It all begins at 2:47 a.m. Then over one twenty-four-hour period, Dr. Trout fights for the life of a ten-year-old German shepherd, battles disease in the operating room, unravels tricky diagnoses, reassures frantic pet parents, and reflects on the humor, heartache, and inspiration in his life as an animal surgeon. And he wants to take you along for the ride.
You’ll learn about the amazing progress of modern animal medicine, in which organ transplants, joint replacements, and state-of-the-art cancer treatments have become more and more common. With these technological advances come controversies and complexities that Dr. Trout thoughtfully explores, such as at what cost and how long treatments should be given, how the Internet has changed pet care, and the rise in cosmetic surgery.
Here are heartwarming stories of struggle and survival, as well as hilarious and delightful anecdotes about cuddly and not-so-cuddly pets and their variously zany, desperate, and demanding owners. Tell Me Where It Hurts offers a fascinating portrait of the comedy and drama, complexities and rewards involved with loving and healing animals.
From the front lines of modern medicine, Tell Me Where It Hurts is a fascinating inside look at a veterinarian, his furry patients, and the blend of old-fashioned instincts and cutting-edge technology that defines pet care in the twenty-first century. For anyone who’s ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at your veterinarian’s office, Tell Me Where It Hurts offers a vicarious journey through twenty-four intimate, eye-opening, heartrending hours at the premier Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston.
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"What a wonderful book! I grew up reading and re-reading James Herriott's veterinary stories, so I looked forward to trying out this modern-day vet's tale of emergency animal surgeries. I was not disappointed. He had me laughing and crying with every chapter. It was a fascinating read. I appreciated how, in between the anecdotes, he sprinkled up-to-date facts about the nature of veterinary practice today both in the UK (since he's originally British) and the US. I found that very enlightening. And some of the characters, both animal and human, had me chuckling out loud (loved the story about the macho Boxer owner whose male dog has a bit of a gender identity problem!). I recommend this to anyone who loves animals and medical tales; it is very inspiring, too, because Dr. Trout's love of animals and his deep need to save lives and care for our pets really shines through."
— Christina (4 out of 5 stars)
“Fabulous…The best veterinary book that’s been written since All Creatures Great and Small.”
— Oregonian (Portland, Oregon)“Combining a compassionate bedside manner with cutting-edge technology, Trout takes readers on a twenty-four-hour roller-coaster ride…Humorous, winning, and wise, Tell Me Where It Hurts is an inside look at a fascinating profession.”
— Barnes&Noble.com“Shows how the daily life of a veterinarian requires the ability to be a social worker, a psychologist, a grief counselor, mentor, carpenter, plumber, cosmetologist, athletic coach, magician, grim reaper, and, occasionally, guardian angel.”
— Publishers Weekly“Simon Vance adeptly captures the mixture of pulse-pounding drama, heartfelt emotion, and sarcastic humor in Trout’s lively writing…Trout’s dedication and love of animals come through.”
— AudioFile“With refreshing frankness, Trout offers lucid observations on animal-human relationships…Trout thoughtfully considers the myriad of treatment options available for twenty-first-century pets, the impact of technology on the veterinary profession, and larger ethical and quality-of-life issues. Recommended for all libraries.”
— Library Journal“Far from the rustic environs of James Herriot’s Yorkshire Dales comes an equally heartwarming, yet high-tech, memoir of a veterinarian…[Trout] writes with equal facility of the clinical side of animal surgery and the emotional side of the human bond with animals…An addictively readable chronicle of what it means to be a veterinarian today.”
— Booklist“A seasoned veterinarian shares some memorable cases…[Includes] a lively discussion of euthanasia, a high point in the book.”
— Kirkus Reviews“With Vance’s smooth delivery, Trout’s informative asides about the state of his often romanticized and largely misunderstood profession flow nicely into the action. The dramatic tension reaches a climax worthy of ER or Grey’s Anatomy, and Vance’s portrayal of one family soap opera, featuring a lonely widower hoping for a miracle to save the life of his beloved German shepherd…proves especially electrifying.”
— Publishers Weekly (audio review)" Love it so far and the picture on the cover breaks my heart and makes me want to get a Boston Terrier. "
— Linda, 2/7/2014" This is one that even my kids (teen) enjoyed enough to listen to in the car - high praise. What an entertaining writer. When I am thinking to myself - dang - wish I could write that sentence - I know I am enjoying the book. "
— Kathi, 1/26/2014" This really only deserves 2.5 stars, but I liked the stories enough to bump it up a bit for this rating. This book could soooo have done with tighter editing! The author writes like an undergrad in a creative writing course, piling adjective upon adjective and torturing his metaphors like the bad guys going after Jack Bauer (and apparently it's contagious!). The descriptions of the various medical procedures are considerably more graphic than I like, though I now know a lot more than I ever thought I would about animal anatomy. Although the author clearly loves animals - especially dogs, which are the main focus of the book - I think he goes overboard in calling the owners "parents" and "mom" and "dad" - no matter how much you love your animal companions, they are not your children!! In spite of all this, I did find myself drawn into the animals' stories, and I thought the author's insights into euthanasia were sensitive and valuable. "
— Andrea, 1/26/2014" Enjoyed the book, but was expecting something similar to James Herriot and unfortunately no one quite compares! "
— Sheddy, 1/25/2014" It was pretty darn good! "
— Keri, 1/19/2014" It was an "okay" read but I felt myself skimming through some of the chapters. I am an animal lover and was disappointed this is a year's worth of pet visitations crammed into one faux day. Plus I felt there were not enough stories about cats and was hoping for a mix of both, not just dogs. "
— Robin, 1/5/2014" Interesting stories about sick pets. Nice to see inside the mind of doctor. Also tells the story of when it might be okay to stop treating the pet or just let nature take its place. "
— Christine, 1/1/2014" Humor, sadness, and everything in the life of an animal surgeon. My favorite quote, paraphrased - "from the Cleopatra school of make-up application, heavy on the eyeliner." "
— Elisabeth, 12/21/2013" Great book for the animal lover "
— Jennifer, 12/19/2013" This is a laugh out loud read! When we are reading at night Matt thought I was crazy. I would just start laughing. "
— Kate, 12/8/2013" This book really makes you think about vet care in America. "
— Laura, 12/7/2013" This is a pleasant read with humor, wit and sentimentality around the pets of clients of the author who is a vet surgeon. In a pleasing way, the author shows the value people place in their pets and that when treating those pets, it is often for the well being of the owner! "
— Terry, 10/19/2013" Very interesting, and I learned a lot about animal medicine. I didn't cry, though I thought before I picked it up that I might. "
— Angela, 9/23/2013" It was O.K.. I read it because my cousin works at Angell Memorial in Boston. "
— Alison, 9/7/2013" Great stories from the OR of a vet's office. Touching, funny and interesting! "
— Jennifer, 5/22/2013" This was an ok book about what it's like to be a vet. The book was actually quite boring. I skipped through a lot, and just skimmed the pages while I walked to and from the gym. "
— Robin, 2/16/2013" Animals Memoir Veterinarian Human-Animal Relationships Love "
— Staci, 10/19/2012" This book would be great for tentative or aspiring veterinary students. Dr. Trout sums up the the in's, out's and rewards of a day in the life of a veterinarian. "
— Rob, 7/15/2012" very insightful as to what a vet's day can really be like, also had lots of humor in the stories he chose to tell. "
— Irene, 4/13/2012" I loved this book! It made me laugh and cry. I am a huge animal lover, so I was captivated by the veterinarian's story of his work days. "
— Sue, 4/9/2012" Vets are my heroes....and how can you resist that cover! "
— Lois, 2/2/2012" what is it with these dog memoirs written by men? are they all completely arrogant male chauvenists? "
— Jesse, 9/6/2011" I really wanted to like this but the stories were rather uninteresting and the book lacked rhythm. "
— Jamie, 5/18/2011" Fellow animal lovers, this is a great one! I couldn't put it down and wiped some tears (mind you I don't cry at weddings) while on the plane. These stories grab your heart and remind you of why pets are truly best friends. "
— Kendra, 4/21/2011" Although I'm a compulsivly fast reader I found myself "speed reading" through many passages. Nice book but not to be considered one of my favorites. Too clinical. "
— Maxine, 3/10/2011" As an animal lover, I enjoyed this book, and Dr. Trout's insight on how it feels to be the vet, as opposed to how it feels to be the patient's mom (something I'm well versed about) was very welcome. I would recommend this book to all animal lovers and all veterinary school students! "
— Robi, 3/6/2011" So far, great. Chapters are short but the author packs alot into each. Good when I take a break from work. "
— Celeste, 2/25/2011" Very humorous day in the life of a vet. If you are or ever have been an animal owner you can appreciate this book. "
— Sophia, 2/20/2011" Interesting look inside the routine of an animal surgeon. "
— Réamann, 1/11/2011" Loved reading this book especially being a vet tech myself I could relate to most of the cases in this book. Great read for any animal lover! "
— Megan, 1/6/2011Nick Trout graduated from veterinary school at the University of Cambridge, England, in 1989. He is a diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons and a staff surgeon at the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Tell Me Where It Hurts and Love Is the Best Medicine.
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.