This book identifies the growing concerns regarding the professional field of veterinary medicine and tackles them boldly, aiming to promote positive change. A central theme is the emergence of the profitable ‘fur baby,’ which is promoted through anthropomorphism, a limited evidence base, overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and the corporate practice model.

Richly accompanied by reflections on fame in the veterinary field, the misrepresentation of veterinarians' ‘success,’ research involving animals owned by clients, regulated treatments, and end-of-life decision-making, the book depicts a small room filled with large elephants.

With experienced co-contributors from around the world, each chapter combines personal stories with research-based evidence. While many of the topics covered will have undergone some form of ethical analysis, this book does not aim to teach veterinary ethics. Instead, its role is to identify the core concerns about the profession’s current course and present them honestly from the perspective of concerned veterinary professionals.

Ideal for use in veterinary curricula to foster thinking and discussion among undergraduate students, this book will also be a valuable reference for professionals as the veterinary field encounters life in the era of post-truth.