Veterinary Textbook Evidence Hierarchy

Overview

Map the veterinary textbook landscape so the agent knows which sources carry the most authority for which clinical domains. When multiple sources conflict, this skill defines which source to prioritize based on domain expertise, editorial rigor, and professional acceptance.

When to Use

• When multiple sources provide conflicting information
• When deciding which reference to cite for a specific clinical topic
• When a user asks for the "best" or "most authoritative" source on a topic
• Keywords: reference, textbook, source, cite, authoritative, definitive, gold standard

Textbook Authority by Domain

Workflow

1. Identify the clinical domain of the question.
2. Look up the primary and secondary reference for that domain from the authority table.
3. When citing, prefer the primary reference for its domain.
4. When sources conflict, apply the conflict resolution rules below.
5. Always note the edition and publication year of the cited textbook.

Conflict Resolution Rules

1. When a specialist textbook and a general reference conflict, the specialist textbook takes precedence for its domain.
2. When two specialist textbooks conflict, note the discrepancy and cite both with their respective recommendations.
3. When a peer-reviewed study contradicts a textbook, consider the study design quality, sample size, and recency. A well-designed RCT in the target species may override a textbook recommendation.
4. When in doubt, cite the more conservative (safer) recommendation.

Limitations

• Textbook editions become outdated. Always note the edition and publication year.
• Textbooks reflect author perspectives and may have blind spots.
• Some subspecialties lack a single definitive textbook.