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Never Work With Animals
Gareth Steel wants you to understand vets in a way you never could have before.
How it feels to watch a healed dog bound into their owner’s arms. The joy of breathing life into the fluid-filled lungs of a newborn calf after a difficult labour. The satisfaction of rescuing a distressed sheep from the high-tide line.
What it’s like to work 100-hour weeks for less than the minimum wage. How it can scar your soul to euthanize a beloved puppy with its grieving family beside you. The pressure of having to know such a diverse range of medicine, that one hour you can be protecting yourself from a dangerously distressed horse and the next you can be performing delicate surgery on a tiny mouse. How all these pressures have built up to the extent that vets have four times the national suicide rate, and why.
Gareth Steel has been a vet for nearly twenty years and has worked all over the UK, across both rural and city practices, dealing with all manner of household pets and farm animals. This is his fascinating raw account of just how involved the job is and the toll the extreme emotions that come with it can take, but it also a heart-warming and often humorous story of the desperate lengths we go to for the love of animals.
How it feels to watch a healed dog bound into their owner’s arms. The joy of breathing life into the fluid-filled lungs of a newborn calf after a difficult labour. The satisfaction of rescuing a distressed sheep from the high-tide line.
What it’s like to work 100-hour weeks for less than the minimum wage. How it can scar your soul to euthanize a beloved puppy with its grieving family beside you. The pressure of having to know such a diverse range of medicine, that one hour you can be protecting yourself from a dangerously distressed horse and the next you can be performing delicate surgery on a tiny mouse. How all these pressures have built up to the extent that vets have four times the national suicide rate, and why.
Gareth Steel has been a vet for nearly twenty years and has worked all over the UK, across both rural and city practices, dealing with all manner of household pets and farm animals. This is his fascinating raw account of just how involved the job is and the toll the extreme emotions that come with it can take, but it also a heart-warming and often humorous story of the desperate lengths we go to for the love of animals.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
February 16, 2023
Review Junior vet books like junior doctor books are all the same - and all different. They all recite the same familiar scenarios but it is their interaction with their patients and how they treat them, literally and figuratively, that makes these books so interesting. e.
But this author is more than just stories about animals and their owners. He's very political! Talking about farmers trying to avoid their herds being tested for tubercolosis which can jump to man, and means the herd is unsaleable, although the government provides compensation is one thing. I didn't know anything about this, so it was interesting.
However, talking about the slaughter of animals he wants to put his own viewpoint only so as to persuade that only stunning the animal first is humane and religious, non-stunning of animals who get their throats cut is wicked. That ignores two things. Firstly, that a lot of chickens end up not being stunned but getting hung upside down and their throats cut and dipped immediately into boiling water and may still be alive. And cattle again hung upside down that were improperly, ineffectively stunned before their slaughter. And that is against highly trained butchers (Muslims and Jews) who cut the animals throat in one slash as it enters the slaughterhouse and not leaving it in terror hung upside down but he finds this 'no longer defensible' and turns a blind eye to the failings of the abbatoirs.
I'm not arguing against stunning first at all. I'm saying that if it worked 100% that all animals didn't feel fear, that they were all stunned, that their death was instant and painless that would be one thing, but it isn't.
I've watched the obligatory documentaries on abbatoirs and their failures to stun, and the people who work in them are often at the lowest level of pay and don't really care. I've read Temple Grandin, including papers on slaughtering that are not in her books but more for the industry.
Similarly when it comes to his idea of the future of farming (at least in the UK), he sees us eaating insects and lab-grown meat and 'in time fewer animals may be raised as societal norms shift'. And that the land would return to nature. Land that is not farmed and left wild, is already like that, it is just not going to happen that farms will release land for nature. Anyone who owns land isn't going to want compensation, they are going to want income. So farms not needed for agricultural use will either be sold for housing for the ever-rising population, or will be converted for industrial use.
Veganism he says is the high moral ground. I'm mostly vegan, but that's because I like the food. I used to be vegetarian or sometimes vegan because of morals. Until I realised that a country full of vegans would all starve to death. It isn't possible to grow enough non-edible crops or collect the waste part of edible crops to make enough compost to grow enough vegetables to feed a whole country.
Crops without compost, manure or artificial feeding are poor harvests. Compost is great on a small scale, the garden, a small farm for instance, but manure is generally used and that is animal waste from cows, pigs and chickens mostly. Supermarkets might proudly advertise, "organic" meaning no chemical fertilizer, but do they advertise, "no animal products were used in growing these vegetables"? No. Because they can't. Vegetarianism can work, but veganism on a huge scale... not with our present technology for growing crops.
Except I just read a book The Other Dark Matter: The Science and Business of Turning Waste into Wealth and Health that is a viable alternative means of producing manure. We'd have to give up our flush toilets though for some other kind that would store the poo until... I guess it would become like garbage and everyone would haul their 'pail' out once a week or so. Imagine the smell of the poop truck, the garbage one is bad enough. Imagine of the poop collectors go on strike. Where are you supposed to store it in your small apartment? I just can't see it working so I can't see how there can be no dependence on animals.
I enjoyed the book most when the author stuck to talking about being a vet and talking about animals. when the author sticks to being a vet and talking about animals. The preachy bits, not so much.
But this author is more than just stories about animals and their owners. He's very political! Talking about farmers trying to avoid their herds being tested for tubercolosis which can jump to man, and means the herd is unsaleable, although the government provides compensation is one thing. I didn't know anything about this, so it was interesting.
However, talking about the slaughter of animals he wants to put his own viewpoint only so as to persuade that only stunning the animal first is humane and religious, non-stunning of animals who get their throats cut is wicked. That ignores two things. Firstly, that a lot of chickens end up not being stunned but getting hung upside down and their throats cut and dipped immediately into boiling water and may still be alive. And cattle again hung upside down that were improperly, ineffectively stunned before their slaughter. And that is against highly trained butchers (Muslims and Jews) who cut the animals throat in one slash as it enters the slaughterhouse and not leaving it in terror hung upside down but he finds this 'no longer defensible' and turns a blind eye to the failings of the abbatoirs.
I'm not arguing against stunning first at all. I'm saying that if it worked 100% that all animals didn't feel fear, that they were all stunned, that their death was instant and painless that would be one thing, but it isn't.
I've watched the obligatory documentaries on abbatoirs and their failures to stun, and the people who work in them are often at the lowest level of pay and don't really care. I've read Temple Grandin, including papers on slaughtering that are not in her books but more for the industry.
Similarly when it comes to his idea of the future of farming (at least in the UK), he sees us eaating insects and lab-grown meat and 'in time fewer animals may be raised as societal norms shift'. And that the land would return to nature. Land that is not farmed and left wild, is already like that, it is just not going to happen that farms will release land for nature. Anyone who owns land isn't going to want compensation, they are going to want income. So farms not needed for agricultural use will either be sold for housing for the ever-rising population, or will be converted for industrial use.
Veganism he says is the high moral ground. I'm mostly vegan, but that's because I like the food. I used to be vegetarian or sometimes vegan because of morals. Until I realised that a country full of vegans would all starve to death. It isn't possible to grow enough non-edible crops or collect the waste part of edible crops to make enough compost to grow enough vegetables to feed a whole country.
Crops without compost, manure or artificial feeding are poor harvests. Compost is great on a small scale, the garden, a small farm for instance, but manure is generally used and that is animal waste from cows, pigs and chickens mostly. Supermarkets might proudly advertise, "organic" meaning no chemical fertilizer, but do they advertise, "no animal products were used in growing these vegetables"? No. Because they can't. Vegetarianism can work, but veganism on a huge scale... not with our present technology for growing crops.
Except I just read a book The Other Dark Matter: The Science and Business of Turning Waste into Wealth and Health that is a viable alternative means of producing manure. We'd have to give up our flush toilets though for some other kind that would store the poo until... I guess it would become like garbage and everyone would haul their 'pail' out once a week or so. Imagine the smell of the poop truck, the garbage one is bad enough. Imagine of the poop collectors go on strike. Where are you supposed to store it in your small apartment? I just can't see it working so I can't see how there can be no dependence on animals.
I enjoyed the book most when the author stuck to talking about being a vet and talking about animals. when the author sticks to being a vet and talking about animals. The preachy bits, not so much.
January 3, 2022
Scotsman Gareth Steel writes a raw and unvarnished memoir of his life as a vet of almost 20 years, an account that is far from the romantic picture of the profession often depicted in feel good dramas, documentaries and the media, he gives us the good, the bad and the downright ugly. He relates the harsh beginnings of working 100+ hours in Northern Ireland, barely earning minimum wage, it was a revelation to learn that vets are not as well remunerated as I thought they would be. He provides the level of detail that for me felt at times like too much information with the blood and gore, the constant of being hit by and covered by livestock and pet poo, and the operations on the animals. He found not having a life outside of the profession difficult, and sought a greater balance.
With his particular love of adventure, such as climbing, and being fit, he makes the decision to become a locum vet, although it has to be said his spirit for adventure infused the kind of vet he is, one that is willing to take life and death risks, and having the confidence, for example, to become a self taught orthopaedic animal surgeon. As a GP vet, there is a sharp learning curve to climb, where practice can change quite dramatically, it's a challenge to keep up with the new, the latest research and development, and it's impossible to know how to treat every animal. Vets can often have antiquated equipment and use rudimentary techniques, and animals can often be unappreciative of the help being offered to them, leaving vets risking their lives, Steel is regularly injured. You have to really love animals, in a profession where there are high rates of depression and suicides.
Steel discusses ethics in the treatment of animals, the impact of TB on farmers and vets, the existence of superstition in animal owners who can so often be the biggest problem when it comes the welfare of their animals and pets, the cost of industrial farming, and the problems in breeding, for example, with dogs. There is the inevitably emotionally draining and traumatic aspect of being a vet, euthanasia, and the often grieving animal owners. This is for those readers who are interested in the realities of being a vet, I would particularly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of embarking on a career as a vet. The bleak aspects of the job are balanced with the joys, such as the author's extraordinary experience of bringing a lab suffering from cancer of the spleen back from the dead. This makes for riveting and enlightening reading which I highly recommend to those interested in life as a vet. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
With his particular love of adventure, such as climbing, and being fit, he makes the decision to become a locum vet, although it has to be said his spirit for adventure infused the kind of vet he is, one that is willing to take life and death risks, and having the confidence, for example, to become a self taught orthopaedic animal surgeon. As a GP vet, there is a sharp learning curve to climb, where practice can change quite dramatically, it's a challenge to keep up with the new, the latest research and development, and it's impossible to know how to treat every animal. Vets can often have antiquated equipment and use rudimentary techniques, and animals can often be unappreciative of the help being offered to them, leaving vets risking their lives, Steel is regularly injured. You have to really love animals, in a profession where there are high rates of depression and suicides.
Steel discusses ethics in the treatment of animals, the impact of TB on farmers and vets, the existence of superstition in animal owners who can so often be the biggest problem when it comes the welfare of their animals and pets, the cost of industrial farming, and the problems in breeding, for example, with dogs. There is the inevitably emotionally draining and traumatic aspect of being a vet, euthanasia, and the often grieving animal owners. This is for those readers who are interested in the realities of being a vet, I would particularly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of embarking on a career as a vet. The bleak aspects of the job are balanced with the joys, such as the author's extraordinary experience of bringing a lab suffering from cancer of the spleen back from the dead. This makes for riveting and enlightening reading which I highly recommend to those interested in life as a vet. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
December 29, 2022
This is probably the most educational vet memoir that I have ever read. The author mixes stories that span the entire register of human emotions, from hilarity to heart break with some life threatening situations in between. Being a vet you need to deal with humans just as much as the animals being treated.
I once wanted to be a vet. I loved animals, of all sorts, after all. My grades weren’t quite up to scratch, but I could have fixed that. However, my working with horses finally opened my eyes to how physically strenuous and often dangerous working with large animals can be - plus the no time off.
This author gives a most unglamorous look behind the scenes. The long hours, the arduous work, sleep deprivation, patience trying pet owners and general lack of gratitude toward the effort put in. Like spending the night out saving a pet rabbit stuck in a hole, only having the owner being annoyed at the fee.
The author also seeks to educate. Not in any offensive or disparaging way, he just states the obvious. The cost of running a clinic, the on call hours, the evil of brachycephalic breeds. The realities of dealing with the caesarean sections of dairy cows, alone or just with the owner.
You can take what you like from this book, most of it is incredibly funny and self deprecative. There are many wonderful stories in this book. I loved everything about it, but most of all the honesty.
I once wanted to be a vet. I loved animals, of all sorts, after all. My grades weren’t quite up to scratch, but I could have fixed that. However, my working with horses finally opened my eyes to how physically strenuous and often dangerous working with large animals can be - plus the no time off.
This author gives a most unglamorous look behind the scenes. The long hours, the arduous work, sleep deprivation, patience trying pet owners and general lack of gratitude toward the effort put in. Like spending the night out saving a pet rabbit stuck in a hole, only having the owner being annoyed at the fee.
The author also seeks to educate. Not in any offensive or disparaging way, he just states the obvious. The cost of running a clinic, the on call hours, the evil of brachycephalic breeds. The realities of dealing with the caesarean sections of dairy cows, alone or just with the owner.
You can take what you like from this book, most of it is incredibly funny and self deprecative. There are many wonderful stories in this book. I loved everything about it, but most of all the honesty.
January 13, 2022
Gareth Steel wants you to understand vets in a way you never could have before. How it feels to watch a healed dog bound into their owner's arms. The joy of breathing life into the fluid-filled lungs of a new born calf after a difficult labour. The satisfaction of rescuing a distressed sheep from the high-tide line. What it's like to work a 100 hour week from less than the minimum wage. How it can scar your soul to euthanize a beloved puppy with it's grieving family beside you.
Gareth Steel is an ordinary guy doing a job he loves for not very much money. I found this book interesting and informative. Gareth Steel has worked as a vet for almost twenty years and he tells us about some of the every day events: the different types of animals he might attend to, the pet owners - the ones that don't pay their bills and the long hours he has to endure. He also writes about the blood and gore that happen in an everyday life of a vet. Also what made him decide to become a locum vet.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperElement and the author #GarethSteel for my ARC of #NeverWorkWithAnimals in exchange for an honest review.
Gareth Steel is an ordinary guy doing a job he loves for not very much money. I found this book interesting and informative. Gareth Steel has worked as a vet for almost twenty years and he tells us about some of the every day events: the different types of animals he might attend to, the pet owners - the ones that don't pay their bills and the long hours he has to endure. He also writes about the blood and gore that happen in an everyday life of a vet. Also what made him decide to become a locum vet.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperElement and the author #GarethSteel for my ARC of #NeverWorkWithAnimals in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2022
3.5 stars
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A perfect mix between James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small and Adam Kay's This Is Going to Hurt, Never Work With Animals is the gritty tell-all book about life as a vet - and it's not as romantic and full of fluffy bunnies (okay, a few fluffy bunnies) as you might think. The book starts off with a bang, literally, as the author starts off his vet tales with the time he had to shoot a bull with a broken leg - and it took a few times to get it right. While this was a little bit of a shocking start to the book, I also think it helps weed out those who might not be able for a book that really shows the reality of life working with animals - and the people that often cause their distress and bring about their end. Gareth makes a good point right at the start that the idea of a vet is extremely romanticised yet in reality it's an extremely tough job full of hard hours, not enough pay, often not enough gratitude or respect from the owners, and full of distressing moments, alongside the nice ones that make it worthwhile.
As someone who once dreamed of being a vet, and often thinks about those 'what if' moments, I really enjoyed seeing the day to day life as a vet even with all those hard moments. I appreciated seeing the darker times as well as the nice ones - the puppies that made it, the ones that didn't and the owners who loved fiercely despite those ones who didn't seem to care at all. There are moments in here that boiled my blood as a pet owner and an animal lover - people who breed their dog (particularly bull breeds who have difficulty giving birth naturally) without any care for her health and only thinking about the money, the ones who put their pets down so they wouldn't have to pay a bill that they probably spent willy nilly on other things, and the strange power people feel over their animals and punish them for things out of their control (such as a woman wanting to put down her 10-year-old dog because the kids wouldn't do anything around the house?!).
I appreciated Gareth's stories as a country vet - it's easy to see that farmers often get a hard rap due to them treating animals as entities but that's unfortunately because they are but that doesn't mean a farmer doesn't care for his animals - and as Gareth writes, it's not unusual to see a farmer cry about a cow he delivered himself as a teenager. How different types of government mandates and veterinary standards means that one bad test can destroy a farmer's livelihood, and eradicate a family tradition that goes back how many years. When put like that you can understand some of the desperate measures the farmers take to avoid such moments, as well as (almost) understand the aggression towards vets tasked with delivering bad news. I'd actually love to read a similar memoir like this but with a female vet with experience as a country vet as some of Gareth's stories referenced altercations between farmers and female vets around TB disagreements and I think this voice could bring a whole other type of story to the forefront.
Overall I enjoyed this though I do think the book needed some editing down when it came to some of the tangents/lectures the author tended to write. While I agreed with a lot of what he was saying from the dangers of practising homeopathy without experience, and not believing scientifically approved methods of care, to vaccines and why it's important to vaccinate your pets, as well as the benefits of plant-based diets, some of these ran on way too long and I got bored of what felt like a man droning in my ear about why his opinion is the right opinion. There were paragraphs upon paragraphs that could easily have been struck off. I just didn't pick up a book about a vet's experiences to learn why the planet is dying- I have other books for that.
If you love animals, and you're not too soft-hearted when it comes to them, I recommend picking this one up. It helps that it has a truly adorable cover!
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A perfect mix between James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small and Adam Kay's This Is Going to Hurt, Never Work With Animals is the gritty tell-all book about life as a vet - and it's not as romantic and full of fluffy bunnies (okay, a few fluffy bunnies) as you might think. The book starts off with a bang, literally, as the author starts off his vet tales with the time he had to shoot a bull with a broken leg - and it took a few times to get it right. While this was a little bit of a shocking start to the book, I also think it helps weed out those who might not be able for a book that really shows the reality of life working with animals - and the people that often cause their distress and bring about their end. Gareth makes a good point right at the start that the idea of a vet is extremely romanticised yet in reality it's an extremely tough job full of hard hours, not enough pay, often not enough gratitude or respect from the owners, and full of distressing moments, alongside the nice ones that make it worthwhile.
As someone who once dreamed of being a vet, and often thinks about those 'what if' moments, I really enjoyed seeing the day to day life as a vet even with all those hard moments. I appreciated seeing the darker times as well as the nice ones - the puppies that made it, the ones that didn't and the owners who loved fiercely despite those ones who didn't seem to care at all. There are moments in here that boiled my blood as a pet owner and an animal lover - people who breed their dog (particularly bull breeds who have difficulty giving birth naturally) without any care for her health and only thinking about the money, the ones who put their pets down so they wouldn't have to pay a bill that they probably spent willy nilly on other things, and the strange power people feel over their animals and punish them for things out of their control (such as a woman wanting to put down her 10-year-old dog because the kids wouldn't do anything around the house?!).
I appreciated Gareth's stories as a country vet - it's easy to see that farmers often get a hard rap due to them treating animals as entities but that's unfortunately because they are but that doesn't mean a farmer doesn't care for his animals - and as Gareth writes, it's not unusual to see a farmer cry about a cow he delivered himself as a teenager. How different types of government mandates and veterinary standards means that one bad test can destroy a farmer's livelihood, and eradicate a family tradition that goes back how many years. When put like that you can understand some of the desperate measures the farmers take to avoid such moments, as well as (almost) understand the aggression towards vets tasked with delivering bad news. I'd actually love to read a similar memoir like this but with a female vet with experience as a country vet as some of Gareth's stories referenced altercations between farmers and female vets around TB disagreements and I think this voice could bring a whole other type of story to the forefront.
Overall I enjoyed this though I do think the book needed some editing down when it came to some of the tangents/lectures the author tended to write. While I agreed with a lot of what he was saying from the dangers of practising homeopathy without experience, and not believing scientifically approved methods of care, to vaccines and why it's important to vaccinate your pets, as well as the benefits of plant-based diets, some of these ran on way too long and I got bored of what felt like a man droning in my ear about why his opinion is the right opinion. There were paragraphs upon paragraphs that could easily have been struck off. I just didn't pick up a book about a vet's experiences to learn why the planet is dying- I have other books for that.
If you love animals, and you're not too soft-hearted when it comes to them, I recommend picking this one up. It helps that it has a truly adorable cover!
January 19, 2022
What a book.
I should probably premise my review with a bit of background. I myself studied as a vet. I say studied because in the fifth and final year, I chose to leave vet school. Without taking finals, without qualifying. It wasn’t because I was failing. Academically, I was doing rather well. Mentally, I was doing about as poorly as you can imagine.
All that to say, I fully support Gareth’s attempt to enlighten his audience on the plight of vets. It is a beyond tough profession, in a sometimes unforgiving environment, and expects a lot out of its people without much thanks other than that which we (as paying customers) dole out.
His account of life as a newly qualified vet straight into mixed practice is laughingly accurate. It sounds ridiculous when you read it, but I promise it’s true.
And the portrayal of a vet’s on call weekend is also depressingly accurate. I’ve had a friend call me in tears after a full weekend on 3 hours sleep. That particular practice had even stipulated in their employment contract that mental illness didn’t count for sick leave. Awfully convenient for them, as depression of all severities is sadly an accepted occupational certainty among vets. She is now 10 years qualified and at the top of her field, and still regularly works several days without stopping. (And I mean that literally - she has slept in a stable to keep an eye on her patients rather than go home between shifts.)
I would say that the book could have done with slightly more brutal editing. There are times where the amount of detail outlined is probably a bit extraneous. And not everything is particularly layperson-friendly, although he does his best to explain everything as he goes. Drug names and anatomical references abound.
In the author’s introduction, he observes that perhaps the public’s perception of the veterinary profession is every so slightly romanticised, and that this book is partly an effort to redress some misconceptions. He definitely doesn’t pull any punches in that regard, and covers topics from global animal welfare on an industrial scale, to frustratingly unrealistic and inexperienced owner expectations in practice, to rescuing a rabbit stuck down the side of a garden shed in the middle of the night.
There are moments where the writing gets a bit ranty, where the jargon gets a bit scientific, where perhaps the point of the matter gets a bit lost in all the information he’s trying to convey to us. But! They are without doubt all good points. The stories about his patients over the years are very nostalgic for me as former member-to-be of the profession, from the cute puppies and kittens to the uncooperative cows and their fiercely protective farmers.
He does indeed shine a light on the veterinary profession. There’s a lot that’s unseen, it’s not always pretty, and the loose ends don’t always get tied up in a pretty bow.
All in all, this is a good book if you just want to hear a vet tell you what’s really going through his mind in all those long hours; what’s really involved in being a vet. He’s obviously had many years to think about the implications of animals in our lives, both domestics and commercial, and how we treat them.
However, it is pretty heavy going. Don’t expect James Herriot. This is a more candid, less forgiving, and without a doubt more informative glimpse into the life of a vet.
I should probably premise my review with a bit of background. I myself studied as a vet. I say studied because in the fifth and final year, I chose to leave vet school. Without taking finals, without qualifying. It wasn’t because I was failing. Academically, I was doing rather well. Mentally, I was doing about as poorly as you can imagine.
All that to say, I fully support Gareth’s attempt to enlighten his audience on the plight of vets. It is a beyond tough profession, in a sometimes unforgiving environment, and expects a lot out of its people without much thanks other than that which we (as paying customers) dole out.
His account of life as a newly qualified vet straight into mixed practice is laughingly accurate. It sounds ridiculous when you read it, but I promise it’s true.
And the portrayal of a vet’s on call weekend is also depressingly accurate. I’ve had a friend call me in tears after a full weekend on 3 hours sleep. That particular practice had even stipulated in their employment contract that mental illness didn’t count for sick leave. Awfully convenient for them, as depression of all severities is sadly an accepted occupational certainty among vets. She is now 10 years qualified and at the top of her field, and still regularly works several days without stopping. (And I mean that literally - she has slept in a stable to keep an eye on her patients rather than go home between shifts.)
I would say that the book could have done with slightly more brutal editing. There are times where the amount of detail outlined is probably a bit extraneous. And not everything is particularly layperson-friendly, although he does his best to explain everything as he goes. Drug names and anatomical references abound.
In the author’s introduction, he observes that perhaps the public’s perception of the veterinary profession is every so slightly romanticised, and that this book is partly an effort to redress some misconceptions. He definitely doesn’t pull any punches in that regard, and covers topics from global animal welfare on an industrial scale, to frustratingly unrealistic and inexperienced owner expectations in practice, to rescuing a rabbit stuck down the side of a garden shed in the middle of the night.
There are moments where the writing gets a bit ranty, where the jargon gets a bit scientific, where perhaps the point of the matter gets a bit lost in all the information he’s trying to convey to us. But! They are without doubt all good points. The stories about his patients over the years are very nostalgic for me as former member-to-be of the profession, from the cute puppies and kittens to the uncooperative cows and their fiercely protective farmers.
He does indeed shine a light on the veterinary profession. There’s a lot that’s unseen, it’s not always pretty, and the loose ends don’t always get tied up in a pretty bow.
All in all, this is a good book if you just want to hear a vet tell you what’s really going through his mind in all those long hours; what’s really involved in being a vet. He’s obviously had many years to think about the implications of animals in our lives, both domestics and commercial, and how we treat them.
However, it is pretty heavy going. Don’t expect James Herriot. This is a more candid, less forgiving, and without a doubt more informative glimpse into the life of a vet.
July 17, 2023
This book has it all. I went through the full range of emotions with the stories told. It's shocking, saddening, heart warming, funny and at times emotional. The first immediately obvious thing is that vets work harder and longer than many of us. They're under paid, under appreciated and the vetinary sector is misunderstood. I have no idea how these heroes in vetinary surgeries do it. Great book and one I thoroughly enjoyed
February 13, 2022
I really enjoy books about professions and have enjoyed This Is Going to Hurt, The Prison Doctor and Unnatural Causes amongst others but hadn't read a vet one so when I saw this book available on Netgalley I thought I would give it a try.
I really enjoyed all the stories about the animals. It is so amazing how vets can bring animals back from the brink of death like that. I also found some of the stories quite amusing and was very interested in Gareth's lifestyle too as it certainly sounds like the job was very full on, especially when working night shifts.
However, there were certain parts of the book where Gareth talks about different issues such as veganism, puppy farms and gold star treatment. Though I was somewhat interested in these topics, I felt like these chapters really dragged and I skipped a few bits.
Overall, a good read but it won't be the This is Going to Hurt of the vet world!
I really enjoyed all the stories about the animals. It is so amazing how vets can bring animals back from the brink of death like that. I also found some of the stories quite amusing and was very interested in Gareth's lifestyle too as it certainly sounds like the job was very full on, especially when working night shifts.
However, there were certain parts of the book where Gareth talks about different issues such as veganism, puppy farms and gold star treatment. Though I was somewhat interested in these topics, I felt like these chapters really dragged and I skipped a few bits.
Overall, a good read but it won't be the This is Going to Hurt of the vet world!
October 22, 2024
Jättebra skildring av veterinärvardagen, med en blandning av historier som får en skratta, gråta och reflektioner. Lite samma stuk som This Is Going To Hurt! Med foten inne i branschen själv så känner jag igen mycket av det som beskrivs men författaren förklarar på ett mycket lekmannamässigt sätt så alla kan förstå och hänga med. Det handlar bland annat om nötkreatur som ska testas för tuberkulos, en kanin som fastnar mellan ”a rock and a hard place”, en katt med brutet ben och en hund med en blödande tumör. Hjärtskärande och tankeprovocerande och underhållande på samma gång — rekommenderas varmt! :)
March 24, 2025
Not a cutesy animal book and dark humor I really enjoyed, good synopsis of a lot of the main issues in vet med
March 6, 2022
A fascinating insight into the work of a vet, along with some well considered opinion. Some parts were difficult and downright unpleasant, so not for the squeamish. Vets have gone up in my estimation!
January 22, 2024
Generally a good read all round.
The author doesn't waste any time telling us about joyous types of vet practice with many stories about animals which I did enjoy. There was a nice variety of animals from general to farmyard and that didn't disappoint.
I have to admit there was some bits in the book that I felt could have been trimmed down a tad, nobody really wants to read about puppy farms in massive detail or ranty subjects, (I felt there was a few random tangents going about when they could have been short and snappy), it's not really a topic that we haven't heard about but equally not one that should cause the read to skip or feel the need to.. I don't doubt it's a tough job being a vet and there are some not so glamorous roles in vet practice but I felt a bit bombarded. Some of the names of the treatments were a bit mind boggling and skimmed straight through those parts. BUT OVERALL a fascinating insight into the memories of a vet.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this free ARC in return for my review.
The author doesn't waste any time telling us about joyous types of vet practice with many stories about animals which I did enjoy. There was a nice variety of animals from general to farmyard and that didn't disappoint.
I have to admit there was some bits in the book that I felt could have been trimmed down a tad, nobody really wants to read about puppy farms in massive detail or ranty subjects, (I felt there was a few random tangents going about when they could have been short and snappy), it's not really a topic that we haven't heard about but equally not one that should cause the read to skip or feel the need to.. I don't doubt it's a tough job being a vet and there are some not so glamorous roles in vet practice but I felt a bit bombarded. Some of the names of the treatments were a bit mind boggling and skimmed straight through those parts. BUT OVERALL a fascinating insight into the memories of a vet.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this free ARC in return for my review.
August 27, 2022
I liked Gareth’s true account - direct and to the point with a bit of dry humour chucked in for good measure (gosh you’d need it in his job) Everyone is always prepared to whine about how much a fully trained medical professional for animals cost (compared to doctors they train longer and have to be across a mass of different species that cannot tell them what’s wrong, unlike human doctors that only have one species and can get verbal information about symptoms or what hurts) yet nobody is aware of the other side - the long hours, the hard work (especially the live stock vets) and the abuse of farmers and patients, or the heartbreak of seeing animals suffer. This is a good, no holds barred account of what it’s like. I enjoyed it very much and have even more respect than I already had, despite the fact that like other medicine, it has become corrupt by the actions of pharma and government.
April 12, 2023
So interesting to hear from a vets perspective everything that goes on behind the vets doors. The author gives us more than a glimpse behind the door and shares his thoughts, experiences and feelings on being a vet. I enjoyed the stories he shared, and just how knowledge he is. However I found myself skimming parts just because it could be a little heavy on the information and at times felt bogged down by it all. But I do appreciate the authors honest account. I have always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with vets especially the whole ‘most vets see pets with money eyes’ which I admit is probably unfair, and the author helped me to understand the other side more.
July 9, 2022
A remarkably more positive and constructive book than the title might suggest. Cleverly chosen though, because the title is exactly what drew me to read it in the first place!
Thoroughly enjoyable and readable. Easy to pick up and scran a chapter between lectures. Loads of fantastic cases to get my teeth into, each one well fleshed out with the history, detailed surgical procedure and outcome, as well as discussion of the challenges faced by Steel encountering the difference between individual case presentation and the black and white recipe-book style guidance of textbooks, politics, ethics, the constant balancing act of what treatment plan medical teaching shows with what financial constraints actually allow and of course and the ever haunting stupidity of humans. I mean the cat tumble dryer story. What on Earth!!
It was really cool to see that even after just one term at vet school, I found I could understand a lot of the anatomical terms and medical mumbo jumbo. Made it really sink in that I’ve actually started my journey to get where he is now!
I also find it fascinating that in every single vet memoir I have read (and I’m racking up a fair few now) there’s a chasing an angry bull / stallion / other scary, uncooperative creature around a ménage trying to castrate / bolt it through the head / other undesirable procedure that results in a near death experience for the vet and other involved personnel. This one had a high speed car chase as well - may as well have been reading a James Bond.
I liked that, even though Steel had a lot of criticisms about certain systems in the veterinary and agricultural world, he always included his constructive thoughts on how he thinks things should be instead. Even though I didn’t always follow his argument, or got a bit lost in the tangents here and there, it is so refreshing to read someone with an eye for improvement and for the future. It’s one thing to complain, it’s another to be a force and a voice for positive change.
Yeah, a really great read.
November 14, 2022
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The obvious comparison to this book would be the classic veterinary memoirs of James Herriot, but actually I would say this is more like an animal version of This is Going to Hurt – more modern and with more emphasis on the medical and financial realities of veterinary work, rather than the poignant, witty anecdotes… although those are definitely there too!
Gareth Steel gives a very real picture of the physically and emotionally draining, stressful world of a general practice vet. And when I say ‘very real’, I mean we get everything, all of the gritty gory bits – blood, guts and faeces.
We also get in-depth discussions of ethical issues surrounding pet- and livestock-keeping, TB, the impact of Covid-19, farming practices, breeding practices, specialist surgeries, euthanasia and more. At times, the book did feel a little bit dense with detail – medical and/or philosophical – in a way that made me feel like I was reading a lecture/study text rather than a memoir.
Honest and raw, this is a fascinating insight into modern veterinary work and would be ideal reading for anyone thinking of a career in the field or who is already on that path.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
The obvious comparison to this book would be the classic veterinary memoirs of James Herriot, but actually I would say this is more like an animal version of This is Going to Hurt – more modern and with more emphasis on the medical and financial realities of veterinary work, rather than the poignant, witty anecdotes… although those are definitely there too!
Gareth Steel gives a very real picture of the physically and emotionally draining, stressful world of a general practice vet. And when I say ‘very real’, I mean we get everything, all of the gritty gory bits – blood, guts and faeces.
We also get in-depth discussions of ethical issues surrounding pet- and livestock-keeping, TB, the impact of Covid-19, farming practices, breeding practices, specialist surgeries, euthanasia and more. At times, the book did feel a little bit dense with detail – medical and/or philosophical – in a way that made me feel like I was reading a lecture/study text rather than a memoir.
Honest and raw, this is a fascinating insight into modern veterinary work and would be ideal reading for anyone thinking of a career in the field or who is already on that path.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
January 8, 2022
Excellent vet memoir.
Gareth Steel has been a qualified vet for almost 20 years. I loved this book which draws on many of his experiences.
I like how he's not claiming to be the world's best vet, or some sort of brain box. He's a regular vet-not to make it sound an easy job-I'm sure we all know it certainly isn't. I don't know if he's a 'telly vet', I'd not heard his name before reading his book, but he certainly knows his stuff, and this is an excellent read.
I find books like this really interesting; I've read quite a few vet memoirs before, and watched a few different TV series about vet life, and this one didn't disappoint-it was exceptionally interesting.
There's a good assortment of cases: Horses, cows, cats and dogs etc. And the downsides, like when customers don't want to pay their bill-the bits you don't get to see on the TV programmes. Includes some more controversial subjects; some of them grittier, harder hitting than I've read about before.
Even though I've already read many of the same genre, still there’s something different here, some very different scenarios. A brilliant book which was very hard to put down.
Gareth Steel has been a qualified vet for almost 20 years. I loved this book which draws on many of his experiences.
I like how he's not claiming to be the world's best vet, or some sort of brain box. He's a regular vet-not to make it sound an easy job-I'm sure we all know it certainly isn't. I don't know if he's a 'telly vet', I'd not heard his name before reading his book, but he certainly knows his stuff, and this is an excellent read.
I find books like this really interesting; I've read quite a few vet memoirs before, and watched a few different TV series about vet life, and this one didn't disappoint-it was exceptionally interesting.
There's a good assortment of cases: Horses, cows, cats and dogs etc. And the downsides, like when customers don't want to pay their bill-the bits you don't get to see on the TV programmes. Includes some more controversial subjects; some of them grittier, harder hitting than I've read about before.
Even though I've already read many of the same genre, still there’s something different here, some very different scenarios. A brilliant book which was very hard to put down.
January 16, 2023
An emotional read for someone working within the veterinary profession. An honest and raw account of someone who has given their heart and soul to their rewarding career as a veterinary surgeon. I moved from chapter to chapter enjoying moments of humour (often finding myself laughing out loud), sheer admiration for my veterinary colleagues as well as moments of sadness.
Gareth’s book should be read by every pet owner to shine a light on what life is really like in the veterinary profession. The range of competencies required to be both a veterinary surgeon and nurse are insurmountable and sadly not rewarded with the salary and appreciation they deserve.
The profession has high highs and low lows and with veterinary professionals four times more likely to commit suicide than the general public, it’s even more important books like this are published.
The last page really resonated with me; despite the heartache, client complaints and anger, the emotional battles faced on a daily basis and the demands of the job, we do it all because we deeply care for animal health and welfare.
5 stars ++++
Gareth’s book should be read by every pet owner to shine a light on what life is really like in the veterinary profession. The range of competencies required to be both a veterinary surgeon and nurse are insurmountable and sadly not rewarded with the salary and appreciation they deserve.
The profession has high highs and low lows and with veterinary professionals four times more likely to commit suicide than the general public, it’s even more important books like this are published.
The last page really resonated with me; despite the heartache, client complaints and anger, the emotional battles faced on a daily basis and the demands of the job, we do it all because we deeply care for animal health and welfare.
5 stars ++++
April 4, 2025
It took me a while to read, but it was definitely worth it! He seems like the kinda guy I’d enjoy working with! Doesn’t take himself too seriously and is always learning.
Steel’s self-deprecating humor and candid story-telling really get you the inside scoop of his 20+ years as a veterinarian; additionally shedding light on how the field had changed for the better and worse over the years, and posing some poignant animal welfare, animal rights, and environmental sustainability queries.
I feel more experienced veterinarians often fall into the trap of thinking ‘things used to be harder,’ and ‘kids these days are getting soft,’ but Steel’s delivery was a lot more nuanced, and I appreciated his perspective on how much the field still has to improve if we are to further the standard of care for animals.
Steel’s self-deprecating humor and candid story-telling really get you the inside scoop of his 20+ years as a veterinarian; additionally shedding light on how the field had changed for the better and worse over the years, and posing some poignant animal welfare, animal rights, and environmental sustainability queries.
I feel more experienced veterinarians often fall into the trap of thinking ‘things used to be harder,’ and ‘kids these days are getting soft,’ but Steel’s delivery was a lot more nuanced, and I appreciated his perspective on how much the field still has to improve if we are to further the standard of care for animals.
March 9, 2025
This is what I believe to be a very true and raw depiction of life as a vet. I laughed and I cried with Gareth’s stories and I felt that I’m not alone. We are all just trying to see through the day, to do our best for our patients, while dealing with some of the most impossible emotions and fears.
But we are not alone. And we are doing our best. And we return patients to their families daily. And that is why I’m still a vet.
“The very fact that most vets will say, 'I am a vet', instead of, 'I work as a vet', in response to being asked what they do for a living is telling. It implies a vocation, a calling and pride in the fact.”
But we are not alone. And we are doing our best. And we return patients to their families daily. And that is why I’m still a vet.
“The very fact that most vets will say, 'I am a vet', instead of, 'I work as a vet', in response to being asked what they do for a living is telling. It implies a vocation, a calling and pride in the fact.”
April 25, 2023
Ta książka była świetna!
Dowiedziałam się wiele o życiu lekarzy wtereynarii jak i pielęgniarek i pielęgniarzy weterynaryjnych. Autor - Gareth Steel dzielił się z nami nie tylko jego życiem ze zwierzętami, ale również jego innymi pasjami. Gareth jest zabawnym gościem, który opowie wam w skrócie na czym polega bycie weterynarzem. Jednak nie myślcie, że tylko to pojawi się w tej książce. Dowiecie się wielu ciekawych i przydatnych rzeczy.
Polecam<3
Dowiedziałam się wiele o życiu lekarzy wtereynarii jak i pielęgniarek i pielęgniarzy weterynaryjnych. Autor - Gareth Steel dzielił się z nami nie tylko jego życiem ze zwierzętami, ale również jego innymi pasjami. Gareth jest zabawnym gościem, który opowie wam w skrócie na czym polega bycie weterynarzem. Jednak nie myślcie, że tylko to pojawi się w tej książce. Dowiecie się wielu ciekawych i przydatnych rzeczy.
Polecam<3
February 4, 2024
Eye-opening and very insightful. It is brilliantly written and beyond the expected memoir of a vet, filled with funny, touching and emotional stories of furry and not-so-furry patients, it offers also an important perspective on the too-easily-overlooked roles of farmers, nurses and accessible animal healthcare.
October 30, 2024
Fantastisk för alla med intresse för djursjukvård! Rekommenderar att lyssna på den, Robert Laing var otrolig som uppläsare.
October 24, 2024
This is a fun and uncompromisingly honest veterinary memoir. In response to worries that TV veterinary shows give a romanticised view of the profession, the author seeks to provide a real look at both the good and bad parts of his work - the successes, mistakes, financial worries, good and bad owners. All the fun of a medical memoir, with added cute animals. He also makes some forays into ethics, discussing some different forms of animal use and our responsibilities toward them as citizens, consumers, and caretakers.
July 16, 2024
This book was incredible. There are so many different anecdotes on life as a vet, and they're all told so well. The author is also just hilarious :)
November 27, 2022
Never Work With Animals is a non-fiction book that gives an insight into the life of being a vet and just how hard a job it is.
While reading this book I learnt some interesting things and was real eye opener as to how hard veterinary staff actually have to work, it’s definitely not all fun with lots of cuddles.
Now I have to be honest and say that although I found the book to be interesting and somewhat enjoyed the majority of what I read, there were sections I just had to skim through as they started to feel a little repetitive, and there is only so many times I can read about putting a hand up an animals backside. I get the picture!! I think this is where a little bit more editing was needed in my opinion.
All in all, not a bad read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a little more insight in what its really like working in the veterinary profession. But I do advise you check out the trigger warnings for this book as it will definitely be triggering for many!! I have mentioned just a few below
Trigger Warnings: Animal Abuse, Animal Harm, Suicide, Murder
While reading this book I learnt some interesting things and was real eye opener as to how hard veterinary staff actually have to work, it’s definitely not all fun with lots of cuddles.
Now I have to be honest and say that although I found the book to be interesting and somewhat enjoyed the majority of what I read, there were sections I just had to skim through as they started to feel a little repetitive, and there is only so many times I can read about putting a hand up an animals backside. I get the picture!! I think this is where a little bit more editing was needed in my opinion.
All in all, not a bad read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a little more insight in what its really like working in the veterinary profession. But I do advise you check out the trigger warnings for this book as it will definitely be triggering for many!! I have mentioned just a few below
Trigger Warnings: Animal Abuse, Animal Harm, Suicide, Murder
January 31, 2022
This is not the cosy view of vets from All Creatures Great and Small or the supposed glamour of being a celebrity vet. Instead, this is a very realistic account of a working vet’s life. Gareth Steel, the author, has been a vet for over 20 years and he knows what he’s talking about. In fact, if you were considering becoming a vet, then this book will give you a good introduction.
The author’s first job was in a Northern Ireland practice and a lot of its business came from local farmers. One of his first tasks was to shoot a bull who had other ideas for his life choices and a chase ensued before the deed was done. It was a real baptism of fire. He soon saw the problems that farmers faced with TB and the damage it would do if found on a farm. It would destroy their herd and their livelihood. There was also the link between farmers and superstitions…However, farmers and vets do have something in common – high suicide rates.
Steel feels that there is a romanticised view of vets, and this book goes some way to addressing it. He wants it to be a book for both aspiring vets and any pet owner who wants to know what the vet is really doing. But it is hard work, long hours, and they’re not as well off some of their clients think they are. The book doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of a vet’s life – flying poo, blood and gore, being out in a field putting a cow’s uterus back where it should be and the sadness of losing an animal after desperately trying to save its life. He adds that being an equine vet is one of the most dangerous peacetime occupations due to the likelihood of being kicked and trampled by a horse and he himself is regularly injured.
Steel is a Scotsman and also an adventurer, an explorer and climber. It may be this risk-taking element in his nature that made him decide to become a locum vet and self-employed. Steel can see at first hand the problems with pet owners who don’t want to pay their bills or who think that, because of the cost of treatment, that the vet is ‘rolling in it’. But a vet’s surgery is a business after all.
But there is also humour as well, as he is aware that cats have a familiar look when in a surgery for treatment which can easily be read as ‘Bastards. You’re all bastards.’ However, he doesn’t only treat dogs and cats. In addition to other species, he operates on a chicken but when he rescues a trapped rabbit, it’s the manly, handsome, good looking Fire Brigade who receive all the credit in the local paper.
The book also discusses pet insurance, animal testing and trafficking. Puppy farms and breeders also appear as in the case of Kahleezi whose owners decide to make money from her puppies with disastrous results.
But it was the case of Gordon the cat which was one of the saddest for me. Putting a much loved pet to sleep even when, deep down, you know that it is the right and only last act of kindness that you can do for them is really difficult. It may be the only choice left to you.
But what shone through the book was the author’s love for animals and his deep appreciation of vet’s nurses. They do a fantastic job as well. I shared his joy at bringing a Labrador back from the dead much to the delight of his owners.
A really good read which encompassed all the different elements of a vet’s life and why they do it.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
January 31, 2022
A thoroughly interesting & very accessible read from a vet with 20+ years of experience in various practices across the country from primarily rural where farm visits formed a significant proportion of the work, to urban ones with pets ranging from the mundane to the exotic. He is realistic, he doesn’t claim to be the best vet in the world, and admits that some of his solutions might not be optimal but its is clear that he really cares about every one of the animals that he treats.
The stories are not the shiny ones of a “celebrity vet”, they deal with some of the nitty-gritty of a vet’s life, and it’s not always an easy read. There are births, deaths, long hours, difficult patients (and their owners!) and copious quantities of various bodily fluids! He touches on the obesity crisis affecting so many beloved pets, the stress of being expected to know everything about every animal even though you’ve never dealt with an eggbound chicken before, and the mental strain that comes with being required to provide a 24/7 service. We see the heartbreak of dealing with the potential cull of a farmer’s entire herd due to TB, and the outline of an “on call” weekend is depressingly real – how some of these vets can be in clinic on Monday morning after 3 hours of sleep is unbelievable.
Throughout the book, he also tackles the struggle of payment vs service – owners wanting to pay as little as possible & vets needing to cover the basic costs of treatment, new machines etc. It is eye-opening and thought-provoking.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
The stories are not the shiny ones of a “celebrity vet”, they deal with some of the nitty-gritty of a vet’s life, and it’s not always an easy read. There are births, deaths, long hours, difficult patients (and their owners!) and copious quantities of various bodily fluids! He touches on the obesity crisis affecting so many beloved pets, the stress of being expected to know everything about every animal even though you’ve never dealt with an eggbound chicken before, and the mental strain that comes with being required to provide a 24/7 service. We see the heartbreak of dealing with the potential cull of a farmer’s entire herd due to TB, and the outline of an “on call” weekend is depressingly real – how some of these vets can be in clinic on Monday morning after 3 hours of sleep is unbelievable.
Throughout the book, he also tackles the struggle of payment vs service – owners wanting to pay as little as possible & vets needing to cover the basic costs of treatment, new machines etc. It is eye-opening and thought-provoking.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
January 28, 2022
I received an advance copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
On the whole I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a no-holds-barred insight into the life of a vet and paints the mental toll that the profession takes on people very well. The balance between needing to be a profitable organisation and wanting to do the best for every animal that is brought to you must be exhausting for every practice. Add into that incredibly long hours and the dealing with owners/farmers that can be frustrating in their views and it’s clear to see that this is truly a vocation rather than a job.
The anecdotes that Gareth Steel shares are a mix of heart warming, heart breaking, funny, and terrifying. His writing style is engaging when it is about people or animals and the situations he has found himself in over the years. My only slight criticism is that sometimes there are too many words given to the scientific/pharmaceutical descriptions - I can see how they would be valuable for anyone reading this whilst considering becoming a vet or just starting out in their training so I understand why they were included, but it took me out of the flow of the book somewhat.
It is clear that Gareth loves animals and loves the opportunity to find unique, sometime McGyver-like solutions to the myriad problems he is faced with on a daily basis. It is also clear that he is a great advocate for the profession.
On the whole I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a no-holds-barred insight into the life of a vet and paints the mental toll that the profession takes on people very well. The balance between needing to be a profitable organisation and wanting to do the best for every animal that is brought to you must be exhausting for every practice. Add into that incredibly long hours and the dealing with owners/farmers that can be frustrating in their views and it’s clear to see that this is truly a vocation rather than a job.
The anecdotes that Gareth Steel shares are a mix of heart warming, heart breaking, funny, and terrifying. His writing style is engaging when it is about people or animals and the situations he has found himself in over the years. My only slight criticism is that sometimes there are too many words given to the scientific/pharmaceutical descriptions - I can see how they would be valuable for anyone reading this whilst considering becoming a vet or just starting out in their training so I understand why they were included, but it took me out of the flow of the book somewhat.
It is clear that Gareth loves animals and loves the opportunity to find unique, sometime McGyver-like solutions to the myriad problems he is faced with on a daily basis. It is also clear that he is a great advocate for the profession.
February 28, 2022
**Note: this book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.**
If you want to learn the reality of working as a vet (especially in the UK), this is the book for you. Gareth Steel takes us through various incidents and experiences of his career as a veterinarian. It's a, at times, graphic portrayal of the job, of taking care of animals, or working with farmers, of life and death, economics and illnesses.
I thought it would be more like a diary or autobiography, but these were more like essays, often not really related from one chapter to the next. So I would approach it more as a collection of different chapters telling different stories and approaching different topics - all relating to being a vet.
From the start of Steel's career to his work with farm or domestic animals, to his belief on the treatment of animals, on insurance, and on why he does this job, you get a mixture of his personal life experience and greater lessons about the field of veterinary science.
The only con of this book is how extensively it falls into science jargon. My eyes would glaze over his description of surgeries or what meds he used. But those in the field or interested in the field might take more from that.
So many amazing lessons that you could take from this book, whether you're interested in becoming a vet or just learning about their work, but also just as a pet owner. I think it's a great read.
If you want to learn the reality of working as a vet (especially in the UK), this is the book for you. Gareth Steel takes us through various incidents and experiences of his career as a veterinarian. It's a, at times, graphic portrayal of the job, of taking care of animals, or working with farmers, of life and death, economics and illnesses.
I thought it would be more like a diary or autobiography, but these were more like essays, often not really related from one chapter to the next. So I would approach it more as a collection of different chapters telling different stories and approaching different topics - all relating to being a vet.
From the start of Steel's career to his work with farm or domestic animals, to his belief on the treatment of animals, on insurance, and on why he does this job, you get a mixture of his personal life experience and greater lessons about the field of veterinary science.
The only con of this book is how extensively it falls into science jargon. My eyes would glaze over his description of surgeries or what meds he used. But those in the field or interested in the field might take more from that.
So many amazing lessons that you could take from this book, whether you're interested in becoming a vet or just learning about their work, but also just as a pet owner. I think it's a great read.
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