MOST USEFUL BOOKS FOR THE RCVS STATUTORY EXAMINATION

Dr Mariana Ashley MRCVS

This content was created with the intention of helping candidates sitting the RCVS
Statutory Examination to optimize their reading time. This information is based on the
personal opinion of a candidate who passed the exam. This document is NOT official,
does not provide any guarantee that you will pass the RCVS exam and must not be
used as a sole source of information.
Equine
- Baxter, G.M. (ed) (2011) Adams and Stashaks Lameness in Horses. 6th ed Oxford:
Wiley Blackwell – remember to revise muskoskeletal anatomy before studying
lameness in horses
- Mair, T. et al (eds) (2012) Equine Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction. 2nd ed
London: CRC Press

Farm animals
- NADIS Animal Health Skills (subscription required):
https://clinicallibrary.nadis.org.uk/
- Ball, P.J. H. and Peters, A.R. (2004) Reproduction in cattle. 3rd ed. Oxford: Wiley –
the only book that I read from beginning to end
- Cockcroft, P. (ed) (2015) Bovine Medicine. 3rd ed. Oxford: Wiley – this one was
more helpful for the OSCEs (not much for the theory exam)
- Scott, P.R. (2015) Sheep Medicine. 2nd ed. London: CRC Press – my favourite
book!

Small Animals

- Holloway, A. and McConnell, J.F. (2013) Manual of Canine and Feline Radiography
and Radiology: a Foundation Manual. BSAVA Quedgeley: Gloucester
- Nelson, R. and Couto, C.G. (eds) (2013) Small Animal Internal Medicine. 5th ed. St
Louis: Elsevier. ISBN9780323086820 Schaer, M. and Gaschen, F.P. (2016) Clinical
Medicine of the Dog and Cat. 3rd ed. London: CRC Press

OSCEs
- Gray, C. and Moffet, J (2010) Handbook of Veterinary Communication Skills Oxford:
Blackwell

- Coombes, N. Silva-Fletcher, A. eds. (2018) Veterinary Clinical Skills Manual. CABI,

Wallingford - Bristol Vet School Clinical Skills Booklets: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/vet-
school/research/comparativeclinical/veterinary-education/clinical-skills-booklets/