Comparison

Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia vs MSD Vet Manual

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia

This comprehensive medical resource provides detailed guidelines for administering safe and effective anesthesia to a wide range of animals. It covers anesthetic procedures, drug information, equipment, and pain management, updated with the latest research and protocols. Access vital information anytime, anywhere, with or without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Anesthetic procedures for various animals
  • Updated drug information and pain management
  • Step-by-step technique overviews
  • Euthanasia protocols
  • Complementary and alternative strategies
  • SmartSearch technology
Features
Currently charting
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"Try before you buy" - Download the FREE App, which includes sample content. An in-App purchase is required to unlock all content.   Long valued by students and practitioners alike, this resource is a convenient, complete and practical resource for administering safe and effective anesthesia to small and large animals, including exotic pets. Handbook of Veterinary Anesthesia, 5th Edition is a well-accepted guide to performing anesthesia and anesthetic techniques safely and effectively. This convenient pocket guide provides clear concise guidelines on anesthetic procedures for dogs cats horses ruminants camelids pigs birds and other exotic pets. Topics include patient evaluation and preparation local anesthetic drugs anesthetic equipment patient monitoring pain management breathing systems and ventilation shock therapy respiratory and cardiac emergencies and euthanasia. Written by leading anesthesiology experts William W. Muir III and John A. E. Hubbell this practical handbook is the perfect to take anywhere! New to this edition * UPDATED anesthetic drug information and NEW pain management techniques provide the latest on indications, toxicities, and recommended dosages. * EXPANDED step-by-step overviews of anesthetic and analgesic techniques make it easier to review and perform procedures. * UPDATED coverage of euthanasia, including the most current AVMA guidelines, provides today’s accepted protocols for the provision of euthanasia. * UPDATED complementary and alternative strategies provide non-pharmacologic interventions for pain management. * UPDATED research findings and clinical applications address special anesthetic considerations necessary in cats. Key Features * User-friendly format provides instant access to vital information on anesthetic procedures and techniques for dogs, cats, horses, ruminants, camelids, pigs, birds, and other exotic pets. * Thoroughly UPDATED topics include patient evaluation, patient preparation methods, safe and effective operation of anesthetic equipment, and chemical restraint procedures. * Respected authors are recognized as experts in the field of veterinary anesthesia. * Over 100 tables, boxes, and graphs summarize anesthetic protocols and clinical applications, including dosages, advantages, and disadvantages of each drug. No internet connection is required to access the content after the initial download. Find information quickly using powerful SmartSearch technology. Search part of term for those hard to spell medical terms. Content licensed from printed ISBN 10: 0323080693 Content licensed from printed ISBN 13: 9780323080699 SUBSCRIPTION : Please choose an auto renewable subscription plan to receive content access & continuous updates. Your subscription automatically renews as per your plan, so you always have the latest content.   Yearly auto-renewing payments - $79.99   Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed by the user & auto-renewal can be disabled at any time by going to your device “Settings” and tapping “iTunes & App Store”. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable.   If you have any questions or comments, email us any time: customersupport@skyscape.com or call 508-299-30000   Privacy Policy-https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/privacypolicy.aspx Terms and Conditions-https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/licenseagreement.aspx   Editor(s): William W. Muir; John A. E. Hubbell Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences Company

About

MSD Vet Manual

This comprehensive animal health reference provides veterinarians, students, and other professionals with practical explanations of thousands of veterinary conditions. It includes etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment options, along with multimedia resources and interactive learning tools.

Highlights
  • Thousands of veterinary topics
  • Expert-written and updated content
  • Photos, illustrations, and video
  • Interactive case simulations
  • Clinical calculators
  • Reference guides and tables
Features
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SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT DOWNLOAD *** Downloading this app is a 2-step process: the first step is a download of the app template, and the second step is a full download of app content. This can take 5 to 10 minutes on wifi. Please do not navigate away from the app until both steps have been completed. *** The MSD Veterinary Manual, a renowned animal health reference for more than 60 years, covers all species and disorders of veterinary interest worldwide. This app provides veterinarians, students and other animal health professionals with clear, practical explanations of thousands of conditions across all body systems. It covers etiology, pathophysiology, and options for diagnosis and treatment. The trusted MSD Veterinary app offers: • Thousands of topics written and updated regularly by more than 400 veterinary experts from more than 20 countries • Photos, illustrations, and video of thousands of disorders and diseases • Quizzes* check knowledge of veterinary disorders, signs, and treatments • Interactive Case Simulations* test ability to treat a specific patient over the disease course • Clinical calculators • Numerous reference guides and hundreds of useful tables • Pet health content* written in consumer-friendly language for clients • FAQ and User Guide *Internet access needed. About MSD Manuals Our mission is simple: We believe that health information is a universal right and that every person is entitled to accurate, accessible and usable 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. That’s why we are making the MSD Manuals available for free in digital form to veterinary professionals and clients around the world. No registration or subscription required, and no ads. NOND-1179303-0001 04/16 This mobile application is intended for Veterinary Professionals. For more information please read the End User License Agreement at http://www.msd.com/policy/terms-of-use/home.html For more information about our privacy practices, please see our privacy commitment at http://www.msd.com/about/how-we-operate/privacy/transparency-and-privacy.html Adverse Event Reporting: Countries outside the United States may have specific procedures in place to address reports of adverse events. Please contact your local MSD office or local health authority for more information. For questions or help with the app please contact msdmanualsinfo@msd.com

Screenshots

Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia4 screens
MSD Vet Manual4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MSD Vet Manual at 91% against Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia's 0%. MSD Vet Manual also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia's advantage is chart position (#182 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $63.99 per year. MSD Vet Manual asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MSD Vet Manual holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia's written reviews are positive against 91% of MSD Vet Manual's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia ships an update every 7 months, MSD Vet Manual every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia versus MSD Vet Manual: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandbook Veterinary AnesthesiaMSD Vet Manual
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (8 ratings)4.8 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings832 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 6 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#182 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB163 MB
Age rating+1717+
DeveloperSkyscape Medpresso IncMerck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Customer experience

Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia

All ratings8 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

MSD Vet Manual

All ratings32 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral3.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative4.5%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia

Subscriptions2
  • HBK Vet Anesthesia 1Y Sub off$63.991 Year
  • HBK Vet Anesthesia 1Y Sub$79.991 Year
None

MSD Vet Manual

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia free?
Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MSD Vet Manual free?
MSD Vet Manual is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia or MSD Vet Manual?
MSD Vet Manual is rated higher. Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia averages 3.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while MSD Vet Manual averages 4.8 from 32 ratings.
Do Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia or MSD Vet Manual have ads?
Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia shows ads; MSD Vet Manual does not.
Which is updated more often, Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia or MSD Vet Manual?
Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia ships an update every 7 months, and MSD Vet Manual every 6 months. Most recently, Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia was updated on August 14, 2026 and MSD Vet Manual on September 21, 2026.

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