The process of veterinary medicine can be a lengthy and perplexing journey. The path from noticing your furry family member is sick to treatment and recovery is often not a straightforward one. Since our pets can’t communicate in English, this further complicates matters for veterinary teams trying to diagnose the issue.
To demystify the medical process, let’s delve into the basics of what happens during a medical consultation. A typical consultation structure followed by veterinary teams often includes a physical examination and notes that adhere to the “SOAP” format: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. However, it’s important to note that not all consultations include a physical examination. Sometimes a consultation…
Subjective involves gathering information from you, the pet owner, about your pet’s condition. It usually starts with the reason you brought your pet to the hospital that day. Was your pet vomiting? For how many days? What does your pet normally eat at home? All history, no matter how irrelevant it may seem, is important. What your pet eats at home may matter, even if you’re visiting for something like a broken toenail. This part is crucial because as a pet parent, you know your pet’s habits best. The questioning process may seem lengthy and repetitive, but it’s all in the best interest of your pet. There is no such thing as irrelevant information!
Objective consists of the observable facts at that moment in time. These include vital signs like weight, heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, and attitude. These factors can vary depending on the day.
Assessment is where the veterinary team lists the possible reasons for the subjective and objective observations.
Plan is where most of the discussion with you, the pet owner, occurs. This is where the team presents options for diagnostics to narrow down the list of possible explanations for your pet’s symptoms. Usually, the team will start by presenting comprehensive treatment options to gather all the necessary information for the clearest view of your pet’s current status. See our post on the Spectrum of Care for more information.
This process can be overwhelming for pet owners, and understandably so. The doctor and exam room team can try their best to explain what these complicated tests aim to accomplish, but it’s a lot of information to take in when you’re worried about your pet and how you’ll afford these tests.
It’s true: all of these tests come with associated costs. This is because all of these tests – ultrasounds, blood work, radiographs – require the time and expertise of educated veterinary staff to perform and interpret. Costs can add up quickly!
“Without proper diagnostics, we risk missing underlying problems that require different treatments.”
During these discussions, it’s not uncommon to hear phrases from pet owners like “Can’t you just give him what he got last time? It seemed to work” for issues like eye or ear problems. However, some health conditions may present with similar symptoms. For instance, both eye redness and discharge could be due to conjunctivitis or a more severe issue like glaucoma. Without proper diagnostics, we risk missing underlying problems that require different treatments.
If the financial investment for diagnostics is not available for pet owners, that’s when the team can consider the other end of the Spectrum of Care. This may include treating only the symptoms in some cases.
For example, a common presenting complaint in a veterinary hospital is a vomiting dog who is not eating. If the owner doesn’t have the means to investigate further, they may choose to treat with subcutaneous fluids (instead of hospitalization and IV fluid therapy) and some oral gastrointestinal medications. This approach may be appropriate in some cases but not in others, as these treatments won’t help if the cause is something like a tumor or foreign body in the intestinal tract, which can only be confirmed through more advanced diagnostics.
Understanding the process of a medical consultation can help pet owners navigate this journey with more clarity and confidence. While the costs and decisions involved in diagnostics and treatment can be daunting, they are essential for ensuring the best possible care for our furry family members. By partnering closely with your veterinary teams and trusting that they have the best interest of your pet, we can help them lead healthier and happier lives.