Dr Liesel van der Merwe is a small animal medicine specialist. Send her your questions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dr Liesel van der Merwe

One of the vital parts of managing a sick patient is the history and for this we rely on the owner. If this history is incomplete or deliberately has bits missing or altered, it gives us a very shaky foundation from which to start with.

Often the patchy history is due to a client being stressed and upset. In emergencies this cannot be helped, but when you are visiting the vet for a more chronic or milder problem it would be a good idea to sit quietly and make some notes before you arrive.

Having said this, a detailed list of 10 pages, including every single pellet consumed and bowel movement made, can also make our hearts sink into our shoes. Consultation times are limited and we need to be able to get to the heart of the problem. So, think carefully and be practical with what you include. Sometime in difficult cases the answer is often in the long-winded information, but to start with, keep it concise.

Another problem we see is that clients may feel guilty for maybe waiting too long before making an appointment or not finishing a course of medication or not following instructions properly. It is important that you be honest with your vet. Covering up details like this will affect how we interpret the ongoing clinical signs.

A classic misinterpretation I see when training the students is the answer to the question: “So, did Fluffy get better on the previous course of medication?” An answer of: “No, the previous meds didn’t work,” can have two meanings, which make a huge difference in how we carry on with the workup on Fluffy.  “Yes, the symptoms got better while Fluffy was on the meds, but came back as soon as we stopped.” Or: “No, even while Fluffy was on the meds there was no improvement in the symptoms.”

The devil is in the detail. In the first answer, the meds actually do work, but not long term. That will make the vet think of a certain group of diseases which would respond to that medication. In the second scenario, the meds didn’t work and the vet needs to consider other options. So, be exact with your answer.

If you didn’t make the changes or finished the meds, rather be open about it. Otherwise the vet is working on misinformation and that means the whole foundation of the diagnostic workup is wobbly. 

As we vets gain experience over time we can see when a client is avoiding an issue and not being totally honest with us. Clients also often get offended with us when we broach this aspect. You cannot expect us to help your pet if you are not being totally open and honest.

Remember, your pet cannot talk – although often their weight will tell us you are feeding more than you admit to – they cannot give us an accurate history.

This also applies to your expectations, your financial capacity and your beliefs on quality of life. An open conversation on all of these aspects and more, from the beginning of a consultation or a diagnostic or treatment process, will help you and your pet and empower your vet to help the best he or she can.