TELL ME WHERE IT HURTS

 Nick Trout is a staff surgeon at the Angell Animal Medical Center and lives near Boston, Massachusetts.

“It’s 12:00 a.m., and I have just finished Nick Trout’s book—I could not put it down. Nick has real insight into animals in trouble and their caretaker owners. The human-animal bond is alive and well. Read this book!” —Dr. Robert Taylor, star of E-Vets on Animal Planet

“Tell Me Where It Hurts is a wonderful behind-the-scenes story about a day in the lives of individual animals and the dedicated humans who selflessly care for them. This book is a must-read because it shows clearly how incredibly difficult and heart-wrenching decisions need to be made “on the run”; but when hope, humility, heart, compassion, and love predominate, we’re right far more often than we’re wrong. Read this book, laugh, cry, and share widely. It’s that enlightening and important.” —Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals and Animals Matter, and editor of the Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships

“Dr. Trout has given us a lifetime in one day as he takes us on his rounds as a veterinary surgeon. With equal parts, wit, wisdom, and great kindness, he offers a rare look into the mind and heart of a remarkable man. He is the vet every animal owner wants and the advocate every animal deserves when it comes to facing the complexities and often expensive options of diagnostics and treatment. This is a man who loves his job, and everyone benefits: the animals in his care, their often lovable but sometimes infuriating owners, and, lastly, the reader, who is lucky enough to go along for the literary ride.” —Susan Richards, author of Chosen by a Horse

“I laughed, I worried, I laughed some more, I teared with a lump in my throat, and I came to think of Nick Trout as a guy I’d like to have a beer with. This book is wonderful, and, oh yes, I also learned a lot about veterinary medicine and veterinarians. They are as necessary as a dog’s hug. If you love dogs, you’ll love this book.” —Mordecai Siegal, author of Dog Spelled Backwards

Do you have pets? What has your experience been with their healthcare?

Throughout the book, Trout makes it clear that he’s not just treating his patient—his actions also affect the life of the owner. How does this understanding influence his decisions about the care of these animals? In what ways does it make him a better doctor?

Discuss the training veterinarians undergo, and the competition for spots at veterinary school. What kind of person seems best suited for this line of work? What about in England, where potential vets must commit to the profession while they’re still teenagers?

On pages 44 & 45, Trout discussed the relatively recent domination of the veterinary medicine by women. What do you think of his explanations for this? Why do you think there are now so many women veterinarians? Is this a good thing?

In describing owners who come armed with diagnoses they’ve made based on their own research, Trout says, “Sometimes the Internet can feel like a religion for agnostics who need a shoulder in times of trouble.” What does he mean by this? Do you agree? Can you think of other situations where that statement might apply? Have you ever done online medical research for yourself or your pet? In what ways can it be beneficial as well as a hinderance?

Discuss the Stonewall couple and their dog, Jester (pp 63-67). In your opinion, does their delay in seeking treatment constitute inhumane treatment? Clearly they love their pet, so how can you explain their behavior?

On page 72, Trout compares veterinarians to pediatricians, in that both of their patients are unable to speak about their ailments. Can you think of other ways in which their challenges and job requirements are similar? Which would you rather be?

Discuss the costs of veterinary treatments. If money were no object, how much seems reasonable to you to prolong the life of a pet? If you have a pet, do you have health insurance for it?

What are your feelings about euthanasia for pets? How is it related to your thoughts on the same subject, but for humans? In what ways are the issues the same, and in what ways are they different?

Before reading this book, had you ever considered pet euthanasia’s effects on those who carry it out? How did Trout’s first experience with putting down a patient, Peanut (pp. 92-96), color his thinking? How would you have handled that situation?

Re-read the section beginning on page 109, in which Trout describes several of the more eccentrically enthusiastic owners he has met, people who “embody the conspicuous simplicity and intensity of the animal bond.” Why do you think he told us about them? What is his opinion of this level of devotion? What is yours?

Discuss Trout’s take on obesity, both of pets and their owners. How is it linked? Why do you think obesity is recognized as a major health problem for humans, but is commonly considered almost endearing for animals?

On page 179, Trout says, “Current thinking dictates that if it makes me feel better, it must make my pet feel better.” What are the dangers inherent in this attitude? How might it be beneficial to pets? To their owners?

Discuss Trout’s overall treatment of Sage, the German shepherd whose story is laced throughout the book. How does Trout’s childhood experience with Patch affect his decisions? Do you think he made the right call? How did the owner’s daughter influence the outcome?

On pages 245-247, Trout cites the findings of a recent survey of pet owners by the American Animal Hospital Association. Did any of it surprise you? Why do you think our feelings about our pets have become so intense in recent years? What does this say about our society?

Have you ever read the works of James Herriot? How does his work as a country veterinarian, some fifty years before Nick Trout, compare? What do you imagine he would think of the current state of veterinary medicine?