Providing complete history can speed up your pet’s diagnosis
(Sept. 4, 2024) — When your pet is sick and you need to see a veterinarian, it may seem obvious, but giving a good history can be crucial in helping them make a diagnosis faster. Remember, our patients are not able to give their own account of how they feel, or what they feel, for that matter.
As your pet’s guardian, it is paramount you give complete information to help guide the vet in what direction they might need to go to help obtain a diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan. This can potentially save you money since the vet is able to throw the ‘fishing net’ of diagnostics in one direction rather than every direction, or worse, in the wrong direction.
For the skilled veterinarian, taking a good history requires good listening skills as well as the ability to ask open-ended questions and allow the client to fill in the blanks on what may not be obvious on the physical exam. And yes! Veterinarians still do physical exams.
I often wonder a bit about the lack of a true physical exam in the human medical world (sorry MD’). As a client and pet guardian, you can really help the process by being specific and making sure the doctor hears your concerns. Even subtle changes you’ve noticed in your pet can help guide the next steps in diagnostics. Sometimes, writing down the information can be quite helpful, so you don’t forget to share something that might turn out to be vital in the history.
For instance, if the only clinical sign you have noticed is lethargy, the doctor will be trying to ascertain what body system might be involved: Is there an increase in water intake? Increase in urinations: quantity versus frequency? As a few (of many) examples, the former could mean kidney disease, Cushing’s, diabetes, liver disease or certain cancers. The latter could mean urinary tract infection, or even a behavioral change/marking behavior.
Is there any change in weight or appetite? Any vomiting or nausea? What supplements or medications do you routinely give to your pet? Have you changed the diet or recently purchased new food? Do you store kibble in the garage and purchase in bulk?
Sometimes subtle changes can help direct the vet to find (hopefully) easy solutions, like rancid kibble from being in the heat or being stored too long or a recent pet food recall. Sometimes the vet will need to do further diagnostics, but by now – from your history alone – they have already ruled out several things.
Limping can be another interesting mystery to solve. Sometimes there is an obvious traumatic event in the history. But other times, a pet could have a lameness that switches between legs. In a young dog, this can be a sign of something called panosteitis, where, in a rapidly growing puppy, the long bones can get painful due to local inflammation inside the bone itself – it can quite painful and also thankfully, only transient.
In a bit older pet, we might look for something called polyarthritis, where the joints in the body get inflamed and sore, and sometimes switch between affected limbs. When polyarthritis is suspected, the vet might query whether there were recent vaccinations (if they don’t have it in their records), or perhaps exposure to ticks or certain medications in the recent past.
Often, a minimum data base is the first step following a thorough physical exam. This includes a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile (a “chemistry” panel) and a urinalysis. These three lab work findings can rule in or rule out a myriad of conditions, but also help guide your vet to specific next steps. More significant issues may require further diagnostics that could include radiographs, ultrasound, etc.
Any new pets in the home? Any new family members? Has a favorite family member gone off to college? Behavioral issues can often be brought on by a change on the home front, as well as stressful events of other types, such as fireworks and other loud noises. Your vet should be able to navigate behavioral issues with you once no physical ailment is confirmed.
Some of these conditions might lead to referral to a specialist to help get to the bottom of the problem, but it all starts with a great history from you.
Email Micki McCabe at drmccabevet@gmail.com.
Micki McCabe
Micki McCabe, DVM, DACVIM, FAAVA, is a long-time Clayton resident. The recently retired local veterinarian has an interest in internal and integrative medicine.