This chapter is the first of a series that covers the regional anatomy of the two companion animals, the dog and cat.

Although the dog and cat are included in different suborders of Carnivora (Canoidea and Feloidea, respectively), the general anatomies are sufficiently alike to consider them together.

Although cats rival and in many countries now surpass dogs in popularity, it is both conventional and convenient (because of the greater wealth of literature) to base the initial accounts on the dog and follow them with mention of the clinically significant differences in the cat. Dogs, of course, differ considerably among themselves. The description here refers to animals of moderate size and generalized conformation, such as are represented by the Beagle. The reader is also reminded that the systemic chapters are largely based on the anatomy of the dog, which supplies the bulk of their illustrations.

More on the topic This chapter is the first of a series that covers the regional anatomy of the two companion animals, the dog and cat.: