Heal the Beasts: A Jaunt Through the Curious History of the Veterinary Arts

Heal the Beasts chronicles the history of veterinary medicine with an abundance of bizarre, funny, surprising, and heartwarming anecdotes

"Schott's animated account moves at a fast clip, is full of colorful anecdotes, and will delight animal lovers of all stripes." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

Sharing the stories of 22 different animal healers and veterinarians from across eras and continents, Dr. Schott examines the always fascinating, often unexpected, and sometimes hilarious veterinary methods employed to treat all manner of creatures. From healing dogs and horses to gorillas and even dragons, at the heart lies the evolution of the human-animal bond, which has been more cyclical than linear.

James Herriot will be familiar to many people, but most of the other featured vets will be new. They range from Palakapya, who treated fighting elephants in India almost 3,000 years ago, to Dr. Louis Camuti, who had the first feline house call practice anywhere, tending to the cats of celebrities in mid-twentieth century Manhattan Whether you have a passion for animals, the history of the medical sciences, or just quirky history, this light-hearted exploration of the empathetic relationship between man and beast will entertain and delight.

Author: Philipp Schott
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: ECW Press
Published: 07/08/2025
Pages: 232
Weight: 0.8lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781770417830


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/26/2025
Library Journal 06/01/2025 pg. 106

About the Author
Philipp Schott lives in Winnipeg, where he practices veterinary medicine, writes, and shares a creaky old house on the river with his wife, two kids, and one nutty cat. His first book, The Accidental Veterinarian, was a bestseller and was translated into five languages. Six other books have followed.