Animal and Client Encounters

Qualifying as a veterinary surgeon over 50 years ago, James has seen enormous changes in his work of a general practitioner. From being a student learning from James Herriot through general practice to involvement with university life, the author has had an extremely busy life that encompassed many exciting, humorous, and quite often dangerous experiences!The elation and satisfaction of successful outcomes as well as the sadness of end-of-life scenarios are all portrayed together with the hardships and rigour of working on farms in adverse weather conditions.This is balanced by the recounting of the many, often self-deprecating, humorous episodes that made up the daily life of this vet. Although gentle fun is conveyed in the majority of the stories, it is not at the expense of nor the dignity of the clients, all of whom were greatly respected.Life was never dull and the unexpected was only ever a phone call away.

James Alexander is the pen name of a Scottish veterinary surgeon with over 50 years’ experience of treating many different kinds of animal. He is most fortunate to have lived through the era when vets had to be omnicompetent in the treatment of all species and at the age of nine to have been inspired by the famous James Herriot who he ‘assisted’ whilst operating on a piglet on a farm in Yorkshire. He has cared for most species (and their owners!), ranging from farm animals in the Highlands of Scotland to exotic pets and zoo animals.