lesion

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Questions on the examinations are of varying difficulty. All questions are referenced and have been reviewed by at least two diplomates.

The Feline Practical Exam will be 50 multiple choice questions with accompanying images. The PowerPoint presentation will require visual recognition of certain conditions, as well as interpretation of laboratory results from the clinical case scenarios. The examination will take approximately two hours.

Contesting a Question

Every attempt has been made to verify that there is only one right answer for each question, and that each question reads clearly. However, if you would like to contest a question, please make note of the question and send your defense in to ABVP within one week of testing.

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Food Animal Practice Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that are not listed.

This study guide has been prepared to help you create an efficient and productive learning experience as you formulate your plan of study.

Advice

• Planning is critical. Most successful applicants said they prepared for one year, with specific time set aside for study.

• Study guidelines for all candidates emphasize the importance of a specific plan of study with weekly and monthly objectives. You should review these general guidelines as you begin formulating your plan.

• One of the goals of ABVP certification is to affirm to ourselves and the discerning public that we have already achieved significant expertise in our fields. However, we all have our strengths and weaknesses in practice dictated by our specific interests. Certification in a "general" specialty such as Food Animal Practice may require more study outside our specific field of interest.

• Begin formulating your plan of study by considering the following practice objectives outlined for the Food Animal Practice category. Can you meet these objectives in all the common food animal production groups (dairy, beef cow/calf, feedlot, sheep, goats and swine)? If not, you know where to begin.

General Practice Objectives

A food animal practitioner seeking certification by the ABVP would be expected to:

• Have a working knowledge of the basic anatomy and physiology of all food animal species, with special focus on the reproductive and digestive systems

• Understand the pathophysiology of important diseases of food animal species • Have a solid foundation in pharmacology, immunology, pathology and toxicology, and be able to apply the

principles of these disciplines in food animal medicine • Perform a thorough physical examination of an individual food animal patient; be able to interpret the findings

correctly and make up a rational therapeutic plan, as well as carry out the plan • Be able to perform surgical procedures common to each food animal species • Perform a necropsy on any of the food animal species and be able to interpret the findings correctly • Be familiar with various production schemes for the different food animal species • Recommend a comprehensive herd health and basic nutrition program for each of the food animal species • Be able to carry out an investigation of a herd problem and apply epidemiologic principles • Be computer literate and have some familiarity with the applications of software programs commonly used by

various production groups • Have a solid understanding of the public health concerns and residue avoidance programs for each production

group. Once you've identified your areas of strengths and weaknesses, you should allocate your study time accordingly, being sure to consider the examination blueprint as well. For example, you may find that you know very little about adrenal diseases of the gestating sow, but when you review the exam blueprint (and your own common

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sense) it's clear that little study time is needed for this area. For most food animal species, the reproductive and digestive systems are the big areas of focus. Most candidates have graduated at least six years ago and a review of anatomy, physiology and basic disease pathophysiology is necessary. Guyton's physiology text (probably a newer edition of the one you used in vet school) is a great place to start. A good pharmacology text, such as Booth and McDonald and Tizard's Veterinary Immunology, should be on hand as well. When reviewing a certain disease, be sure you understand all aspects − from anatomy and pathophysiology, to treatment and prevention. With a year set aside for study, you should set up a specific plan on a calendar. Most successful candidates have found it necessary to study on a regular basis over an extended period (for example, one to three hours per day for a year), rather than in shorter concentrated periods. However, you may want to schedule some vacation time in the two-to-three weeks preceding the exam to review and reinforce areas of difficulty.

Textbooks

Veterinary Medicine, Radostits, Blood and Gay

Large Animal Internal Medicine, Smith

Current Therapy in Food Animal Practice, Howard

Diseases of Swine, Leman, Straw et al.

Diseases of Sheep, Kimberling

Goat Medicine, Smith and Sherman

Current Therapy in Theriogenology, Morrow

Theriogenology, Roberts

Herd Health/Food Animal Production Medicine, Radostits

Publications

Compendium Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian (http://www.compendiumvet.com/ME2/Audiences/Default.asp?AudID=BE924B06C44442DE9033CA13B621B284)

Veterinary Clinics of North America Food Animal Practice (http://www.vetfood.theclinics.com/)

JAVMA (http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javma)

AABP publications (http://www.aabp.org/about/contact.asp)

National Mastitis Council proceedings (http://www.nmconline.org/pub.htm)

Continuing Education

AABP (http://www.aabp.org/default.asp)

ABVP Practitioner's Symposium offers a Food Animal Track every year (http://www.abvp.com)

Small ruminant and swine meetings

Western States meeting

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Swine Health Management Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that are not listed.

An ABVP-certified swine practitioner should:

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the production parameters and economic parameters and their interactions in swine production units.

• Be familiar with abnormal and normal disease levels and their affect on production. This would include current knowledge concerning etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control measures.

• Be familiar with various swine production systems and factors affecting productivity and profitability of swine herds in those systems.

• Be familiar with various record systems that allow practitioners to collect and analyze data on herd performance, and the economics attached to such performance when compared to a database. Be able to establish, implement and evaluate herd health and production performance programs. Be familiar with targets and interference points on various performance monitors.

• Be familiar with various components of herd health and production programs that would include: o Herd reproductive performance and parameters o Herd economic production performance and parameters o Swine genetic programs, breeding programs and culling procedures evaluations, such as Estimated

Breeding Values (EBVs) o Carcass evaluation — packer kill sheets o Herd immunization and infectious disease control programs o Environment with relationship to health and productivity (buildings, manure handling systems and

ventilation) o Epidemiology o Pre- and post-harvest food safety issues, pork quality assurance o Regulations and regulating authorities as they pertain to swine production o FDS, USDA, EPA and OSHA o Secondary nutrient management (manure management) o Biosecurity systems and the affects of risk management o Artificial insemination o Farm economics, financial planning, partial budgets and decision analysis o Evaluation of experimental data, studies and critical reading of scientific literature

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Readings

Aspects of Swine Ecology, Hollier

Diagnosis of Swine Diseases, Straw and Wilson

Diseases of Swine, Straw, DAllaire et al.

Essentials of Pig Anatomy, Sack Veterinary Textbooks

Managing Pig Health and the Treatment of Disease, Muirhead and Alexander

Multisite Pig Production, Harris

Proceedings of AASV, IPVS and ADL conferences

The Journal of Swine Health and Production (back issues for past five years)

The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, Smith

Continuing Education Programs

Swine Health Management Certificate Seminar Series available at Michigan State University, University of Nebraska, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, North Carolina State University and University of Guelph in Canada

Executive Veterinary Program, University of Illinois

University of Minnesota Swine Program, University of Minnesota

Nebraska Certification in Swine Health Management, University of Nebraska

Iowa State University Practice-based Master of Science degree in Swine Production Medicine

Meetings/Proceedings

AASP Meeting

Leman Conference (http://www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/adl/home.html)

George Young Conference (http://georgeyoungswineconference.unl.edu)

Iowa State Disease Conference (http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/swinedisease/home.html)

IPVS (http://www.ipvs2008.org.za)

Western States - Swine Seminar

NAVC - Swine Session (http://navc2008.expoplanner.com/sesearch.wcs?searchby=all&seekword=null&alpha=all&filter=)

CVC - Swine Sessions (http://www.cvccentral.com/cvccentral/v42/index.cvn)

Seminars at World Pork Expo (http://www.worldpork.org)

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Reptile/Amphibian Study and Reading Guide Important: Be sure to review the general study recommendations (http://www.abvp.com/categories_generalstudy.htm) for all ABVP practice categories. Note: Some exam questions may be taken from sources that are not listed.

Advice

Successful practice of reptile and amphibian medicine and surgery requires broad knowledge of subject areas, including natural history, husbandry, anatomy, physiology, pathology, infectious disease biology, epidemiology and pharmacology. Practitioners must apply this knowledge to species in orders anura, urodela, gymnophiona, chelonia, rhynchocephalia, squamata and crocodylia. Little of this reptile- and amphibian-specific background information is taught in general veterinary medical curricula, and new contributions are found in an array of periodicals.

Resources

The following resource list is provided as a guide for candidates who are preparing for certification in reptile and amphibian practice. The texts and journals are recommended to assist candidates in finding species-specific information in those areas where they have limited experience or feel their knowledge is deficient. Candidates are not expected to purchase all the publications or read them in their entirety. Searching and appraisal skills are required however, to identify information that is valid, relevant and fundamental to the practice of reptile/amphibian medicine and surgery.

Studying with others is a good way to stay on-track. Study groups are an excellent source of support and motivation. Candidates can meet colleagues who are also studying for ABVP certification at reptile and amphibian continuing veterinary medical education seminars and in service to the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians. Your mentor/advisor can also help facilitate the study process.

Publications are listed either as “Essential for Study” or for “Additional Study.” A greater proportion of the certifying exam questions will be derived from literature listed as “Essential for Study.” Exam questions based on periodicals will emphasize current literature of the last five years, although older references may be required to ensure fundamental information is included.

Essential for Study

Monographs

Infectious Diseases and Pathology of Reptiles: Color Atlas and Text, Jacobson

Reptile Medicine and Surgery, Second Edition, Mader

Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry, Wright and Whitaker

Periodicals

American Journal of Veterinary Research

Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery (formerly Bulletin of ARAV)

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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Additional Study

Monographs

A Veterinary Guide to the Parasites of Reptiles, Volume 1, Barnard and Upton

A Veterinary Guide to the Parasites of Reptiles, Volume 2, Barnard and Durden

Exotic Pet Behavior - Birds, Reptiles and Small Mammals, Bradley, Bays, Lightfoot and Mayer

Avian and Exotic Animal Hematology and Cytology, Third Edition, Campbell and Ellis

Reptilian Incubation: Environment, Evolution and Behavior, Deeming Biology of Amphibians, Duellman and Trueb

Zoo & Wild Animal Medicine, Third Edition, Fowler

Zoo & Wild Animal Medicine, Fourth Edition, Fowler and Miller

Zoo & Wild Animal Medicine, Fifth Edition, Fowler and Miller

Biomedical and Surgical Aspects of Captive Reptile Husbandry, Second Edition, Frye (also Reptile Care: an Atlas of Diseases and Treatments)

Laboratory Medicine: Avian and Exotic Pets, Fudge

The Biology of the Reptilia, 19 Volumes, Gans et al.

BSAVA Manual of Reptiles, Second Edition, Girling and Raiti

Amphibian Biology, Volumes 1–3, Heatwole et al.

Crocodiles: Biology, Husbandry and Diseases, Huchzermeyer

Husbandry and Medicine of the Green Iguana, Jacobson

Medicine and Surgery of Turtles and Tortoises, McArthur, Wilkinson and Meyer

Section 2: Reptiles: Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species, O’Malley

Herpetology, Third Edition, Pough, Andrews and Cadle et al.

Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles, Second Edition, Zug, Vitt and Caldwell

Periodicals

Australian Veterinary Journal

Chelonian Conservation & Biology

Comparative Medicine (formerly Laboratory Animal Science)

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Copeia

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine (formerly Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine)

Journal of Herpetology

Journal of Parasitology

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation

Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

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Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians

Veterinary Clinical Pathology

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice

Veterinary Microbiology

Veterinary Pathology

Veterinary Record

Zoo Biology

7/6/2009