Five books, countless stories… Dr. Gautam Unny shares his journey from a stud farm to a stethoscope! The joys and hardships of being a veterinarian.
– by Dr. Gautam Unny
I was just 4 years old when I told my parents that I would become a vet. I grew up in the stud farms of Harpur, Babugarh, Saharanpur, etc., where a relative was an RVC army vet. Those early impressions had a deep impact on me, and throughout my early life, I dreamed of becoming a vet. Though I had initially wanted to join the army, I later joined private practice. Being a vet is the most challenging job where the doctor has to figure out any ailment their patient has without being told anything by the patient. It’s like solving a complex jigsaw puzzle using your skills.
Stories, Training, and Care – All in Print
Writing started very early when I started private practice. Initially, work was limited, and I started writing for the colony’s local dailies. That progressed to me writing for the pet page in the Delhi Times for the next 4 years. I then collected the articles, added information, and got my first book published, called A Manual on Dog Care. I then just continued writing for many websites, as that was the dotcom revolution age.
From Practice to Print – A Written Journey with Dogs
There is a total of five books that I’ve published. My first book was published in 2004 by Rupa, called A Manual on Dog Care. It was a collection of my older articles and an experience of more than 8 years looking after dogs. At that time, there were hardly any cats around, and hence the book dealt almost entirely with dogs.
The next was A Manual on Dog Training by NBT publishers. I then gave text to a pictorial canine book by Ane Publishers. The last two are by Oakbridge publishers’ tittles Tales of Wagging Tails and Pet Care Made Easy.
Putting Years of Learning into Words
Each book came at a time when I saw potential in a certain segment of canine or feline care. Tales of Wagging Tails is almost autobiographical and a story of the evolution of the veterinary industry in the last three decades. Pet Care Made Easy is a complete manual on looking after dogs, cats, and exotics. The next decade will see an explosion in the feline population and also in exotics. The book aimed to give relevant information on these two segments of the pet population.
Each role has its challenges, whether it is being a veterinarian or an author. There are always mental blocks. But the journey has been exhilarating to say the least. Every published book is like having a baby. It’s a part of you. It’s a part of your mental and emotional journey in life. Being a full-time practitioner and yet finding time to write is tiring but fun.
When Healing Brings Joy—and Loss Brings Silence
Every surgery or recovered case brings joy. Every loss is equally devastating. Every vet feels terrible when he loses a patient under his care. I have always believed that it’s a tough job being a vet. His life is full of complaints from his family, clients, and friends. There is just never enough time to please everyone. Yet he carries on trying to save every possible life. But the most exciting journey is undoubtedly every delivery case where we bring life in the form of pups.
Then and Now – A Profession That Evolved
When I started practice getting a blood test done needed pleading with a human lab. Radiographs were taken clandestinely in human X-ray centres in non-clinical hours. Ultrasounds were unheard of. Now we have these facilities in most clinics. CT scans and MRI Scans are now possible. There is a trend of building hospitals that has increased, and specialty clinics for oncology, eyes, etc., have come up. It’s time for the next generation of vets to step up and take the profession to new heights.
Responsible Pet Keeping Starts with You
Pets are like children. They need time, energy, and lots of care. And this is the take-home message for every reader. If there is a shortage of time, don’t adopt pets. Secondly, spend time with your pets. They are not toys or accessories to be kept for show. Also, I would request readers to think of adopting community dogs, as it would not solve the problem of community dogs, but rather solve all problems for that one animal.
There is no experience equivalent to pet keeping. One can get unconditional love from animals, and all they expect is love in return. Engross yourself in this selfless journey and feel unconditional love. And of course, keep reading Dogs and Pups.
(Dr. Gautam Unny – B.V Sc, M.I.S.V.S. – The Amrita Pet Care Clinic, Delhi)