Q:  What can I do to make the most of a trip to the veterinarian?

A: In addition to your pet, there are several items you should take to the veterinarian with you.  Bring any records you have for your pet, especially if this is your first visit to the office.  Also bring along any over the counter medications, dietary supplements, vitamins, and prescription medications you are giving your pet.  These medications and records will help your veterinarian compile a complete medical history.

Have the primary care giver for the pet attend the visit.  It is very difficult to discuss the care and medical management of a pet when the primary care giver is not present.  It is also important to be honest and complete when providing information to your veterinarian.  Your pet’s doctor is not going to judge you.  He does need to know exactly how your pet is being cared for and everything you have tried on your own.  In addition, do be afraid to ask questions.  Many people find it helpful to write down a list of questions for the doctor.

For most visits it is appropriate to supply a fresh fecal sample.  If there are any issues involving changes in drinking or urination behaviors, please do not allow your pet to urinate on the way into the veterinarian’s office.  If a urine sample is required, a full bladder is most helpful.  Similarly, if an ear infection or skin problem is suspected, please do not clean the ears or shampoo the pet before the examination.

Finally, keep an open mind.  Even if you have owned many pets over many years, medical knowledge advances every day.  Recommendations on nutrition, parasite control, vaccination, wellness laboratory testing, and other topics may change from year to year. 

Q:  Why won’t my veterinarian dispense more antibiotics without examining my cat?  She has the same skin infection that she had in the spring and the medication worked then.  I would rather try the medication first before spending the time or money for a repeat visit.

A:  Proper antibiotic selection and use is a very important topic.  These medications are legally restricted to prescription use for good reasons.  Among them is antibiotic resistance.  When bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic it becomes more dangerous to your pet and your family.  Veterinarians and physicians can attest that antibiotic resistance is becoming quite common.  A major cause of this phenomenon is the improper use of medications.

Sometimes an antibiotic will improve a condition without curing it.  Other times, it will appear that the condition has been cured, but it will return.  In both these cases the risk for antibiotic resistance is increased.  Your veterinarian needs to accurately diagnose your pet’s condition before prescribing the proper treatment.  Once the proper medication is chosen, it is important to finish the entire course.

Please do not start antibiotic therapy, or any medical therapy, without speaking with your veterinarian first.  It is frustrating to have symptoms obscured and necessary tests invalidated by a well-meaning pet owner who starts medication before calling the doctor.  Frequently medications given by pet owners limit the ability of veterinarians to prescribe the best possible medication due to drug interactions.  This situation causes needless suffering for pets, potentially leads to drug resistance, and often causes medical bills to be higher than they should have been. 

Most veterinarians offer phone consultations free of charge to regular clients.  Some offer this service 24 hours a day.  Please pick up the phone before giving your pet a medication, even if you think you are dealing with the same condition for which a drug was previously recommended.  Your veterinarian may recommend a refill of a previous prescription or administration of an over-the-counter therapy.  Other times, an examination may be requested.  If so, you have probably chosen a very competent and concerned doctor who wants to do the best thing for your pet.