Douglas Coward, DVM, MS

Dr. Doug Coward received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Santa Clara, a Master of Science in Animal Ecology, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California at Davis. Upon graduation from Santa Clara, Dr. Coward played basketball for 5 years in Australia. He also coached the basketball team and taught biology at Hailebury College and did kangaroo parasite research at the Department of Tropical Veterinary Science at James Cook University. Dr. Coward traveled through Australia and then spent another year traveling and viewing wildlife in their natural habitats in New Guinea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and Africa before veterinary school.

Dr. Coward did an internship with Dr. Thad Thorson, a renowned avian, reptile, exotic animal, and small animal dermatologist in Long Beach. Dr. Coward replaced retiring avian and exotic animal specialist, Dr. Ken Svedeen, at The Animal and Bird Clinic of Mission Viejo in 1991 and has never left!  Dr. Coward is a member of the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, Association of Holistic Veterinarians, Surfers Medical Association, and Academy of Human Integrative Health and Medicine.

Dr. Coward enjoys surfing every morning, attempting to pass his yoga teachers course started in Australia in 1976, and traveling with his wife Nancy who he met in Melbourne. They have two daughters, Kelly and Shawn, who inherited the travel bug! Dr. Coward recently worked in Mongolia with Christian Veterinarian Mission. He has nearly completed a three-year book writing project on animal and human health – all the mistakes he has made and how to avoid them!