I saw this book/audiobook a few times on the blogosphere, and when I saw a chance to listen to it, I picked it up.
I am not an animal person per se. I prefer them at a distance, even as I appreciate their intelligence and emotions. I happened to read the entire James Herriot Collection late in high school and loved them enough to think that a passing interest in animals would still endear me to this kind of a book.
This collection of essays turned out to be quite different from what I expected (given my limited experience with veterinary books). It took me a couple of chapters to get over the initial disappointment that each tale is short and comes with the required background information, be it personal or related to the animal, in particular, preceding it. I settled in to enjoy the variety that I was introduced to.
This is the second volume of such essays written by a veterinarian in Canada. The different stories and types of animals all work well together to provide a very diverting set of accounts. At this point, I must mention that I loved it as an audiobook and might not have appreciated so much information without the narrative style. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the author's emotions to life. I could have imagined that the author himself was talking about his memories! The small twists in some of the events made me chuckle. It has a lot happening, and it is not the kind of book I could read in single sittings. It had to be absorbed a little at a time. This meant it took longer than I expected to work my way through it. I am not sure one would have to be an ardent animal lover to best appreciate this work. Anyone with a mild curiosity about the professions and the work involved could get something interesting from it.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

I'm one of those people who likes to listen to audiobooks/podcasts/Youtube videos when I'm doing chores, getting ready for the day, or mowing my lawn to name a few examples. And there's a specific genre of book that I find is well suited to these tasks, nonfiction books about random things. People tend to ask me why do I know so much random trivia, and books like How to Examine a Wolverine are perfect examples of how this has come to be.

How to Examine a Wolverine is the 2nd book of essays Dr. Philipp Schott DVM has written about his 30+ year career in veterinary medicine. I haven't read the first book, but this is one of those types of books where you can read them in whichever order and you won't be missing any information needed. Some essays like the one where Schott gives you a checklist of specific symptoms that if your dog/cat exhibits is a legitimate emergency are very useful and informative. Other essays are funny or educational or sad. I'm still in shock that a regular person is legally allowed to own a 200 lbs. Burmese Python. Like where do you even house it in your home? Some essays are better than others, which is typical. I enjoyed the listening experience as Schott has essays about treating dogs, cats, snakes, wolverines, ducks, and hedgehogs to name a few of the animals covered in the book. I'm a huge animal lover and it's fascinating to get a look behind the curtain of their treatment and care. I also thoroughly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook, Geet Arora.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants a laidback book of essays regarding being a vet in this day and age. 4 out of 5 stars.

Over the years, I have read and listened to a number of books written by veterinarians, so though I missed Schott's first book, this one sounded like something I would enjoy (and I most certainly did - now I am looking forward to going back and catching his first book!). Comprised of essays that are not too long and organized into sections, Schott relays some of his more memorable moments of his career over twenty years as a small animal vet. Interspersed with these patients are moments of advice - like don't forget to wash your hands, being kind to the receptionist at your local vet's office, and to go with your gut if you are ever uncertain about if your pet needs care. It's a conversational sort of book that makes it to be an easy, fast and interesting listen.

A few of the stories do end up realistically - this is a vet's perspective after all, so he doesn't shy away from discussing death. I did reach for the tissues a few times, but Schott also breaks it up with plenty of moments of levity. And his love for all animals (except, possible hamsters) shines through here in each essay. It'll make you snuggle your own pet closer while also offering words of wisdom about their care. I am sure that not all agree with his every approach, but it's a good listen and as I never went in for grain-free or raw diets, didn't have any issues with this. I enjoyed it quite thoroughly and am looking forward to listening to his first book!

This book was just what I needed to start out the year & actually very similar to my first book of last year (This is Going to Hurt)! This combined bits of knowledge about issues commonly seen in dogs, cats and other pets but also some funny tales of specific visits Dr. Schott didn't forget. I really enjoyed the writing style of combining some scientific information in with explanations and how these were seen in pets. And of course enjoyed the stories of the more exotic animals that were seen for ultrasounds at the clinic - like a wolverine from the local zoo!

Thank you to Netgalley, ECW Press Audio and the author for a free audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I've always been a sucker for a good veterinary anecdote. And this book is chock full of them. Would definitely recommend to animal lovers of all ages.

I really enjoyed listening to these anecdotes. I was very interested to hear about animals that we don’t have where I’m from. The narrator did a good job

A humorous and touching collection of stories and essays that any animal lover will throughly enjoy.

As expected, Phillip recounts hilarious stories from his history as a small animal vet and some experiences from vet school and personal pet ownership.

It's a wonderful reminder of how much empathy and emotional work goes into the veterinary from start to finish.

I'm am in awe of the people who dedicate their lives to this work because it's not just cuddling kittens & puppies. Veterinary care is heavy work emotionally. It's assisting in end if life care, making decisions based upon client finances and circumstances, and dealing with the loss of long loved furry (or scaled, or feathered) companions.

A great read, which I keep telling people about, whether they are interested in animals or not.

This is lighthearted and fun and the perfect vacation audiobook. I haven’t read his first book but I’m definitely going to, this collection of essays made me laugh and just generally improved my mood.

Schott’s tone is very conversational which is my favorite way for nonfiction authors to write. His care and love for his patients and their owners (even the wacky ones) shines through in every essay. I think my favorite story was when he was dubbed ‘the ferret guy’.

This book has something for everyone. If you have pets, you’ll love it. If you don’t, you’ll want some. You may even end up wanting a massive snake!

Just as good as his first book! Great collection of stories odd being a small animal vet. I laughed out loud, I cried. This is a great book for any animal lover.

Thanks to ECW Press Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting but not really my cup of tea. Well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I requested this book because of it's hilarious title, but the humor in the book far surpasses what is hinted on the cover. It is the author-veternarian's second book, talking about his work and some of the interesting companion animals he took care of at his clinic.
The book not only talks about cute animals and their illnesses with humor anecdotes, but also about serious issues like euthanasia, gaps in veternary education and corporatisation.
At no point does the book sound dry, it is just like listening to your friend talk about their day at work. The narrator has done a brilliant job at emoting where needed, especially those imagined voices it animals where we guess at their thoughts. Listening to this book was such a delight, I'm going to purchase a copy of the first book as well!

This is not really a “how to” book. You will not exit with the knowledge and confidence needed to examine a wolverine. In fact, if you leave with anything pertaining to wolverines, it will hopefully be the maintained wisdom that you should keep a safe distance from them.

Phillipp Schott certainly doesn’t seduce the reader into believing they will get a book full of only charming, humorous stories. He hits you with a tearjerker right from the start. Most of the essays, however, aren’t quite as sad, although always heartwarming.

Sometimes the things that comfort you aren’t what you expect to bring you solace. When I began this audiobook, I had three living ferrets. Before getting terribly far, one of those ferrets, Delilah - her body plagued with a cruel cancer - laid down for a nap and didn’t wake up. I was not sure I’d be able to continue with essays focused on furry beasts who didn’t always make it out okay on the other end. But after a few days passed, I found I missed these stories and, not only that, craved those precious moments when pet owners looked to Dr. Schott to make their furry family members better. Somehow, even in its saddest moments, this book made me feel better, maybe because it reminded me that I was not alone in an enormous love that leads to agonizing loss.

I loved the way Schott told his stories. I found his humor enjoyable and his compassion endearing. I was also very impressed with the narrator. Had I not already known that Phillipp Schott was not the one narrating, I would have thought it was him, as Geet Arora’s tone was pitch perfect. One might think these stories were his own.

If you’re an animal lover, this book is definitely for you. You will laugh, cry, and develop an appreciation for all creatures, great and small, even if they might eat you. You know. Like a wolverine.

I am immensely grateful to ECW Press Audio for my audio review copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

As someone who works in the vet industry, I got a kick out of this book. I love the glimpse behind the curtain of veterinary clinics and all the crazy stories that happen there. If you’re animal lover, this book is for you. I’ll definitely be going back and reading his first book now!

Thanks to Netgalley and ECW Audio for the ARC of this!

This was so interesting and sweet. I read the comparable, I think, This is Going to Hurt (by a human OB), and while the premise intrigued me, the doctor’s personality and judgments of his patients put me off. Not true here, it seemed as though this veterinarian cares deeply for his animal patients, but also has plenty of empathy for their human families. There were an interesting assortment of cases/illnesses as well as some variety in animal - though dogs and cats made up an expected significant portion. I hadn’t realized this is a sequel, and I plan to read the first one, but I don’t think you need to have to follow this one. There are some references to pet names/cases, that I knew I had missed, but all in all this felt informative and easy to read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced audiobook copy of ‘How to Examine a Wolverine” by Philipp Schott. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the kind of book I would have loved as a kid when I was always checking out animal books from the library. And as an adult I still enjoyed it and will be picking up the author’s first book as well. I really liked the voice in the book both the author’s phrasing’s and unique viewpoint in the story as well as the delivery by the narrator. There were such interesting stories some funny and some tugging at the heartstrings.

4/5 stars

Any animal lover will enjoy this book - filled with real stories from a veterinarian of over 30 years. Some stories are hilarious, some informative, some more sad - there's a little bit of everything here. The writing style made this one fast-paced and easy to read If you love animals or simply wonder what it is like to be a vet, this is a book for you. I enjoyed it so much I want to go back and read his first book - The Accidental Veterinarian.

Thanks to ECW Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

“Your dog is no more a wolf than you are a Neanderthal, mind you I’m making an assumption about you.” -From how to examine a Wolverine

4.5 stars

An amusing quick paced read. The joy and love the author has for animals is obvious in the text. I especially enjoyed some of the more unusual or smaller animal stories. I didn’t particularly like the chapter about euthanasia, but I understood why it was included. Maybe some would find those answers helpful.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

A small animal veterinarian for thirty years, Schott has seen a multitude of patients, from cats and dogs to exotic snake and even bees. Here, he recounts his adventures from the bizarre, to the hilarious to the heartbreaking. A must read/listen for animal lovers and anyone who enjoyed James Herriot’s tales of life as a country vet