Letting the Cat Out of the Bag

Trimming a parrot’s beak, emptying a dog’s anal glands and neutering a cat – then lunch – followed by some tricky horse dentistry, amputating a lamb’s leg and calming a distressed client…

It’s all in a day’s work if you’re a vet: a delicate balance of managing animal welfare and ethics, educating people in pet ownership and aligning their expectations with real-life outcomes. As a job, it spans everything from managing the heartbreak of euthanasia, to informing owners that under no circumstances should they take their dog’s worming pills, even if they’re sure they have worms.

During his twenty-five-year career, Welsh vet Siôn Rowlands has experienced almost every animal medical issue imaginable, from rescuing an injured horse from the edge of a cliff to moisturizing a baby elephant. He’s also witnessed ridiculous moments, surreal situations and the real toll it can take on a person.

Frank, funny and moving in equal measure, Letting the Cat Out of the Bag is a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the uniquely pressurised world of being a vet.