Vicky Payne explains why it is vital you provide as much detail over the phone to ensure your dog gets the treatment it needs…
Being a veterinary receptionist might be one of the toughest jobs there is. When the phone rings, you often need to calm down a worried pet owner and ask them questions to determine whether they have an emergency that needs to be seen immediately, an urgent case to be seen today, or something that could be treated at home or seen tomorrow.
Whilst it can feel frustrating to be asked so many questions, many veterinary practices remain very busy, and this triaging is vital to ensuring everyone gets the treatment they need. Most practices will have guidelines to help the reception and nursing team allocate the right appointment. This chart is not exhaustive but shows some of the most common non-routine calls we deal with.
When calling your vet, have as much information as possible to hand – it can help to write everything down. We may ask what symptoms are worrying you, how long your dog has had those symptoms, and if your dog is getting better or worse. Every dog owner should try to do a pet first aid course as one of the things covered is taking their vital signs. Being able to accurately tell the vet, or nurse what your dog’s heart rate and breathing rate are, and the colour of their gums can be so useful. Traditional “signs of health” such as a cold, wet nose and shiny fur are not actually that indicative of health… but a change from a wet to dry nose, or a shiny to a staring coat could be significant.
As the person who spends most time with your dog, you are best placed to spot changes that could indicate illness. As a responsible owner, you are picking up poop every day. Whilst occasional soft faeces or diarrhoea are common in dogs (especially those who scavenge), watery diarrhoea with blood could need urgent attention. Mild diarrhoea that doesn’t respond to probiotics and a sensitive stomach diet after three days should also be investigated.
Vomiting is also common and usually doesn’t need any specific treatment. We will want to examine dogs who vomit multiple times a day, can’t keep water down, or have a history of pancreatitis or eating things they shouldn’t! If your dog is trying to be sick, but nothing or only some foam comes up, your dog needs to be seen as an emergency! This could be bloat, which is fatal if not treated quickly.
Changes in urination warrant a fairly urgent appointment and it is really helpful if you
