# Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia vs MSD Vet Manual

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia | MSD Vet Manual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handbook-veterinary-anesthesia/id1197961404/reviews) | **[4.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/msd-vet-manual/id1289692832/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **32** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **90.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#182** | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 163 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +17 | 17+ |
| Developer | [Skyscape Medpresso Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/818609416) | [Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/718617686) |

## What reviewers say

### Handbook Veterinary Anesthesia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handbook-veterinary-anesthesia/id1197961404)

**Currently charting:** #182 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HBK Vet Anesthesia 1Y Sub off | $63.99 | per year |
| HBK Vet Anesthesia 1Y Sub | $79.99 | per year |


### MSD Vet Manual

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/msd-vet-manual/id1289692832)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*