American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Reading List
This is only a convenience copy of the ACVS reading list to help find copies of reading materials in local libraries. It does not replace the official ACVS reading list. Candidates are responsible for ensuring they use the latest ACVS reading list.
This guide contains the list of books and journals recommended as study materials for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) examination.
Residents are responsible for ensuring they are using the correct edition of a book for their exam.
Please ask your librarian, mentor, or specialty board examination committee if questions arise.
Source: ACVS Certification Examination Reading List
This resource updated: Updated 01/25/2022
This is only a convenience copy of the ACVS reading list to help find copies of reading materials in local libraries. It does not replace the official ACVS reading list. Candidates are responsible for ensuring they use the latest ACVS reading list.
"The following reference and books are suggested reading in preparation for the 2022 Phase I examination. Other textbooks and current references may be pertinent. Page numbers refer to print textbooks. Digital versions may have different page numbers."
Selected References for Large Animal Surgery
Equine Surgery by Call Number: SF951 .E64a 2019ISBN: 9780323484206Publication Date: 2019Chapters 1-25, 42, 50, 68-73, 75-80, 105 in their entirety; in addition, information relevant to anatomy, physiology, and fundamental pathophysiology in Chapters 26-41, 43-67, 74, 81-104. This information is generally (but not always) found within the first few pages of the chapter; it may be scattered throughout.
Equine Fracture Repair by Call Number: SF951 .E637 2020ISBN: 9780813815862Publication Date: 20202nd Ed.
Chapters 1-13, 43-49.
Cunningham's Textbook of Veterinary Physiology by Call Number: SF768 .T355 2020 (on Reserve)ISBN: 0323552277Publication Date: 2019-03-136th Ed.
Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by Call Number: SF 914 L82 2015ISBN: 9781118526231Publication Date: 20155th Ed.
Chapters 8-12, 47, 49, 51
Equine Anesthesia : Monitoring and Emergency Therapy by Call Number: SF 914 E64 2009ISBN: 9781416023265Publication Date: 20092nd edition
Farm Animal Surgery by Call Number: EBOOKISBN: 9780323316651Publication Date: 2017Chapters 1-8 in their entirety; in addition, information relevant to anatomy, physiology, and fundamental pathophysiology in Chapters 12-24—this information is generally found within the first few pages of the chapter.
Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse by Call Number: SF 959 J64 M478d 2015ISBN: 9780723436935Publication Date: 20144th Ed.
Chapters 1-3.
Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by Call Number: SF 915 B725s 2012ISBN: 9780721605555Publication Date: 20112nd Ed.
Chapters 6, 7, 29
Advances in Equine Laparoscopy by Call Number: SF 951 A38 2012ISBN: 9781118424469Publication Date: 20121st Ed.
Chapters 1-6.
Equine Wound Management by Call Number: EBOOKISBN: 9781118999233Publication Date: 20163rd Ed.
Chapters 1-5
Dyce, Sack, and Wensing's Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy by Call Number: SF761 .D994t 2018ISBN: 9780323442640Publication Date: 20175th Ed.
Knowledge of basic and applied anatomy is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text
Selected References for Small Animal Surgery
Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal by Call Number: EBOOKISBN: 9780323320658Publication Date: 2017Chapters 1-26, 28-29,38-45,47-48,68,70-71,73-76, 81(stop at burn treatment), 83(stop at surgical techniques), 84(stop at principles of abdominal hernia repair), 85(stop at surgical approaches), 86(stop at pathophysiology), 87(stop at general considerations), 88(stop at nonsurgical salivary gland disease), 89(stop at canine oral tumors), 90 (stop at surgical approaches to the esophagus) , 91(stop at general surgical principles), 92(stop at surgical procedures), 93(stop at techniques for colonic wound closure) , 94(stop at surgical approaches), 95(stop at hepatobiliary imaging), 96(stop at diagnostic evaluation), 97(stop at specific surgical procedures), 98(start at tube feeding specifics), 99(stop at diagnostic approach), 100(stop at palate defects), 101(stop at laryngeal neoplasia), 102(stop at techniques: general), 103(stop at postoperative monitoring), 104(stop at surgical approaches to the thorax), 105(stop at diagnostic imaging), 106(stop at strategies for cardiac surgery), 107(stop at congenital pericardial diseases), 108(stop at endovascular surgery), 109(stop at surgery and outcome), 110(stop at surgical approaches), 111(stop at disorders), 112(stop at specific disorders), 113(stop at diagnostic approach to prostatic disease in the dog), 114(stop at preoperative management), 115(stop at ureteral obstruction), 116(stop at diagnostic techniques), 117(stop at surgical procedures), 118(stop at diagnostic assessment), 120(stop at diagnosis of functional adrenal tumors), 121(stop at feline hyperthyroidism), 122(stop at conditions affecting the pinna),123(stop at inflammatory disease of the middle ear), 124.
Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology by Call Number: EBOOKISBN: 9781455770052Publication Date: 202114th edition.
Chapters 4-16, 20, 22, 25, 30, 31, 37-43, 50, 61, 63-65, 71- Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by Call Number: SF 914 L82 2015ISBN: 9781118526200Publication Date: 20155th Edition.
Chapters 1-36, 44, 45, 53-57 - Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by Call Number: SF 915 B725s 2012ISBN: 9780721605555Publication Date: 20122nd edition.
Chapter 6 (Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy), Chapter 7 (Antimicrobial
drugs), Chapter 19 (GI Physiology), and Chapter 29 (Anti-inflammatory drugs). 
AO Principles of Fracture Management in the Dog and Cat by Call Number: SF 914.4 J64 2005ISBN: 9781588904171Publication Date: 2005Chapters 1, 2, 3, 20, 27
Anatomy of the Dog by Call Number: SF767.D6 M649A 2020ISBN: 9780323546010Publication Date: 20195th Ed.
Knowledge of basic and applied anatomy is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text.
This is only a convenience copy of the ACVS reading list to help find copies of reading materials in local libraries. It does not replace the official ACVS reading list. Candidates are responsible for ensuring they use the latest ACVS reading list.
"The following reference and books are suggested reading in preparation for the 2022 Phase II examination. Other textbooks and current references may be pertinent. Page numbers refer to print textbooks. Digital versions may have different page numbers."
Selected References for Large Animal Surgery
- Equine Surgery by Call Number: SF951 .E64a 2019ISBN: 9780323484206Publication Date: 2018-08-305th Ed.
- Equine Fracture Repair by Call Number: SF951 .E637 2020ISBN: 9780813815862Publication Date: 20202nd Ed.
- Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse by Call Number: SF 959 J64 M478d 2015ISBN: 9780723436935Publication Date: 20144th Edition
- Advances in Equine Laparoscopy by Call Number: SF 951 A38 2012ISBN: 9780470958773Publication Date: 20121st edition.
Joint Disease in the Horse by Call Number: EBOOKISBN: 9781455759699Publication Date: 20162nd Edition- Dyce, Sack, and Wensing's Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy by Call Number: SF761 .D93 2018 (ON RESERVE)ISBN: 9780323442640Publication Date: 20185th Ed.
Knowledge of basic and applied anatomy is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text - Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology by ISBN: 9781455770052Publication Date: 202114th Ed.
Knowledge of basic and applied physiology is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text
Journals for Large Animal Surgery
The majority of questions come from literature published in the last five years. For example, if you are taking the 2021 examination, questions will primarily come from literature published in the range of June 1, 2015 - June 30, 2020. Questions may also come from older articles considered significant and essential to the knowledge of the veterinary surgeon.
Many journals contain articles pertaining to surgery (both humans and veterinary) and should be perused for current literature. A partial list of veterinary journals includes:
- Equine Veterinary Journal ONLINEIncluding supplements.
Selected References For Small Animal Surgery
- Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology by ISBN: 9781455770052Publication Date: 202114th Ed.
Chapters 4-13, 16, 20, 22, 25, 30, 31, 37-43, 50, 61, 63-65 - Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by Call Number: SF 914 L82 2015ISBN: 9781118526200Publication Date: 20155th Ed.
Chapters 1-36, 44, 45, 53-57. - Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by Call Number: SF 915 B725s 2012 (Reserve)ISBN: 9780721605555Publication Date: 20112nd Ed.
Chapters 6 (Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy), 7 (Antimicrobial Drugs), 19 (GI Physiology), and 29 (Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). - AO Principles of Fracture Management in the Dog and Cat by Call Number: SF 914.4 J64 2005ISBN: 9781588904171Publication Date: 2005Chapters 1-3, 20, 27
- Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal Expert Consult by Call Number: EBOOKISBN: 9780323320658Publication Date: 20182nd Ed.
- Anatomy of the Dog by Call Number: SF767.D6 M649A 2020 (ON RESERVE)ISBN: 9780323546010Publication Date: 20195th Ed.
Veterinary Surgical Oncology by Call Number: SF 910 T8 V48 2012ISBN: 9780813805429Publication Date: 2012
