Dr. Doug Coward was born in Berkeley, California. He 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 five years in Australia. He also coached the basketball team and taught biology at Haileybury College and did kangaroo parasite research at the Department of Tropical Veterinary Science at James Cook University. Dr. Coward traveled throughout 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, California. In 1991, Dr. Coward replaced retiring avian and exotic animal specialist at the Animal and Bird Clinic of Mission Viejo, Dr. Perry Svedeen, and has never left.

Dr. Coward is a member of the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, Association of Holistic Veterinarians, Surfers Medical Association, Christian Veterinary Mission, 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, whom he met in Melbourne. They have two daughters and three grandchildren who have all inherited the travel bug. He has spent over seven years working on this book project on animal and human health—including all the mistakes he has made and how to avoid them. Dr. Coward enjoys living near good waves in San Clemente, La Jolla, and Oahu.