SubscribeWhy Keeping Accurate Pet Medical Records Is Crucial for Your Pet’s Health
Ensure your pet’s health with comprehensive pet medical records. Learn why maintaining these records is vital and how to keep them organized and up-to-date.
This pet health content was written by a veterinarian, Dr. Debora Lichtenberg, VMD. It was reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, and was last updated on August 7, 2024
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
The Importance of Accurate Pet Medical Records
When you go to the veterinarian, you tell her what’s wrong with your pet, right? Well, that’s easier said than done.
It’s our job to get as complete a medical history as possible and ask the right questions — and sometimes the same question in different ways. It’s your job to be as prepared as possible and know as much as you can about your pet’s ongoing medical concerns.
- History taking is a bit of an art.
- Some veterinary personnel are better at it than others.
- Even if there is a laundry list of questions your veterinary nurse may ask, sometimes the important information about your pet’s health is not in that cookie-cutter list.
Accurate pet medical records can help bridge these gaps. By maintaining comprehensive pet medical records, you can ensure that important health information is always available to your veterinarian, making it easier to provide the best possible care for your pet.
Why We Ask So Many Questions
Some clients get frustrated when they have to answer questions from the veterinary receptionist or the technician. “Let me just talk to the doctor” is an occasional complaint. Veterinary staff members hate that phrase, by the way. It’s demeaning to the support staff when, actually, they do a lot to get the ball rolling in the right direction for you.
They know, for example, when a urine sample is absolutely needed. Getting the sample and having the info for the vet saves time and frustration.
- There is value in being asked the same questions a few times.
- A client may say something very different to the vet.
- Going over a medical history again may jog a person’s memory.
If my patients could speak for themselves, this would be a bit easier. But Clyde the Afghan can’t interrupt and correct you when you tell the vet the wrong thing. “Of course I had this problem before,” Clyde is saying to himself. “Remember when you took me to that vet on vacation because I scratched my ear until it bled?”
In the majority of cases, it’s not that clients are trying to hide anything. They just may have forgotten something important, didn’t think some information was significant, or never thought that some of their pet’s behavior may be related to the presenting complaint.
The Value of Taking a Video
Take, for example, the all-too-typical problem of vomiting. Some days, it seems like none of my patients have a normal and happy GI system. But not all vomit is the same. It takes multiple questions from your vet staff to get to the bottom of the barfing.
Did you know that many people confuse vomiting with regurgitation? Explaining that your dog is passively regurgitating his food rather than actively vomiting tells me a lot more than I might discover in a basic exam. And, yes, along with a good medical history, I often ask people to videotape the process.
- Coughing, sneezing, honking, seizing, passing out, and walking “funny” are only a few examples where a picture is worth a thousand words.
- I love it when, after the client has been trying to mimic the snort, the duck sound, or the wobbly walking, she says, “Oh, wait a minute. I have it on my cellphone.”
Yeah! That’s what we vets want.
Ask for Medical Records
Have you seen that commercial where the patient is being wheeled into the emergency room and the doctors are getting all of her medical history, scans, MRIs, etc., delivered to their computer? If only that were the case in all of human and veterinary medicine.
Sadly, the reality is that clients often show up with no previous records, or the pet’s history may truly be unknown.
- Any previous records or information you can bring to your vet can save time, money, and get your pet on the road to recovery faster.
- Some people are embarrassed about seeking a second opinion or “trying out” another vet, so they don’t ask for previous medical records.
- Do you know how difficult it is to give a second opinion with no information?
Here’s a quick video of Marmalade the kitten’s first vet visit:
Get Organized
I am amazed when folks come in with perfectly organized, pristine files on their pets’ medical histories.
Organization, particularly at home, is not my strong point. Your veterinarian thanks you for taking such good care of Cocoa’s paperwork, for knowing her symptoms, and for catching that honking sound she makes on your phone.
- Having organized pet medical records helps veterinarians provide better care.
- Knowing your pet’s symptoms and having them documented can speed up diagnosis and treatment.
- Recording unusual behaviors, like the honking sound Cocoa makes, is invaluable.
We appreciate everything you do for them. It makes our job a little easier and gets Cocoa back on the healthy road again.
What Should Be Included in Pet Medical Records
Pet medical records should contain comprehensive information about your pet’s health history. Essential elements include:
- Vaccination history
- Treatment plans
- Medications
- Diagnostic test results
- Detailed notes from veterinary visits
- Past surgeries
- Allergies
- Behavioral notes
Maintaining thorough pet medical records ensures that any veterinarian can quickly understand your pet’s health status and provide the best care possible.
The Importance of Updating Pet Medical Records
Keeping pet medical records updated is crucial for effective veterinary care. Regularly updating these records with new treatments, medications, and health observations ensures that all health information is current. This is particularly important for:
- Managing ongoing health conditions
- Adjusting treatment plans as needed
- Ensuring continuity of care across different veterinarians
- Supporting pet insurance claims
- Providing accurate information in emergency situations
Regular updates to your pet’s medical records help veterinarians make informed decisions and offer the best possible care.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to get pet medical records?
You can get pet medical records by requesting them from your veterinarian or any previous veterinary clinics your pet has visited.
What do pet medical records look like?
Pet medical records typically include vaccination history, treatment plans, medications, diagnostic test results, and notes from veterinary visits.
Reference
- “Getting My Pet’s Medical Records.” PetHub. https://www.pethub.com/articles/70424/getting-my-pet-s-medical-records
- “Pet Medical Records.” ManyPets. https://manypets.com/us/blog/pet-medical-records
