The Hippo with Toothache: Heart-warming Stories of Zoo and Wild Animals and the Vets Who Care for Them

Meet Mohan, a rhino whose feet would not stop bleeding. And Patch, a hobby falcon who broke his wishbone. And Kachina, a black bear who spent the first months of her life in a complete body cast because her bones were so brittle. Not to mention Alfredito the hippo, who suffered from toothache for weeks because he was too large to be sedated safely. All these animals owe their lives to the dedicated and pioneering zoo vets who cared for them, often performing daring procedures in unprecedented circumstances. In this fascinating book, these vets - and many others besides - tell the stories of their most unusual cases, describing not only the ingenious techniques they employed but also the bonds that grew up between them and their exotic patients.
Whether it’s one doctor’s heartbreaking effort to save a critically ill lemur, the neurosurgeon with no training in veterinary science who agreed to operate on a paralysed kangaroo, or the vet who refused to give up on an orphaned baby beluga whale, these are acts o