David Taylor (1) (1934–2013)

David Taylor is such a good storyteller, and his firsthand accounts of working with exotic animals are always interesting (and sometimes downright funny). In The Wandering Whale some of the creatures he treats include an orphaned walrus, a capuchin monkey in need of a caesarean, a stranded whale, another monkey with diabetes, falcons suffering from fungus in their lungs and an emu who can't lay its egg. There's also a self-destructive hornbill, a pair of pandas in a zoo reluctant to mate, show more and the heart-wrenching story of an orca suffering from a mysterious internal infection. Taylor doesn't have any qualms about sharing the more depressing, unpleasant aspects of vet work. It was really sad to read about the whale he struggled for months to save, not knowing exactly what was wrong but going through treatment after futile treatment (including ozone therapy, something I never heard of before). I wonder if nowadays it would be any easier to diagnose and treat such a sick whale...

The book is pretty focused on just telling stories of Taylor's work with the animals. He doesn't spend much time explaining background events. One chapter does veer into a kind of rant on how mankind exploits animals, even those we keep as beloved pets. Overall it was a really enjoyable read, with information that sometimes surprised me.

from the Dogear Diary show less

I've read many books featuring veterinarians which were hailed on the jacket blurbs as being comparable to James Herriot but they were never quite as good as promised. In David Taylor, I finally found a writer who stands up to the comparison. Taylor was the first veterinarian to specialize in exotic species. He worked for a number of zoos throughout his career. Similar to Herriot, Taylor describes working before anesthetic dart guns and other modern conveniences for veterinary medicine were show more developed; he often had to think up ingenious ways to work with or treat dangerous animals. The writing is very informative about what goes on behind the scenes in a zoo regarding wildlife heath and treatment. It is thrilling at times with many narrow escapes, very humorous and quite engaging. I enjoyed the book very much.

from the Dog Ear Diary show less

This collection is the sixth casebook written by wildlife vet David Taylor, and the third I have read so far. I really enjoy these wonderfully written autobiographies; they manage to be both humorous and poignant, and Taylor's love of animals really shines through. He genuinely has their best welfare at heart.

From the outset the books may appear a bit dated, having been written almost three decades ago- but however you may personally feel about zoos, circuses or marine parks, they are still show more worth a read. I just love Taylor's accounts of his adventures and the numerous countries he heads to in treating his patients.

This book has its sad moments that really make you think- some of Taylor's stories prove to be prophetic actually, particularly how he sees the decline of some animals. One story recounts the mystery illness of Dolphin's in the Adriatic Sea, another looks at how one elephant keeper was unknowingly on the verge of killing their charge with kindness. My favourite escapade from the book though was the tale of `Melvin,' an octopus who went on the rampage at Heathrow customs! The book also doesn't shy away from the grimmer aspects of wildlife medicine, including autopsies and the potential dangers posed to Taylor himself.

If you like reading about animals in a non-textbook, down to earth way that doesn't come across as preachy, then you will enjoy Taylor's style of writing. I would recommend giving this, `The Wandering Whale' or `Next Panda Please!' a shot. They're lovely little books.

*This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk* show less

I do rescue work with stray and feral cats so I really appreciate all of the useful and easily accessible advice and information in this wonderful book. It was written by a leading British veterinarian and the differences in national attitude toward cats is evident and rather interesting (I prefer the more humane British outlook.)
The book contains virtually everything one needs to know to choose and care for a domestic cat as a pet. There is a thorough section with beautiful photographs of show more all the different breeds, coat and color variations. There is ample information on grooming, feeding and nutrition and everyday care. It has unique diagnostic charts that show how to spot signs of illness and gives practical ideas for first aid and home care as well as advice on when to call the vet. It has a really great section on pregnancy and kitten care. The information in this book enabled me to save the life of a first born kitten born to an inexperienced queen that was abandoned by the confused young mother and left to get very cold and weak. I immersed it up to its neck in a bowl of warm water and massaged it according to the book's directions and "Lazarus" went on to become a very beautiful long-haired charcoal gray cat with four white socks, a plump and happy family pet. When my husband first found him laying on the kitchen floor he thought the kitten was already dead.
This book is chock-full of good advice that is well-indexed and easy to locate. It covers every aspect of a cat's health and life including feline personality and behavior. There are many good books on cat care and I've read a great many of them but this one is still my favorite and has given me the most help in understanding and caring for these delightful animals. show less