Tell Me Where It Hurts by Dr. Nick Trout

ABOUT THIS BOOK: It’s 2:47 a.m. when Dr. Nick Trout takes the phone call that starts another hectic day at the Angell Animal Medical Center. Sage, a ten-year old German shepherd, will die without emergency surgery for a serious stomach condition. Over the next twenty-four hours Dr. Trout fights for Sage’s life, 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.…

From the front lines of modern medicine, Tell Me Where It Hurts is a fascinating insider portrait of 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.

You’ll also be inspired by the heartwarming stories of struggle and survival filling these pages. With a wry and winning tone, Dr. Trout offers up hilarious and delightful anecdotes about cuddly (or not-so-cuddly) pets and their variously zany, desperate, and demanding owners. In total, Tell Me Where It Hurts offers a fascinating portrait of the comedy and drama, complexities and rewards involved with loving and healing animals.

First line: It might seem strange, coming from an Englishman, but sometimes emergency surgery in the middle of the night can play out like a synopsis of a perfect reason for the Boston Red Sox.

My Thoughts: I have a soft spot for animals in general and dogs in particular so I thought I would enjoy this book. I did. In here you read about the hospital and learn about many of the high tech ideas available to vets today. Even better you meet some wonderful pet parents, learn their stories and care about them and their pets. Dr. Trout's evident love of his patients shined through.

Dr. Trout examines many of the issues facing vets and owners today including how much are you willing to pay & what is really best for the animal?

I found myself tearing up in several places and laughing in others. I did think that at times the humor fell flat, but all in all I enjoyed this book. I would like to get his next one.

My rating:

Quote: In a few seconds the Flynn family will be out of sight, but anyone who knows them can see the unnatural shift in their dynamic - baby on the hip, toddler in the carriage, Brian, in hand, walking by his Mom's side. Something is wrong with this new asymmetry. There is an empty space up front center, conspicuous, like an empty chair with a place setting at a family dinner table.

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reader's guide

excerpt