Vet Downunder

Mike Small worked as a New Zealand vet with farm animals and small animals, encountering a range of loveable, hilarious, eccentric and larger-than-life characters, both two- and four-legged. This warm-hearted memoir recounts his life as a vet from his training through his apprenticeship to the running of his own practice. Along the way he has dealt with practical jokers, rock-eating dogs, intersex cats, the new puppy discovering the old pet (with surprising results), a range of rural types from rough to refined, and much more besides. This memoir is set against the beautiful New Zealand landscape that Mike knew so well, travelling country winding roads on his many house calls. Mike writes with compassion and gentle humour, and anyone who has loved James Herriot's stories will enjoy these short accounts from a rich and rewarding life as a vet downunder.

Introduction

In the beginning 

In training and more 

WET BEHIND THE EARS

First job 

Light-hearted relief 

Live and learn 

Dinner time 

Midnight solo 

Flambé

MIXED PRACTICE

Creatures great and small

Virus virulence 

Heart in the right place

Courtney

A pound and a half of chihuahua

Hard of hearing 

How old? 

A barren tale 

Glass full 

A stab in the dark 

A sour affair 

Too close to call 

Slip sliding away 

A wild fare 

Soup for lunch? 

A rocky ride 

Food fest 

A wet day 

Third time lucky?

Dear Betty 

Oh deer 

Scratch your head

One jab too many 

A fishy tale 

A sad affair 

Basil who? 

You never stop learning

Dry run 

Spring feast 

Slippery customer

Birthday surprise 

It's chocolate time

Not in the line of duty

Reserve capacity 

Late for school 

Tying times 

Farm kill 

Summit time 

Insult to injury

Musical pills 

Fair game 

Needle in a haystack

How long? 

Double bolt 

Watch that puppy

Sleeping dogs don't tell It only happens to a vet

Spring gain 

You what? 

It's in the bag

Afterthoughts

About the author