The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes

Zusatztext "Spelman and Mashima's fascinating exploration of the mysterious and often exciting world of veterinary medicine within the confines of the zoological community is a rare opportunity for the reader to go behind the scenes where the stories of drama, discovery, and compassion have been waiting to be revealed. This book is a compelling journey of the often herculean efforts on behalf of dedicated zoo veterinarians and their charismatic patients..... it is a journey of triumph and tragedy, mystery and discovery, which will keep the reader glued to the pages like the prosthetic shoes glued to a rhino hoof." Jeff Corwin, wildlife biologist and television presenter for Animal Planet and Discovery networks "This is a delightful book. The stories, each amazingly different, are told with warmth, humor and sensitivity. They are sometimes sad, always captivating. It is a book you can dip into on a journey or read before sleep at night. Buy it and give copies to your friends."Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute, UN Messenger of Peace Think House but with patients who cannot speak. Mini life-and-death dramas told by vets who love their patients. USA Today "Lucy Spelman and Ted Mashima have put together a stunning array of stories from twenty-eight of the best wild animal veterinarians in all parts of the world. Whether it is the tale of bringing two whale sharks from Taiwan to the Atlanta Aquarium or the astonishing account of fitting shoes on a foot-sore Asian Rhinoceros, the reader is left with the undeniable conclusion that these vets are contributing indispensable knowledge to a world-wide effort to protect wild creatures threatened by human activity. My hat is off to these unsung heroes of the natural world."-Roger Sant, Chair of the Board of Regents, Smithsonian Institution "This book went straight to my heart for emphasizing something that is often missed by the zoo-going public: the emotional commitment between those who care for zoo animals and their exotic charges. I have worked with the Los Angeles Zoo for almost forty years and, truly, these relationships are beautiful to behold."Betty White, actress/author "Expect to laugh, cry and read in astonishment about the lengths these vets must go to save their uncommon patients. From the hilarious and mad capped to the heartwarming and tragic, this wonderful collection of stories is sure to inspire a whole new generation of wildlife veterinarians. Dr. Spelman and her colleagues show amazing dedication to their work, but they're also cutting-edge scientists who must pioneer new techniques for their patients. They have enormous affection for all manner of incredible creatures and I admire these courageous professionals who routinely put themselves in danger to save the animals in their care." W. Clark Bunting, President and General Manager, Discovery Emerging Networks In settings ranging from zoos to wildlife sanctuaries and from aquariums to the open ocean, and patients that run the gamut from goldfish to Gomek, the world's largest crocodile, these stories reveal the empathy, creativity, and daring of their veterinarian authors. Booklist Entertaining. Readers will be dazzled by stories of recapturing a fugitive herd of wild bison from the outskirts of Paris and medical marvels developed to treat especially small or sensitive patients. Publishers Weekly Informationen zum Autor Lucy H. Spelman, DVM, is the regional veterinary manager for the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project in Rwanda that Dian Fossey created. She is the former director of the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and has been featured on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel. Ted Y. Mashima, DVM, is the director of academic affairs and research for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, based in Washington, D.C. Klappentext <B...

Autorentext

Lucy H. Spelman DVM and Ted Y. Mashima DVM, editors

Klappentext

A moray eel diagnosed with anorexia...A herd of bison whose only hope is a crusading female doctor from Paris...A vet desperately trying to save an orphaned whale by unraveling the mystery of her mother's death...This fascinating book offers a rare glimpse into the world of wild animals and the doctors who care for them. Here pioneering zoological veterinarians&#8212;men and women on the cutting edge of a new medical frontier&#8212;tell real-life tales of daring procedures for patients weighing tons or ounces, treating symptoms ranging from broken bones to a broken heart, and life-and-death dramas that will forever change the way you think about wild animals and the bonds we share with them. At once heart-quickening and clinically fascinating, the stories in this remarkable collection represent some of the most moving and unusual cases ever taken on by zoological vets. A chronicle of discovery, compassion, and cutting-edge medicine, The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes is must reading for animal lovers, science buffs, and anyone who loves a well-told tale.

Zusammenfassung

A moray eel diagnosed with anorexia&#8230;A herd of bison whose only hope is a crusading female doctor from Paris&#8230;A vet desperately trying to save an orphaned whale by unraveling the mystery of her mother&#8217;s death&#8230;This fascinating book offers a rare glimpse into the world of wild animals and the doctors who care for them. Here pioneering zoological veterinarians&#8212;men and women on the cutting edge of a new medical frontier&#8212;tell real-life tales of daring procedures for patients weighing tons or ounces, treating symptoms ranging from broken bones to a broken heart, and life-and-death dramas that will forever change the way you think about wild animals and the bonds we share with them. At once heart-quickening and clinically fascinating, the stories in this remarkable collection represent some of the most moving and unusual cases ever taken on by zoological vets. A chronicle of discovery, compassion, and cutting-edge medicine, The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes is must reading for animal lovers, science buffs, and anyone who loves a well-told tale.

Leseprobe
*Tough Guy Hondo by Barb Wolfe, DVM, PhD

Chimps are a disgusting, violent society,&#8221; advised my colleague as I contemplated the group of thirteen in front of me. This was early in my career and as the new veterinarian at the North Carolina Zoo in 1997, I didn&#8217;t know much about chimpanzee behavior. I stood watching the peaceable group in silent disagreement. A two-year-old wobbled by with a towel on her head. Two juveniles were donning socks for fun, while others poked at bits of food with sticks or bulldozed piles of straw around in circles with their lanky arms. I was marveling at my good fortune. I had a great job&#8212;and my first task of the day was to meet the chimp keepers and learn about these amusing animals in their care.

Punctuating that thought, a low howl began in the room, growing rapidly into a crescendo of hoots and screams. The keeper beside me said softly, &#8220;Just hold still.&#8221; I searched the group for the source of the noise. Hondo, the dominant male, was looking directly at me, bobbing up and down menacingly, while the rest of the group darted frantically about whooping the equivalent of a chimp-language emergency signal. Suddenly, Hondo bounded from the back of the enclosure, launched himself onto the mesh between us, and spat what felt like an ocean of water in my face. I didn&#8217;t hold still. I reeled involuntarily backward, stumbled on a pile of hoses, and ended up propped against a wall&#8212;soaked, horrified, embarrassed, and not entirely sure that I couldn&#8217;t catch Ebola virus from captive chimp spit.

It had never occurred to me that zoo animals would resent their vets. We are hardwired to love animals. We spend our whole lives plotting this career, scooping up clinic poop as kids, getting good grades even in the…