The Merck Veterinary Manual, Ninth Edition

The Merck Veterinary Manual (MVM) has served veterinarians and other animal health professionals as a concise and reliable animal health reference for over 50 years. The first MVM was published in 1955 and introduced at the annual meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since its introduction, the MVM has been eagerly adopted by the veterinary profession as a practical and comprehensive resource worldwide. In addition to English, the MVM is currently published in Spanish, Italian, Japanese, French, Portuguese, and Czech/Slovak. Various editions have been introduced at conferences and congresses around the world.

Over the years, the MVM has more than doubled in volume to accommodate advances in scientific knowledge and the expansion and specialization of the veterinary profession. With online accessibility, the trusted information contained in the MVM is more readily available than ever before. The advanced search feature and logical organization of contents make it easy for users to locate information quickly. In addition, the online version features over 1400 images - including new video and audio files - that allow users to view rare disease-causing organisms, identify plants poisonous to animals, see characteristic lesions, or review practical laboratory techniques.

The User Guide provides detailed information on how the site is organized and how to navigate around it. The search tips, found in the advanced search section, allow users to maximize the effectiveness of this powerful feature.

The MVM and MVM web site are published on a nonprofit basis by Merck & Co., Inc. as a service to the veterinary profession.

Dedicated to the Contributors to The Merck Veterinary Manual, who have made it a leading veterinary reference for 50 years.

9th Edition

Editor:
Cynthia M. Kahn, M.A.

Associate Editor:
Scott Line, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. A.C.V.B.

Consulting Editor:
Susan E. Aiello, B.S., D.V.M., E.L.S.

Editorial Board:

Dana G. Allen, D.V.M., M.Sc., Dipl. A.C.V.I.M.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

David P. Anderson, B.S., D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., Dipl. A.C.V.M., Dipl. A.C.P.V.
Professor and Dean Emeritus, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

L.B. Jeffcott, M.A., B. Vet.Med., Ph.D., F.R.C.V.S., D.V.Sc.
Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

Katherine E. Quesenberry, D.V.M., Dipl. A.B.V.P.(Avian Practice)
The Animal Medical Center, New York, NY

Otto M. Radostits, C.M., D.V.M., M.Sc., Dipl. A.C.V.I.M.
Professor Emeritus, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Philip T. Reeves, B.V.Sc., Ph.D., F.A.C.V.Sc.
Principal Scientist, Residues and Veterinary Medicine, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, Canberra, Australia

Alice M. Wolf, D.V.M., Dipl. A.C.V.I.M., Dipl. A.B.V.P.
Professor, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Published by

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.
Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA