A moray eel diagnosed with anorexia…A herd of bison whose only hope is a crusading female doctor from Paris…A vet desperatel... read full description
reviews
Dec 04, 2009
Colin
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I recieved this book a a present and was highly skeptical of it at first. Frankly, I wasn't sure how good the writing could be (I have found books written by doctors and vets to be poorly written overall) and wasn't really all that interested in reading what I was sure would amount to clumsy case histories of various veterinary patients.
I was quickly absorbed in the book. The stories are all very interesting, each told with a two-fold goal of education and entertainment. It is kin More...
I was quickly absorbed in the book. The stories are all very interesting, each told with a two-fold goal of education and entertainment. It is kin More...
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Apr 14, 2009
Susan
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In what book can you read about a hippo's root canal, a white-tailed deer with earrings, chemotherapy for fish, and a kangaroo with a spinal injury? In The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes and Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and Their Patients, Lucy H. Spelman, DVM and Ted Y. Mashima, DVM have collected 28 stories from the amazing veterinarians around the globe charged with the care of some of the earth's most fascinating and dangerous creatures.
This behind-the-scenes look at vete More...
This behind-the-scenes look at vete More...
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May 21, 2009
Linda
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This book was OK. It is a compilation of essays written by veterinarians who shared their stories about interesting cases. I find books about animal behavior far more interesting and since vets by the nature of their work only get snippets of time with animals, books by actual keepers or researchers tend to have much more interesting material.
This book also highlights for me the difficulties of loving animals but being forced to work within real-world confines. The rhino in the titl More...
This book also highlights for me the difficulties of loving animals but being forced to work within real-world confines. The rhino in the titl More...
Jun 26, 2011
Barky
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Zoo vets are challenged on a daily basis, as they work with creatures that mostly don’t understand when and how humans are trying to help them, and have to deal with the medical needs of many different species. In many cases, vets are encountering a problem for the first time, and must consult colleagues at other zoos/institutions before they proceed with treatment or surgery. In almost every case, patients must be anesthetized just to examine them (from tiny poison dart frogs and goldfish to
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Nov 20, 2010
Kristin
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This book was a special purchase for me for one reason: Sliced Bananas in Jello. It is not very often a book comes out that includes a story on the medical management of an octopus, but this one does. As the title indicates, this book is full of stories from vets who deal with the wilder members of the animal kingdom, who come in all sizes from the title rhino to a poison dart frog the size of a dime.
I enjoyed the variety of tales, often coming from those dealing with wild animals in capti More...
I enjoyed the variety of tales, often coming from those dealing with wild animals in capti More...
Mar 13, 2008
Erica
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Vets are usually vets because they are awesome at science...and not so much with the writing thing. Sure, they can churn out lab reports galore but as literature goes, some were certainly lacking. I admire their dedication to animals and the heartfelt stories, but, the inconsistent and at times poor writing detracted from the book as a whole.
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Jan 29, 2012
David
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This interesting book consists of short vignettes written by zoo veterinarians, in which they recount their experiences treating a variety of wildlife suffering from a variety of illnesses, accidents, and maladies. The subjects include all manner of creatures: mammals, birds, reptiles...even insects. Some of the animals reside in zoos, some are rescued, and some are discovered in the wild, sick and in distress. It's a great bedside-table book, as each chapter is quite short, but it's also fun to
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Jul 06, 2009
PastAllReason
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A collection of stories from zoo vets and vets who treat animals in the wild. The variety of animals included range from a hippo in need of a root canal, a goldfish with cancer, an elephant in the wild with a snare trap attached to its leg, a male silverback gorilla with injuries to his hands, and a chimpanzee named Hondo whose story I enjoyed the most.
My only criticism is that the writing is sometimes uneven, varying with the writing skills of the individual veteranians.
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My only criticism is that the writing is sometimes uneven, varying with the writing skills of the individual veteranians.
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Feb 04, 2009
Rosie
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A collection of true stories from zoo vets and their varied "treatments" for ailing zoo animals. There is the rhino who gets a special rubber shoe after his feet repeatedly get infected, an anorexic moray eel, giving anasthesia to a frog, a bear with brittle bone disease, a rescued fawn with pierced earrings, Norton the shark who doesn't like flying, and more. Short chapters introduce vets who often have to be creative and inventive to keep their varied animals healthy and happy. An ey
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Sep 26, 2011
Kurtbg
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I'm always interested in animal stories which illustrates the divide between what we humans call human and what we call animal. This book is a collection of animal medical stories by veterinarians around the world. Recounted is the medical sleuthing and unique treatments undertaken on poison dart frogs, pandas, sea dragons, octopi, pandas, dung beetles, and more. These stories always have a way of being able to bring out an unthought of aspect of animal life which echoes within are own homo sapi
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Mar 18, 2011
Betty
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Edited by Lucy H. Spelman, DVM and Ted Y. Mashima, DVM with a foreword by Jack Hanna, I really enjoyed this book of short stories by wildlife veterinarians. Easy to read, pick up to read when you don't have much time, or read it all at one go. These are all actual rescues or attempted rescues of wildlife, the stories range from an elephant to a dung beetle and many a strange animal in between. It's a wonderful testament to the care and devotion these men and women give to the animals they have
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Feb 28, 2011
Peacegal
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Rhino is a mostly fascinating look into the world of exotic animal medicine. The dedication and empathy the profiled veterinarians show to their patients is inspiring. I especially enjoyed the stories in which vets toiled to help animals who are so often regarded by our society as unimportant, such as a frog with an injured eye and a goldfish with a cancerous tumor.
As with any collection of medical stories, not all end happily. Many do, however, and one even had a cool twist. One ch More...
As with any collection of medical stories, not all end happily. Many do, however, and one even had a cool twist. One ch More...
Aug 18, 2008
Brittany
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This book is what I expected Life at the Zoo to be like: tales of quirky, interesting, touching, and at times heartrending interactions between zoo vets and animals.
In this case, the book also includes the growing field of "wilderness vets," taking the interesting stance that there really isn't any true wilderness left anymore; only larger or smaller areas of managed wilderness.
In either case, Mashima and Spelman have assembled an impressive group of vets from More...
In this case, the book also includes the growing field of "wilderness vets," taking the interesting stance that there really isn't any true wilderness left anymore; only larger or smaller areas of managed wilderness.
In either case, Mashima and Spelman have assembled an impressive group of vets from More...
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Sep 08, 2010
Laura
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A fun collection of stories from exotic animal vets (both in zoos/aquariums and in the wild). They are definitely written for a general audience, providing less detail than I might have hoped. But I am impressed by the scope -- there's a little bit of everything from seahorses to rhinos and from quick fixes to the frustration of unexplained failures. I also appreciate the emphasis on creativity and the global cooperation that is rapidly increasing within exotic animal care.
Oct 18, 2009
DJ
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Most people would be amazed at the lengths to which these doctors will work to help their patients. Just incredible, their dedication and creativity in looking for ways to make the animals return to health. I was also impressed at how the docs will work to unravel a mystery if the animal didn't survive. Great set of short stories, so there is something for everyone. I think young readers might enjoy this too, particularly if they are considering vet school.
Apr 14, 2009
Susan
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For a loving glimpse into a world few of us ever get to see. For animal stories that will move, amuse, educate, and stay with you long after you've closed the book. A wonderful collection, a gift to us all. And vital as we continue to define and understand our place and responsibilities here on earth. This book deserves a place on every bookshelf, so that it can be revisited and shared whenever we want to feel the living connections we sometimes forget are there.
Sep 11, 2010
Kelly
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Some of the stories of zoo animal rescue, illness and care were very entertaining...others bored me. Each account is reported by the veterinarian in charge of the patient's care which explains the unevenness of the quality of the accounts. Some writers captured the story in a more interesting way than others...all conveyed a love for animals and a desire to advance veterinary medicine in order to better treat the amazing animals in their care.
Apr 27, 2011
Patty
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I'm an animal lover so this book almost automatically appealed to me. There were some interesting stories in this book about cases that the veterinarians have dealt with. I liked the fact that so many different vets contributed. I thought it might be along the lines of James Herriot's "All Creatures Great and Small"- i wasn't as much fun to read, but still enjoyable. I learned a few new things about animals I hadn't given much thought to also.
May 20, 2009
Doug
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The essay about the goldfish with cancer was my favorite. The treatment of these animals was amazing at times. I was only left with the question of money. Some of the procedures seemed like they would have by incredibly expensive. I think I would've liked a cost estimate at the end of each essay. I also would've liked the zoo each person worked at to have been more prominent, like in the byline. Sometimes you'd go a couple of pages before you find out where the event is taking place.
Sep 17, 2008
Maya
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I've had a long-term discomfort with zoos. I feel that imprisoned innocent animals are not something I should be taking enjoyment from. I have taken my son to a couple of zoos, but I felt uneasy; I'm not sure if we'll go back. I nevertheless found this book a fun read. In particular I enjoyed the stories of vets helping wild animals, in the wild. And if there are going to be zoos, then at least the animals should be well taken care of. The vets who wrote these stories are obviously dedicat
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Sep 10, 2008
Judith
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this book was really very interesting. from the difficulty of being a zoo vet, to the compassion and patience that it takes to treat these animals - to the bizarre cases like an anorexic eel, bugs with bugs, or a goldfish with cancer. it was just mind blowing.
obviously there are parts of these books that are sad, its non fiction, and as we all know sometimes all the medical care in the world doesn't help.
but this book is also very hopeful, and really garners respect for t More...
obviously there are parts of these books that are sad, its non fiction, and as we all know sometimes all the medical care in the world doesn't help.
but this book is also very hopeful, and really garners respect for t More...
Oct 27, 2010
Ana
rated it:
his is a really great "short story" collection for the avid animal lover or vet fan. The stories show the trials and triumphs of being a zoo/wildlife vet. Not only are there stories of animals familar to us like rhinos and hippos, but also sea dragons and red tuffed lemurs. All the stories are from vet's experiences and include a mini bio on the vet. The stories are all touching and it becomes a fast read. A great book to pick up with lots of insight about what it means to be a vet and
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May 13, 2009
Janet
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If you liked James Herriot, chances are you’ll enjoy this book. This is going to sound awful, but I was relieved that not all the patients in this book survived their ordeal. I appreciated the realistic view rather than the “everyone lives and we all have a happy ending” saccharine bullshit.
Apr 30, 2010
Natalie
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This was a very interesting book. I had no idea you could do X-Rays on fish, let alone surgery & chemo! Each story about these vets is a good one. I wish some of them had been longer though. It's a fasinating peek into the lives of these animals and the people who care for them.
Jul 09, 2009
Mrs. V
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Touching, cute, daring, and sometimes sad stories from zoo vets. Stories cover everything from dung beetles infested with mites, a moral eel who won't eat because he misses his last owner, to the daunting task of moving two whale sharks across the world.
Jul 07, 2009
MJ
rated it:
636.08
Collection of stories by vets working with wild animals and animals in zoos and aquaria. Absolutely fascinating and if you have any interest in wild animals and/or vets, this is a great read.
Collection of stories by vets working with wild animals and animals in zoos and aquaria. Absolutely fascinating and if you have any interest in wild animals and/or vets, this is a great read.
Dec 04, 2011
Brian
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Provides fascinating insight into the life, work and everyday dramas of being a veterinarian. Also a heartwarming collection of examples of human compassion for animals.
Apr 13, 2009
Audrie
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Very interesting. Before this book I never even considered things like, how you would anesthitise an eel, remove a tumor on a fish, or do a root canal on a hippo.
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Dec 22, 2008
Susan
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Every one of the cases was interesting, but the writers have a variety of styles, and some of them are better doctors than they are writers.
May 05, 2009
Lucy
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This is Ted's and my book, so of course I give it a high rating. Best thing about this book is that it appeals to animal lovers of all ages.
