Once you’ve said hello, you should find out why they have brought their pet in to see you. Whilst you are likely to have an idea why they’re there from the appointment booking, it is best to avoid assumptions and ask the client directly. It’s also worth remembering that clients often bring their animal in with several concerns[1].
Research studies in human medicine have shown that the clinical history provides around 75% of the information needed for a diagnosis[2]. In this section we will take you through the skills to optimize this critical element of the consultation.
[1] Robinson, N.J., Brennan, M.L., Cobb, M., Dean, R.S., 2015a. Capturing the complexity of first opinion small animal consultations using direct observation. Vet. Rec. 176, 48.
[2] Peterson, M.C., Holbrook, J.H., Von Hales, D.E., Smith, N.L. and Staker, L.V., 1992. Contributions of the history, physical examination, and laboratory investigation in making medical diagnoses. Western Journal of Medicine, 156(2), p.163
