A Country Practice: Scenes from the Veterinary Life

by Douglas Whynott

Chuck Shaw is a vanishing breed--an old-style veterinarian with a quarter of a century of experience who runs a "mixed practice" in rural New Hampshire, treating everything from house cats to milk cows. Week after demanding week, he and his associate, horse expert Roger Osinchuk, make house calls and farm calls, and spend sleepless nights on call, to see to the well-being of patients whose only common denominator is an inability to speak. But the practice is booming, and Chuck decides to take on a third associate, Erika Bruner, fresh out of veterinary school.

Whynott follows these three practitioners into the world of contemporary veterinary medicine, as a witness to memorable encounters and daily dilemmas. He watches as they play gynecologist to cows and horses, obstetrician to calves and colts, podiatrist to creatures whose feet are life and death to them. He captures the struggle to learn a difficult craft on the job, describes the confluence of skill and intuition that is the essence of diagnosis, and depicts the ongoing effort to balance the needs and desires of animals and owners without compromising his creed. A Country Practice is a vivid portrait of the rapidly changing face of an ancient profession.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of the more mundane side of Charles Park Shaw’s first year as a veterinarian in New Hampshire. The practice revolves around his relationship with associates, Roger Osinchuk and Erika Bruner and their clients. The author does a fine job of describing the challenges of uncooperative animals, client expectations, long hours, and family interactions. There are some humorous situations but the author does not shy away from describing self-doubts, frustration with irresponsible animals’ owners, and physical risks to their bodies.

[Julie Havener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a James Herriot and yet insightful about being a vet and the vetinary world. I really enjoyed it. Clean and well written.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so disappointed in this compared with the Herriot books. In particular, these are written in third person rather than first person, which makes them, at least in the hands of this author, rather dry and sterile - "Chuck did…" "Roger did…" The author just doesn't seem to have the gift to make either the human or animal characters come alive.

[Elsalynn99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

i took a lot from this book, but only because i want to be a vet. the writing was a bit disjointed, but the information i wanted was in there. the good news is, it makes me want to be a vet even more!

[Maura · Rating 1 out of 5]

it's suffered from me having read a Herriot book too recently -- it just can't measure up.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a lot of vet bios, and while I like the country ones best, the writing felt a little stiff on this one.

[Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me switch veterinary hospitals. I have not met Douglas Whynott, but I have never received the amount of care and respect at another vets. Great book.