If they could only talk…Part 1 in a series

In a world filled with constant chatter, one of the more appealing attributes of our pets is their quiet companionship. Your Golden Retriever will never complain to you about the day he had at work. Your English bulldog won’t ask if you think she’s gained weight. This can be a silent solace from the daily grind, but to a veterinarian this may be a diagnostic challenge when presented with a sick dog or cat. Many times the only thing we know is that they don’t feel well – they aren’t eating, are less active, losing weight or maybe we’re only provided the oft-uttered “Doc, he’s just not himself….”

If only they could tell us what’s wrong, but then where’s the fun in that? If veterinarians wanted the easy life, they’d have just gone to medical school. Instead, we rely on several diagnostic tools to get the answers we’re looking for. Your veterinarian will likely start by asking you some questions in order to get a better understanding of your pet’s condition. Things that are important to mention include:

• previous illnesses,
• other pets at home that are, or are not, sick,
• introduction of a new pet to the house,
• any medications your pet is receiving or may have ingested (best to bring all your pet’s medications when making a trip to the vet’s office),
• how long you’ve noticed the symptoms
• changes in appetite, water intake,
• weight loss,
• behavior changes, and
• bathroom habits.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. The more information you can provide your vet, the better his or her chances of solving the problem. So what’s the take-home lesson here? Be prepared – by helping your veterinarian narrow the possibilities, you can help reduce the time it takes to make a diagnosis (and maybe save yourself a little money along the way).

But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Rarely can the entire answer be found in the history. In part 2 of “If they could only talk”, we’re going to begin our exam and reveal how a systematic evaluation of a patient contributes to making a diagnosis.

Mitch Potter, DVM, DACVECC