Your pets receive a pretty major jump from 49 to 52. The worst 52 pet (hits for 31) is appreciably better than the best 49 pet (hits for 28). The worst 58 pet is marginally better than the best 52 pet (both hit for 39) since the 58 pets have a minor lifetap proc.
To put it another way, look at the increases in their max hits:
Level 30 pet: 20, kick/bash
Level 39 pet: 22, kick/bash, double attack rarely (top pet only)
Level 49 pet: 28, kick/bash, double attack, dual wield (upper end pets only)
Level 52 pet: 39, kick/bash, double attack, dual wield (innate dual wield if max level)
Level 58 pet: 47, kick/bash, double attack, innate dual wield, lifetap
The 30 pet is weak, and the 39 pet is terrible.
Also account for level ranges. This is what cripples the level 39 pet and hurts the 49 pet. 80% of the pets you'll summon with the 39 spell are no better than what you had at 30, and the other 1 in 5 is only barely better. The worst of the 49 pets (hits for 20) is effectively the same as the best level 30 pet (which also hits for 20). If you want to use your pet at 49, be prepared to do some re-summoning until you get a useful one. From 49 to 58, I usually kept a bag with vendor trash weapons in it that drop off various monsters so as to be able to give them to the pet to make it dual wield. Never having to fuss with weapons is the nicest thing about the 58 pet.
By the time Shadow Knight pets start to become tolerably useful at 52, most folks have long since mentally written them off and don't give them a chance. The level 58 pet is the level 44 Necromancer pet, which has a (deserved) reputation for being fairly good for its level. Do not write it off. As noted previously, it will out damage the best Shaman pets.
If you want your pet to proc weapons against level-appropriate monsters, you want procs with a resist modifier. Even the Sword of Runes proc (-50 resist modifier) gets resisted with some frequency. I typically don't bother with pet weapons. The most useful thing you can give your pet is haste, either from an item (muzzle) or buff.
Danth
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