Vet Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Protecting Your Pet's Health (Hardcover)

by Louise Murray D.V.M. (Author), Mehmet Oz (Foreword)
Key Phrases: pet peeves, finding peace, itchy dogs, Vet Confidential, Give It Your Best Shot, Avoiding Pet Debt (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Organization is key to this domestic animal guide for obtaining and understanding veterinary care. Focusing primarily on dogs and cats, veterinarian Murray provides questions to ask and information to seek while selecting appropriate pet care. She includes detailed descriptions of everything from vaccines to conditions affecting the eyes, heart, and other internal organs. Medical tests and treatments are discussed, with accompanying subheadings on risks involved and who should conduct the procedures. The author provides Web sites when available for organizations of veterinary specialists (such as oncologists) and discusses the importance of animal behaviorists in assessing the source of a pet’s discomfort. A chapter is devoted to natural medicine, with detailed discussion of homeopathic cures, acupuncture, and herbs. Murray cautions against excessive steroid prescription and advises on determining if a veterinarian has made a mistake in diagnosis or treatment. With numerous checklists and several personal stories, and useful and timely coverage of fiscal matters, Murray’s guidebook serves as the single source for owners seeking the fullest understanding of their pet’s veterinary options and care. --Colleen Mondor

Review
Advance praise for Vet Confidential

“Experience, knowledge, and wisdom . . . Dr. Murray has given pet parents a wonderful gift with this informative and necessary guide.”
–ASPCA

“Vet Confidential is a must-have for everyone with a four-legged friend in their lives. Offering helpful advice on working with your veterinarian to maximize your pet’s health and tips on all the latest advances in the field, this book takes the mystery out of seeking the very best health care for your animal companion.”
–Marty Becker, D.V.M., resident veterinarian on Good Morning America

“This is a rare but open look at the intricacies of veterinary medicine. The ins and outs, the rights and wrongs, of what to do and what can be done when your pet is sick is revealed in this very fine and informative book. Dr. Louise Murray becomes your advocate. At last, a book that is on your side.”
–Mordecai Siegal, author, The UC Davis Book of Dogs and The Cornell Book of Cats

“Veterinary medicine has made profound advances in the past decade, and Vet Confidential provides pet owners the tools to benefit from those advances. Dr. Murray’s essential guide to veterinary care is comprehensive yet easy to navigate. Short of going to vet school, I can’t think of a better way to safeguard your pet’s health than by reading this book.”
–Dr. Susan G. Hackner, chair, Department of Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, The Animal Medical Center

“In a clear, concise, and straightforward style, Vet Confidential helps to ensure the best possible veterinary care for your pet. There is important information in this book for both new and experienced pet owners, and if readers follow Dr. Murray’s advice, they will be much better partners with their veterinarians, for the benefit of their animal companions.”
–Felicia B. Nutter, D.V.... --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345503201
• ISBN-13: 978-0345503206
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #509,954 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRILLIANT! Every pet owner needs a copy!, June 27, 2008

By	Animal Lover (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

I had heard this book was great, but never expected it to be this brilliant! It is literally jam-packed with information that most pet owners would never know that is so useful in every day life. Not only this but Dr. Murray's writing is fluid and captivating. A great buy, I definitely recommend it!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best from The Best, June 29, 2008

By	Brian Mumpower - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I will be ordering several copies of this book. I have had the immense pleasure of meeting and getting to know Dr. Murray under very unpleasant circumstances. She helped save my cats life many years ago as the hands of a vet who botched surgery on him. She is a consummate professional with a mountain of knowledge and expertise. Truly an expert in her field, she gives practical advice backed by years of experience. In addition she treats animals with the love and respect they deserve. I just can't say enough to praise Dr. Murray. I will forever be thankful to her for what she did for my cat and me and I am so very happy to see her sharing what she knows with everyone. I would advise everyone to get this book. You won't be disappointed and in fact you may spare your pet a lot of pain and heartache by learning what Dr. Murray has to say. Get your copy soon. And if you read this Dr. Murray, thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone who owns a pet must have this book!!!!, July 2, 2008

By	Victoria Trembow (Frederick, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dr. Murray was an ANGEL sent to our family when our precious 8 year old kitty, IPO, became critically ill in 1998. What our local vet diagnosed as liver failure was reassessed by Dr. Murray as being diabetes induced, as the result of a rare brain tumor. She brought him "back to us". Day and night, she watched over him, nursed him back to health, educated us on proper home care/treatment....and comforted us by phone AT ALL HOURS. Her love, devotion and expertise gave us two more years with IPO in which he was able to still live/love comfortably. Dr. Murray was gentle but honest when the time finally came that we had to say goodbye to our beloved kitty. She comforted us as we grieved and still took my heartbroken phone calls long after he was gone. Her compassion to IPO, our family and to ALL her patients makes her an Angel to all who have been blessed with her touch.....and NOW, she can touch so many more lives by sharing her expertise, wisdom and compassion through her book!!!
The book is practical, well-written and packed with very useful information you can't afford NOT to have if you love your pet! I have already ordered several copies of this book and will order more this week to give as presents to all my friends who love animals! I highly recommend the book......and hold deepest respect, gratitude and affection to the author!