Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Content last modified Jul 2022
HOW TO USE THE MANUAL
How is the Vet Manual organized?
The Vet Manual is organized hierarchically by
- Section (specialty area, eg, Circulatory System)
- Chapter (eg, Anemia)
- Individual Topic (eg, Hemolytic Anemia)
Specialty areas are listed in the Veterinary Content tab, located on the navigation bar at the top of every page and on the accordion menu at the upper left corner when browsing down a page. Veterinary content can be expanded to view its subordinate content.
Half of the Vet Manual's content is arranged into anatomic systems, and specific conditions are located in the system primarily affected. Conditions that may affect more than one system are covered in the section Generalized Conditions. The other half of the Vet Manual covers special topics or disciplines.
Content designed for pet owners, written in consumer-friendly language, can be found under the Pet Health and Wellness tab. The navigation bar allows you to access specific types of content: Quizzes and Cases, News, or, under the Resources tab, tables, images, calculators, and more.
What's the best way to find a veterinary topic in the Vet Manual?
- Use the SEARCH bar at the top of each page (to search for a specific phrase, enclose it in quotes): “hemolytic anemia”
- Browse veterinary topics and chapters alphabetically using the alphabet list below the search bar (keep the left tab on Veterinary to search for professional content or choose the Pet tab to search for owner-focused content).
- Browse the “Veterinary Content” tab on the nav bar
You can filter search results to select only certain types of content, such as veterinary topics, tables, figures, images, videos, or calculators.
How do I navigate within a topic?
To find subtopics (eg, “Diagnosis”) on a content page, there are several methods
- Scroll down the page OR
- Click the subtopic in the left navigational bar under In This Topic
How do I navigate to related topics?
To find related topics to a content page (ie, topics in the same chapter), use similar methods
- Click the related topic in the left navigational bar under Other Topics in this Chapter OR
- Scroll to the lower section of the page, just before the “Others Also Read” section, and click arrow left to go to the preceding topic or arrow right to go to the following topic.
ABOUT THE VET MANUAL
What is in the Vet Manual?
The Vet Manual contains signs, diagnoses, and treatments for diseases and disorders in all fields of veterinary medicine, in addition to information on management, nutrition, public health, and a range of other topics.
What are the different versions of the Manual?
- Professional Version: Detailed veterinary information for veterinary health care professionals and students
- Pet Health Version: Easier to understand information on the same topics as the professional version but focused on pets and their owners
Who creates the content of the Vet Manual?
The Vet Manual is the product of collaboration between hundreds of veterinary experts worldwide, an independent editorial board, and our editorial staff.
How often is the content updated?
The Manual is continually updated with new content and new features. We publish new content once per month.
Doesn't this website just promote MSD products?
For over 60 years, the Vet Manual has had complete editorial independence to present the best current thinking regarding veterinary diagnosis and treatment and does not in any way promote or publicize MSD’s pharmaceutical products. To ensure absence of commercial or corporate bias, authors and peer reviewers cannot be employees of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, nor can they serve as speakers for our pharmaceutical products, or in any other way represent the company. Although the editorial staff is employed by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, there is no control, review, or input into the content of the Vet Manual allowed from any other part of our company, including research and development, sales and marketing, public relations, legal, or corporate management.
Why is the website free? What does MSD get out of this?
We believe that health information is a universal right and that every person is entitled to accurate and accessible medical information. We have a responsibility to protect, preserve and share the best current medical information to enable more informed decisions, enhance relationships between patients and professionals, and improve health care outcomes around the world.
Since the website is free, can I do whatever I want with the content?
No. You may share content or post links to content in The Vet Manual. You should assume that everything you see or read on this website is copyrighted and you may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, repost, or use the content of the site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, or video, without written permission. See also our Terms of Use.