How to Describe What You've Noticed to Your Vet

You noticed something different about your pet, and now you have ten minutes with the vet to explain it. The best way to describe pet changes to your vet is to write down what you saw, when it started and how often, using plain words. Add a dated photo or a short clip if one would help, and bring it all with you. Your vet decides what it means.

Here's why it matters. Vets rely on you for your pet's history and recent changes. As PDSA puts it, "no-one knows your pet better than their owner." This guide shows you how to turn what you have seen into something clear and quick to share. For more on getting ready, see our vet visit guides.

What does your vet want to hear?

Your vet wants facts: your pet's history, how they normally behave, and what has changed. PDSA says vets ask about exactly these things, and gives eating less or going to the toilet more often as examples of changes worth a note.

Keep to what you saw, not what you think caused it. Plain, specific wording is easier for your vet to work with than a guess. Here is how that looks:

How do you describe what you've noticed, step by step?

Start by writing it down, then keep it short and factual. Six steps cover it, and none takes long.

1. Write it down when you see it. Put the date and time on it. PDSA's advice is to "make a note so you can tell your vet." A note made today beats a memory from next week. A vet-ready record of your pet's care gives these notes a home.
2. Say what you saw. Describe it the way you would to a friend: what the pet did, where, and for how long. Leave out guesses about the cause.
3. Say how it differs from normal. "Usually" is a useful word. Your vet doesn't know what normal looks like for your pet. You do.
4. Note when it started and how often. One time, daily, only in the evenings? A rough count is fine, and "I'm not sure" is a fair answer too.
5. Add what else is going on. Changes in food, routine, medication or who is home can matter. If more than one person looks after your pet, ask them what they have seen.
6. Pick your top two or three points. Appointments are short. Lead with the most important, and keep the rest in your notes. Pair this with your questions to ask at the vet.

Which photos and videos help?

A short, clear photo or clip can show your vet what words cannot, and it takes less time than you might think. These tips come from PDSA's guide to veterinary photos:

• Lumps: take at least 2 photos, a close-up and a wider shot. Put a ruler or a coin next to it for scale.
• Eyes: keep the flash off and zoom in. If only one eye is affected, add a photo of the other eye for comparison.
• Ears: lift the flap gently and move fur aside. Be very gentle, because sore ears can be painful.
• Walking: for a dog on a lead, film them walking towards the camera, away from it, then from the side. Walk, don't run.
• Breathing: film for 10 to 20 seconds from the side, so the chest, belly and mouth show.

Safety comes first. PDSA says never to force photos, and to stop if your pet is in pain, frightened or panicked. For a change in behaviour, Cornell's behaviour service says video is helpful and best sent before the appointment if possible. They also ask that you only record when it is safe, and don't film in a way that creates or escalates a dangerous situation.

When you send files, keep them short. PDSA asks for no more than 4 photos or 1 short video per email, with your pet's name in the subject and a line about the problem. Cornell suggests Dropbox or Google Drive for large video files. Ask your own clinic how they prefer to receive them.

Who else should add what they've seen?

Everyone who looks after your pet sees something different. A partner might notice the evening routine, a sitter might notice a walk, a child might notice mealtimes. Ask each person to add what they saw, with the date, to one shared place. That way you aren't piecing it together in the waiting room. Paw Crew's household sharing is built for this.

What goes wrong most often?

• Waiting until you are in the room to remember. Notes made at the time fill the gap, so keep them close.
• Guessing at a cause. "She ate less" is more useful than "I think it's the new food."
• One very long video. Trim it to the part that matters.
• Only seeing it at home. A short clip captures what may not happen in the clinic.
• Changes during a course of treatment. PDSA says if you see unexpected changes while your pet is on treatment, always contact your vet for advice.

How do you keep track of it?

The easiest habit is to log a change the moment you see it, in the same place every time. In Paw Crew, you can add what you notice as an Observation, keep it in your pet's Day Ledger, share it with your household through iCloud, and bring a vet-ready report to the appointment. Paw Crew is coming soon to iPhone. It logs and reminds, and never gives advice, so what it all means is always a question for your vet.

Bottom line

Write down what you saw, when it started and how often. Add a dated photo or a short clip, and bring your top points. Your vet takes it from there, and you walk in prepared.