The Accidental Veterinarian: Tales from a Pet Practice

by Philipp Schott

“For all animal lovers ... Few books ... approach the combination of fine writing, radical honesty, and endless optimism found [in these] veterinary tales.” (Booklist, starred review)

With insight and humor, Dr. Philipp Schott shares tales from the unlikely path he took into his career as a veterinarian and anecdotes from his successful small-animal clinic. Dr. Schott brings to his writing the benefit of many years of expertise. Wisdom he imparts on readers includes the best way to give your cat a pill, how to prevent your very handy dog from opening a fridge, and how to handle your fish when it has half-swallowed another.

Through these and other experiences, Dr. Schott also learned that veterinary medicine is as much, if not more, about the people as it is the animals. And he will have you laughing and crying as you embark on this journey of discovery with him. “Filled with heartwarming stories any animal lover will enjoy. It’s informative and entertaining, much like our pets themselves!” ― eresa Rhyne, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Dog Lived (and So Will I)

“Who amongst us animal lovers hasn’t fantasized being a vet? Well, read Philipp Schott’s highly entertaining and informative book and learn exactly what you’d be in for―all the poignancy, hilarity, and plain hard work. You may decide to keep your day job, but you’ll be a much better animal companion for having picked up the many insider tips Schott imparts.” ―Barbara Gowdy, award-winning author of The White Bone and Helpless

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Canada

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 23, 2019

About the author

Philipp was born in Germany in 1965. A year later his family emigrated to Canada. Philipp grew up in Saskatoon, regularly returning to Germany to visit. He studied biology the University of Saskatchewan before switching to veterinary medicine. After graduation he moved to Winnipeg with his classmate and future wife, Lorraine. Except for a year taken to backpack around the world, Philipp has been in the same Winnipeg small animal practice since 1990.

His writing began with a travel blog and then a veterinary blog. His first book, "The Accidental Veterinarian", a collection of non-fiction stories from his practice, was published by ECW Press in 2019. It became a Canadian bestseller and was translated into five languages. "The Willow Wren" (ECW Press 2021) is his first novel. "How To Examine a Wolverine", a sequel to "The Accidental Veterinarian" was published in 2021, and the second sequel, "The Battle Cry of the Siamese Kitten" came out in 2023.

Philipp has also been writing cozy-ish mysteries featuring Dr. Peter Bannerman, veterinarian and amateur detective, ! So far there has been "Fifty-Four Pigs" (2022), "Six Ostriches" (2023), and "Eleven Huskies" (2024). "Three Bengal Kittens" should be out soon...

He and Lorraine live in a creaky old house on the river with two children and several pets. Although the clinic, writing, and his family keep him busy, he spends as much time outdoors as he can. He's a particular fan of long-distance walking, having completed the West Highland Way, the Hadrian's Wall Path, the Laugavegur, and the Inca Trail, among others. The pandemic has turned him to virtual walks, with the latest project being a 2300 km trek from The Shire to Mordor. He's learning how sturdy those hobbits really were.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review This memoir is about Philipp Schott's transition from musician to vet. It's quite a good read in the vein of All Creatures Great and Small with anecdotes and experiences of working with animals, but really it is about working with their owners. There is some good advice, some points I didn't agree with (but that's ok, I like anything that makes me think), and of course, some humour. It is a good read, and has interesting points to make and I'm looking out for the author's other vet-memoir book, How to Examine a Wolverine: More Tales from the Accidental Veterinarian.
__________

Reading notes There have been some kind of funky bits. Like having to manually express anal gland fluid from dogs (and cats) that are dragging their arses on the ground from discomfort. Very stinky. And having to express semen from a dog who was very uninterested in the hand manipulation going on. (I don't think a male vet's hand is quite what a dog is programmed to think of as 'arousing').

The author also doesn't believe in natural products for feeding animals. Says there is nothing special about 'natural' food. He says mostly they look like they are healthy, but that's just the packaging, they are designed to make as much profit as possible not to be as healthy as possible. Whether or not you agree with that point, there was one very good one he made and he said that this was just one of the problems with these so-called 'natural' feeds. As a vet specialising in small animals, I think he should be taken seriously.

The most potent cancer-causing agent yet identified anywhere is aflatoxin, which is produced by a certain mould on peanuts, rice and a few other foods. Tiny amounts that are undetectable to the eye, nose or taste buds are enough to cause a problem. Aflatoxin is perfectly natural and has been around since we were still living in trees and grunting at each other. And it has cropped up in some small-batch dog foods with poor quality control.

My cats only like kibble anyway. Friskies, purple or orange bags, never blue. Plus tuna water and Brunswick tuna (the cheapest, thankfully).
__________

First, a fun thing to do, but very disgusting, if you are a multiple cat owner. If one of your cats is pooping outside the litter box but you don't know which one, "you can put non-toxic sparkles in one cat's food at a time until yuo see whose sparkly poo" is not in the litter box.
Clever but, ick.

I'm learning as much about people's health as dogs and cats. Dogs with the runs should be given a low-residue diet that has very little fibre so the gut can rest, white rice, white bread etc, but also a probiotic to put healthy bacteria back into the body. Not yoghurt, as everyone thinks, but canned pumpkin which provides a lot of good bacteria. Who knew!

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

More practical and serious than I expected from the synopsis, but the shared tales are insightful and educational. I expected more humor, perhaps in the form of veterinary mishaps, or amusing animal antics, but those anecdotes were few and far between. Instead, it's more of a look at the veterinary profession and pet health with a few patient profiles and some advice for pet owners sprinkled in. I do commend Dr. Schott for his uncomplicated explanations, forthright recommendations, and his compassionate consideration regarding human emotional distress over euthanasia.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philipp Schott's parents were not "pet people," and would require a lot of persuading to agree to share their home with a furry creature of any kind. Schott cannily chose a small creature that could be kept contained for his first pet and "began the work of building up the Mongolian gerbil as the ideal pet in my parents' minds." Schott succeeded in his campaign, which was reminiscent of my own campaign to own my own pet. In my case, it was a hamster.

Like my own childhood hamster, Bobo the gerbil was an "escape artist." However, he couldn't resist the temptation of sunflower seeds and his constant snacking resulted in him become too fat to squeeze through the mesh. "He stayed in the cage exchanging his freedom for tasty snacks. A trade off familiar to Doritos addicts everywhere."

I particularly enjoyed the passages where Schott explains what it takes to be a vet and that it is surprisingly people-centered rather than all about animals. After all, the owners and guardians are the ones that advocate for their animals who cannot describe the symptoms or tell where the pain is. Vets are reliant on fostering cooperative relationships with owners and guardians to asses and accurately diagnose the condition of the animal. As Schott writes, "You can only help animals by communicating clearly and empathetically with people."

Schott tells veterinary students that "Veterinary medicine is not an animal business that happens to involve people but a people business that happens to involve animals."

Other quotes that caught my ears:

"We are permitted to help people who are ironically often at their most human around animals."

"Once you know something it is very difficult to recreate the state of mind when you didn't know it." So true!

This book was read by Tom Perkins who has a very pleasant voice that I enjoyed listening to. His pacing is good also, he neither speaks too fast or too slow, it was just right.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I think of veterinarians, I think of playing with cute puppies and kitties all day with maybe a couple of vaccinations added onto the day. But, the author is keen to let us know that that is not the true picture at all. He actually describes veterinary medicine as less an animal business with occasional human contact but really a human business that happens to have animals. His interaction with the pet owners forms the main part of being a veterinarian. This book is a series of essays/stories from the author's years of practice as a small pet veterinarian in central Canada. It has its funny and heartwarming moments. It also has some gross moments - like talking about diarrhea and what constitutes it in cats and dogs. It also talks about serious issues, like the high rate of suicides in the profession, which is not something discussed widely. The latter may be due to the high stakes and high pressures inherent in the job. As the book states, a veterinarian has to be proficient in the various medical specialties (heart, lungs, skin, surgery, etc.) . Moreover, they are routinely involved in the euthanasia of sick animals - which alone could cause depression. All in all, an informative, sometimes humorous behind the scenes glimpse into a challenging profession.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Accidental Veterinarian is a non-fiction book by Canadian veterinarian and author, Philipp Schott. It comes in the format of essays, many with intriguing titles like The Wild Arctic Chihuahua, The Ballad Of The Prairie Flea, Consider The Ostrich and The Cats Who Might Be Canaries.

Schott divides his book into four broad sections and includes anecdotes about patients he has seen over his (at the time) twenty-eight-year career as well as opinions, a great deal of information in easily-assimilated form, and lots of good general advice. He does issue warnings for squeamish readers when necessary.

The text is enhanced with amusing illustrations by Brian Gable and in one anecdote, readers familiar with the preview of the author’s second novel may spot the seeds of an idea.

As well as explaining his choice of occupation, Schott describes the wide and shallow nature of practicing veterinary medicine. He takes the opportunity to expound on costs and charges, and a myriad of aspects of veterinary practice. He shares his pet hates, what not to do as a client, and how important feedback is for the practice. He notes some occupational hazards, theorises on the high veterinarian suicide rate, the emotional cost of frequent euthanising, and the perils, for clients, of relying on Dr Google DVM.

In these essays, he describes the whacky people, talks about poo and anal glands, pee, tick and fleas. He tells of encounters with the avian extremes of an ostrich and a hummingbird; of the ethical and moral quandary involved in treating captive non-domestic species (in this case an Australian sugar glider); an encounter with a lion fish; bizarre dog appetites and their ingenuity in satisfying them; diagnosing the cause of a rabbit’s crazy behaviour; witnessing the cleverness of a certain seeing-eye dog; and the best way to give the cat a pill.

Even when he mounts his soapbox on something about which he feels strongly, such as vaccination, or “natural” products (on both of which any responsible pharmacist would wholeheartedly agree), he’s never preachy; rather his explanations are redolent with expertise and common sense.

The tone is conversational and this makes the book very readable. It is often moving and, at times, thought-provoking. You don’t have to be a pet owner to enjoy this informative, entertaining and frequently laugh-out-loud funny book.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and somewhat funny book about the life of a vet. He covers topics such as spaying, euthanasia, poop color and the different things pets eat - even when they shouldn't. It's short and not quite as funny and informative as some other books out there, such as "never work with animals" by Gareth Steel. The problem with vets is that they tend to want with animals, not realizing that what the job really is about is money and people, with some pets on the side.

Veterinarian was my dream job too, for some years. I'm happy that I didn't try for it and decided for line of work that was less physically and mentally brutal.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I always love Vet stories and anecdotes, and this book was no exception. If anything, it was too short and I would have preferred to get more of a background on Philipp and his experiences. he writes that no one would want that, especially of his college days, but that was exactly what I wanted! But the quality of what was there was good, and enjoyed it. It was well written and funny at times, as well as serious. I learned some things too, which I hadn't previously realized about vets/procedures.

If you're looking for a modern vet book, give this one a try. Four stars.

[CanadianReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I found this a charming and easy-to-read book about Schott’s experiences as a veterinarian of 28 years. I was somewhat uncomfortable with what were obviously intended to be amusing anecdotes about some of his “wackier” clients. It struck me that he didn’t always have insight into why they might’ve behaved as they did. For example, an elderly lady kept records of her cat’s completely normal bowel movements (pages of which she then read to him). Indolent intestinal lymphoma is not uncommon in cats, and it manifests with changes in the animal’s stool. It is possible that this owner had previously lost a cat to lymphoma and was attempting to be proactive.

Schott also includes advice on pilling cats, suggesting that if owners have trouble with this, they should check to see if a long-acting injectable is available. The problem with this approach is that if the animal has an untoward serious reaction, nothing can be done about it. If you’re using pills, you can STOP administering them if the cat sickens. Once an injectable antibiotic like Convenia is in the body, however, it’s in there for the duration. Although generally well tolerated, this drug may cause a pet to “have decreased appetite, vomiting, decreased activity, depression, or anaphylaxis, which is a serious allergic reaction. Convenia® can also cause anemia, a decreased immune system efficiency, a blood platelet problem or a clotting problem.” The European Medicines Agency also warns that “Neurological signs (ataxia, convulsion or seizure) and injection site reactions have been reported in very rare cases after the use of the product.”

I’ve taken my companion animals to a heck of a lot of vets over the years. While it may be true, as Schott claims, that veterinarians are (or begin as) sensitive souls, they often don’t remain that way. I’m aware they’re stressed, overworked and exposed to a lot of suffering, not just that of the animals they care for but also of the people who are bonded with those animals. Some burn out very quickly. (The suicide rate in this career field is quite high.) It strikes me that the selection of perfectionist vet school candidates with the highest marks, just like the selection of the most academically successful students for medical school, may not be the best policy. Some of these candidates don’t reason effectively or handle stress well and they aren’t good with people (which Schott says is more important in vet medicine than most people know).

I agree with the author that going after veterinarians or anyone else for that matter on social media is highly problematic. However, I believe judiciously worded, factually based warnings about some practitioners is helpful to others who may be considering taking their pet to a particular clinic or vet professional. Regulatory bodies seldom hold negligent veterinary and medical professionals appropriately accountable. Dispensing “advice” is the most common response from regulators. No one checks to see that the advice is actually followed or adhered to.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a veterinarian in Manitoba, and this is a memoir of how he became a vet, as well as anecdotes of his practice, including not only the pets/animals he sees, but also the people and behind the scenes, as well. It was originally written as a series of blog posts (or most of the stories, anyway).

I found this really interesting; in addition to the animal stories, he discusses things like costs, diseases, etc. He gives tips on dealing with your vet, as well as dealing with your pet (i.e. giving a pill to your cat!). He also talks about the people he sees. Because it’s written in short “essays”, it moves from one topic to the next quickly, but that didn’t really bother me. I really enjoyed this!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant interlude of a book for those of us who love our animals and rely on the vets who care for them.  Canadian vet Phillipp Schott’s calm voice, practical point of view, and gentle humor is so like the vets I’ve known through many years and wonderful pets - hermit crabs (funny little fragile things) to horses (funny big fragile things) and variously-sized dear things in between.  Dr. Schott raises our awareness of the challenges unique to veterinary practices, clinics encompassing nearly the entirety of medicine in one hectic place, and he includes practical and interesting tips for neophytes and the seasoned as well:  when to call a vet, what to expect, advice on fleas and ticks, what chocolate actually does to dogs, “natural” food, supportive wisdom on end-of-life eventualities.

Good stuff, and, of course, plenty of the anecdotes we all enjoy so much.  Petit Choux, the pet rabbit of a French Canadian client, heard by the receptionist as Petty Chew.  The interesting observation/opinion that U.S. clients complain less about veterinary costs than Canadians do because, perhaps, they are aware of the cost of medicine for human beings.  Hmmmm.  And the child who wrote the good doctor about his ambition to be a “vat”.  Dr. Schott muses that he too once dreamed of becoming a “large container”, but decided to become a vet instead.  Glad he did.

Set for release on April 23 from ECW Press.

Full Disclosure:  A review copy of this book was provided to me by ECW Press via NetGalley.  I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me this opportunity.  All opinions expressed herein are my own.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Philip Schott’s slight book, The Accidental Veterinarian, is a collection of posts from his blog, Vetography. The posts are alternately biographical, advice about pets, and stories about clients and their pets (the best parts). I suspect that long-time readers of Dr. Schott’s blog won’t find much new here. For readers who haven’t heard of or read the blog, The Accidental Veterinarian is a fun jaunt through the life of a vet...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.

[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Na początku sobie pomyślałam, że to jest uroczo chaotyczne, jak praca weterynarza, ale z czasem stwierdziłam, że w tym nie ma nic uroczego, tylko jest niekontrolowany chaos. Słuchałam jej cztery lata po premierze i już mam wrażenie, że sporo rzeczy jest przestarzałych. Dla kogoś, kto ma zwierzę, liznął temat i ma chociaż podstawową wiedzę - rzadko jest zabawna, częściej żenująca i miałam wrażenie, że żarty trochę na siłę.

Osobiście wolałabym kilka konkretnych przypadków, trochę ciekawostek - zwłaszcza ciekawostek! i fajnie przemyconej wiedzy. Dostałam mnóstwo historyjek, kilka anegdot o kupie i zastanawiałam się, czy autor czasem nie pomylił grupy docelowej, bo to sprawia wrażenie bajki na dobranoc dla dzieci, a nie lektury dla dorosłego człowieka. Generalnie zawód straszny i za dwa dni zapomnę pewnie o jej istnieniu.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy of this book from ECW press. Thank you to the publishers for sending me this book. All opinions are my own!

I was a big fan of James Herriot growing up so was excited to read a new book about veterinary practice. Schott's book is quite different from Herriot's. I was expecting a similarly deep look into the lives and personalities of animals. That's not what this is about, but it was enjoyable for a lot of other reasons. I would highly recommend Schott's book to anyone who owns a pet and visits a vet regularly, or to anyone who might be thinking of becoming a vet in the future. The essays are very much about developing an understanding of what it is that vets really do, and how pet owners can have the best relationship possible with their vets. There are lots of amusing anecdotes as well (I particularly enjoyed the story of the chihuahua who was one of the only dogs that actually bit the author, and in spectacular fashion) but they weren't the heart of the book as I had thought they would be.

Schott is clearly passionate about his practice and has written a book of essays in an accessible, friendly tone that really brings the profession itself to the fore. Schott has an essay on suicide rates among vets, on why pet owners should visit their vet regularly, and what sort of people should go into veterinary science. In many ways this is a handbook for pet owners and future vets. I am neither a current pet owner or a future vet, so I found some of the essays that were instructional in nature less engaging than others, but overall there was lots to enjoy for just about anyone who likes animals. Schott's kind and empathetic nature shines through in all the essays and I hope that if I do get a pet in the future I'll find a vet to care for us with a similar passion for their profession.

[Steve Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another audio book listen for driving and at home while mowing the lawn and completing other tasks. An insightful look into our pets from a veterinarian. I was a bit put off early on by what seemed to be pandering to what I considered an older audience. However, author Dr. Philipp Schott is witty and clearly informed about the topic at hand. This is a fun way to gain knowledge about everything from the color of your pets bowel movement (shit) to how to be a better client when caring for a sick animal.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book received from NetGalley

Review to Come

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

World's best description of a chihuahua: "a baked potato with four toothpicks stuck in for legs and an angry walnut for a head."

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second read by the author (I started with his second book "How to examine a wolverine"), and it did not disappoint. I felt like this first book had fewer anecdotes, and focused more on becoming and being a veterinarian, all of which I loved. If you start with this book, I'm here to tell you that there are even more funny stories in the second book. "The accidental veterinarian" is part general advice for pet owners, part memoir, all interwoven with the author's personal brand of humor. That does not mean that the book does not discuss serious topics: from the high rate of suicide in the profession, to dying animals, to grief, the book has it all. (My heart still breaks at the story of the dying hummingbird: “Philip, I hate to tell you this, but he's going to die no matter what you do.” her tone was kind, and I knew that she was probably right, but I somehow couldn't square it with the manifest intensity of the life that was cupped in my hand.) But most supreme is a light conversational tone, meant to educate and fill the reader with awe and enthusiasm. This book filled my heart with love. And as the author says in the last paragraph of the last chapter: "Love is blind. It is blind to gender, color, age, shape, religion, and it is absolutely blind to species."
I cannot wait to read more from this author.

[Michael Delaware · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of anecdotes and professional insight any pet owner will enjoy. It will make you smile, laugh and sometimes shock you. Worth reading.

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taka meh, chyba najgorsza z takiego gatunku co czytałam

[Cheryl Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has a lot of good veterinary advice.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up as I needed the good natured stories about pets and their owners. If you like James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small series, you will like this. And of you happen to work with animals, you will also appreciate it.

[Sarah Ewald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty quick read and an actually small volume of a book. I thought it was going to be about the different animals met and treated during his work (actually the last chapter was devoted to those stories), but most of the book was about the common ailments of cats and dogs (okay, one duck and a couple of rabbits and a fish) and advice about what to do about them. Poo and pee are also discussed.
All are told with a wry sense of humor. His practice is in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and he also has an on-line blog.
Enjoyable book.

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! Plus, I learned so much. He had me totally engaged when he talked about choosing his vet career instead of a 'brotlose kunst'. I had the same lecture, but was not an obedient young person.

I'm glad that Philipp Schott followed the detour path into writing. Looking forward to reading his newest book. Next time I visit his animal clinic, maybe I can get an autograph!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories from a practicing veterinarian. Enjoyed learning how and why the author decided to become a veterinarian, the schooling and on the job learning and finally the day to day work of being a veterinarian. This book should be read by anyone considering a career as a veterinarian and anyone that has a pet or plans to get one. Anyone that reads this book will probably learn a thing or two that is useful. Fun to read with fascinating anecdotes from real-life experiences by the author.

[Kamila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the medical aspects of this book. I did purchase this book and I plan on re reading it some time in the future while annotating. The stories were all filled with emotion and valuable information I would love to hold with me as I pursue my career. This book was an easier read with smaller chapters.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I would give this a 3.5, the last section of the book Pecuiliar Tales From Veterinary Practice deserves 5 though.

This book is surprisingly information in general, but also gives readers an inside look at the day in the life of a veterinarian. It talks about the good, the bad and the ugly which I think is important since so many people think this profession is all about cuddling animals.

"People are often at their most human around animals."

[Angie Boyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm, engaging, and informative look at the life of a vet
Like most teens, Philipp Schott did not know what he wanted to be when he grew up, but when it came time to enter college his father stressed the importance of choosing a field that would offer employment when he graduated. Veterinary medicine seems like a surprising choice, since Schott’s entire experience with pets consisted of one pet gerbil, but he liked zoology, and he liked cats and dogs, so what the heck! The result has been a career of almost 30 years treating small animals, a career that has enriched the lives of many animals and their humans and clearly brought fulfillment to Schott as well.
The Accidental Veterinarian is a collection of short pieces written over the past two years that tells Schott’s story from his decision to become a veterinarian to the present day. The essays cover his training, the practical experience of being a veterinarian, interesting bits of veterinary science, and stories of some of the more “peculiar” cases he has encountered. But those topics sound dull, and The Accidental Veterinarian is anything but. Schott realized early on that a love of people is as essential to success as a veterinarian as a love of animals, and this is a warm book as full of humanity as it is of cats and dogs (and gerbils). As Schott says, he has had “hardened-looking men confess that they cried more when their dog died than when their father died, and… lonely elderly women say that they have laughed more with their kitten than they have about anything else …for a very long time.” The main focus is on the people and animals, and I laughed a lot and teared up more than once. But I also learned some interesting veterinary lore, like the possibility that the frequency of a cat’s purr may encourage tissue healing, which could explain why it is beneficial for cats to purr when they are injured. As a cat person I have become accustomed to being labeled a “crazy cat lady”, but some of the rather bizarre lengths dog people will go to , like “neuticles” (Look it up!) surpass anything I have seen in the cat world.
One small caveat: I had considered recommending this book to a young middle-schooler who wants to be a veterinarian, but there are a few incidents that would prevent me from giving it an unqualified “G” rating. Parents might want to preview the book for younger readers.
Since this is a collection of short pieces, each only a page or two long, The Accidental Veterinarian is perfectly designed for those times when you just have a few minutes to kill and would like something to entertain you. That is how I intended to read the book, but when I began to read I found it so engaging that I sat down and polished it off in one afternoon. No matter how you approach it, though, if you like animals or just appreciate a warmly told tale of an “accidental” life choice, this book should be a good choice for you. Schott describes the animals he has treated as “endlessly fascinating, endlessly charming, endlessly appealing”; so is his book.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of essays from an experienced veterinarian. While readers of Schott blog may be familiar with some or all of the stories here, those unfamiliar (like me) will find plenty of chuckles (and maybe a few tears) and some great insights into caring for their own pets as well as a better understanding of what your vet encounters on a daily basis. I was surprised to hear about the possible link between off-gassing from furnishings and carpets to hyperthyroidism is cats. That's something I'll have to ask my vets about next time I'm in. I was also shocked to hear that the suicide rate among vets is higher than average though the author's discussion of this makes sense. Some readers are disappointed that this isn't just a collection of fun pet-related stories, but I appreciated the author's candor, humor and insight about all things vet-related. And yes, please, if you're considering becoming a vet and don't like people much, do reconsider your choice.

Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Tekla György (teklakonyvei) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alapvetően a könyv remek kikapcsolódás volt, a fejezetek nayon rövidek, szóval könnyű beleesni a „csak még egyet elolvasok” mielőtt bármibe belekezdek problémakörbe. Ahogy pedig fentebb említettem, inkább humoros, mint szívszaggatóak a történetek, nagyon sokszor edukatív is, ezért akár 12-13 éves gyerekek kezébe is bátran odaadnám, hiszen aki ennyi idősen szereti az állatokat, annak azért lehet jó olvasmány, akinek pedig nincs házikedvence, nos, ott talán a szülő készüljön fel arra, hogy lehet, hogy hamarosan ezzel fogják ostromolni. Mert összességében egy olyan ember műve ez, aki maga is rajong az állatokért, és a fejezetekből nagyon szépen kirajzolódik az, hogy miért is érdemes kutyát vagy macskát tartani nem csak gyerekes háztartásokban, hanem akár felnőttként is. Egy cica vagy egy kutya remek társ – ezt én magam is meg tudom erősíteni –, rengeteg szeretetet adnak, és nincs olyan élethelyzet, amikor nem férne meg egy kedvenc az otthonunkban.

[Celtic · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of you who love animals and have read books by James Herriot, this book is for you! But please note, this book is NOTHING like the James Herriott books!

This book is packed full of humour, interesting (and sometimes sad) fun stories and lots of great, vetted advice for those of us who have a pet.

The author has included tales from his practice as a small animal veterinarian, but he's also included a section on why it is so expensive to go to the vet, which was an eye-opener for me!

Oh, and if you've ever wanted to become a vet when you were young or are considering this as a career now......then please do read this book before you make your decision!

Though nothing like the James Herriot books, reading about the life and work of a modern day vetenarian was certainly an interesting read!