Mind Over Miller: Books lovingly penned by DVMs

But ever since Herriot's immensely popular and successful endeavors, an increasing number of veterinarians have written books—our everyday practice stories are popular reading.

Robert M. Miller, DVM

I was one of the first to follow in Herriot's footsteps with Most of My Patients Are Animals. Nearly all the chapters in that book were originally published in this journal in "Mind Over Miller."

That book was recently updated and new cartoons were added. The title was changed, at Amazon's request, to Yes, We Treat Aardvarks, subtitle Stories from an Extraordinary Veterinary Practice (Robert M. Miller Communications, 2010).

Since I did Most of My Patients Are Animals, several colleagues have written books for the general public, and I have reviewed many of them on this page. As much as these books have delighted the laity, I am sure they are even more meaningful to veterinarians because who better than we can identify with and fully comprehend the situations described.

The most recent of such books that came to my attention is Feeding Fido and Fluffy, Too, by Dr. Bud Stuart (Bud Stuart DVM, 2011).

Bud happens to be a member of the same local association I belong to—the Santa Barbara and Ventura County VMA. He is also an ordained minister.

For Squire

His book is a collection of practice stories and advice for pet owners. It includes anecdotes, case histories, unorthodox therapies, which he found effective, and, especially, nutritional advice.

Bud told me that at this stage of his life and his very varied veterinary career, he wants this book to be his legacy. He hopes it offers help to pet owners and especially helps increase the longevity of the life spans of dogs and cats. His love of animals, so essential to our calling, is obvious.

Yet Dr. Stuart's career has by no means been limited to small-animal practice. He has done large-animal practice (mostly bovine, but not exclusively), has taught at Cornell, has served as a veterinarian in the U.S. Air Force, and has practiced in several geographic areas during his half century as a veterinarian.

Nothing could more touchingly demonstrate his love for his patients than his poem at the end of the book, following a chapter on euthanasia titled "When It's Time to Part" (see "For Squire" sidebar).

Robert M. Miller, DVM, is an author and a cartoonist, speaker, and Veterinary Medicine Practitioner Advisory Board member from Thousand Oaks, Calif. His thoughts in "Mind Over Miller" are drawn from 32 years as a mixed-animal practitioner. Visit his website at robertmmiller.com.