Are you looking for some summer reads? I have a few suggestions for veterinary related books that you might be interested in.
Of course, James Herriot is the classic veterinary read. The pen of name Dr. James Wight, James Herriot practices veterinary medicine from 1940 through 1980 in the United Kingdom. He tells stories of the bond between human and animal with humor and passion. The characters in his book are wonderful and many current veterinarians were initially inspired by the wonderful stories he shared in his many books.
For a more modern take on veterinary medicine check out Dr. Nick Trout's book Tell Me Where it Hurts: A Day of Healing, Humor and Hope, My Life as an Animal Surgeon. Dr. Trout is a surgeon at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA. Dr. Trout looks at a day in the life of a modern veterinarian in an urban practice. But he too touches on the important bond between animal and human and shares thoughts on the many different roles that veterinarian play beyond just doctor: psychologist, social worker, grief counselor, etc.
Want to learn more about why your dog does what he does? There is a great new book out on canine behavior called Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet by Dr. John Bradshaw. Dr. Bradshaw is the director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol in England. He has been studying dog and cat behavior for 25 years. This books covers a variety of topics from how to respond to your dogs misbehavior to the consequences of breeding for looks rather than personality. He also address many common myths about dog behavior, all based in hard science but written in a way that even nonscientists can be comfortable with.
Another interesting animal behavior book, this one looking more at the large animal side, is Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin is an animal behavior specialist who is also autistic. She has been instrumental in the development of humane slaughter facilities and helping large corporations (such as McDonalds) to reevaluate and change their production and buying practices to improve the welfare of livestock. In this book, Dr. Grandin theorizes that autism and its resultant reactions to the world may be very similar to how animals see and react to the world around them. She tells stories of crawling around at "cow level" in holding pens and slaughter facilities to identify simple things that are causing stress and anxiety in the animals. This is not a gory book about the production animal industry but rather a realistic look at how we can make the lives of these animals better and still appreciate the benefits of the products they provide.
Here is a book near and dear to my heart. All My Patients are Under the Bed: Memoirs of a Cat Doctor is written by Dr. Louis Camuti. Dr. Camuti was a housecall veterinarian in Manahattan who began practicing in 1920 and continued for another 60 years almost exclusively with cats. This is also a great book for all you cat lovers out their who understand what it means to be "owned by your cat." Dr. Camuti is gruff, blunt and as he terms it "a crusty old coot" but he has a full heart for his patients and their owners. And a unique understanding of cats that can only come for lots of time spent in their company. "With dogs and people its love in big splashy colors. When you're involved with a cat your dealing in pastels. I like that about cats."
And a few more if you still haven't seen something you like!
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein: novel told from the perspective of the dog (loved this one!)
Is There a Doctor in the Zoo, Zoo Vet or any other books by zoo veterinarian David Taylor
Culture Clash by Jean Donaldon (behavior)
Horseshoes, Cowsocks and Duckfeet or any other books by Baxter Black
All My Patients Have Tails by Jeff Wells
The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell (behavior)
If Wishes Were Horses by Loretta Gage about attending veterinary school
Have any favorite animal or vet related books of your own?
I liked this one--http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-That-Their-Owners-Coming/dp/0609805339/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310164830&sr=8-1
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