These Pet Tested products weren’t exactly tested by the pets themselves. But a well-read and well-educated owner is a companion animal’s best friend. SSS! reader TJ had sent me a list of some of her favorite books earlier this month and one in particular caught my eye:

Vet Confidential: An Insiders Guide to Protecting Your Pet, by Dr. Louise Murray. (Ballantine NY, 2008).
Consumers and veterinarians on Amazon.com praised the book, and Dr. Murray, for her straightforward, understandable way of discussing everything from how to chose a vet, what a diagnosis means, and what tests should and should not be done.
“I am reading it right now and it’s the only one of its kind out there,” TJ told me. “It’s a terrific layman’s book on how to evaluate your vet. Very useful, well worth the money.”

Here are TJ’s reviews, in her own words, of three other animal books she loved.

Tell Me Where it Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Suregeon, by Nick Trout (Broadway, 2008)
I usually avoid the dog and pet “story” books because I end up crying my eyes out and can't sleep at night afterwards (still getting over Black Beauty, 1958). But with this book, which I just picked up at Barnes and Noble while drinking my coffee, was funny, touching, yes, sad at times, but really very uplifting, as this vet is an incredibly sharp guy. He will, I bet, continue to write books, he's amazing. It’s his recounting of a day at work and all the characters, people and animal that he deals with.

Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster, by Allen and Linda Anderson, and John Ensign (New World Library, 2006)
It’s the best book I have ever read on Katrina animal rescue. Amazing, can't put it down.

Enslaved By Ducks, by Bob Tarte (Algonquin Books, 2004)
And finally, just to laugh like you have never laughed, there’s this story of a pet-less couple who suddenly find themselves living in the country with a backyard full of ducks to care for. Doesn't sound like much. But believe me, as a fellow animal-lover, you will appreciate how this hapless couple are gradually pulled into the hypnotic spell of this bunch of personality-plus ducks and find out what being a pet slave is all about. Really a blast to read. And I understand he has done a follow-up called “Fowl Weather.”

All of these books are available on Amazon.com and you probably can find them in local bookstores, too.
Thanks TJ!

Do you have a favorite book that deals with companion animals: Fiction, consumer guides, amazing true stories? Post a comment here on Pet Tested and we will share it.