by Nancy Kay, DVM
Rarely am I bothered by client misbehavior, but when a client answers their cell phone while we are in the midst of discussion, I admit to feeling a bit peeved. So why in the world would I invite my clients to whip out their cell phones during the course of an office visit?
Because I want to see video of my patients’ symptoms!
Unless you are like me- still using a cell phone that my daughter considers prehistoric- your cell phone allows you to have instant access to shooting video. And if I can watch videotape of your pet’s confusing symptom or odd behavior, I’m more likely to figure out the underlying issue, more so than with just your verbal description (no offense intended). And when I have a better sense of the underlying issue, I can more expediently, and often less expensively, guide you towards rational diagnostics and/or therapy.
Unless the odd behavior or new symptom is occurring round the clock, the likelihood of it happening in my exam room is slim to none.
You’d be surprised what symptoms fully resolve when animals are under the influence of adrenaline.
So, if your dog or cat is doing something bizarre that you think will be difficult to accurately describe to your vet, I encourage you to grab your cell phone and shoot a video (feel free to include some Jacques Cousteau narration if you like). By all means, nix the video if you sense you are observing something that is life threatening, and get to the nearest veterinary hospital ASAP.
Here’s a classic example of how videotaping a medical problem can be wonderfully helpful.
A common symptom in dogs is referred to as “reverse sneezing.” It occurs when a dog feels a tickling sensation in the back of their throat. It is somewhat equivalent to a person clearing their throat. However, when dogs reverse sneeze, the symptoms appear ridiculously overly dramatic. They assume a stiff posture with head and neck rigidly extended forward. This is accompanied by forceful, noisy inhalation and exhalation that can last for several seconds, even minutes. Check out the example of reverse sneezing in the video below.
For the uninitiated, reverse sneezing is a scary thing to watch- clients commonly report that they think their dog is having an “asthma attack.”
Show your vet a video of reverse sneezing and he or she will be able to recommend what to do about it as well as provide plenty of reassurance that, no matter how dramatic the symptoms appear, they are not causing any oxygen deprivation. As much as video is helpful in this situation, I must admit I will miss watching my clients trying to imitate reverse sneezing (oops- I just revealed one of this veterinarian’s dirty little secrets)!
Here are some examples of other behaviors/symptoms that should prompt you to grab your cell phone and shoot some video (if you can think of others, please let me know):
Have you ever shared video with your vet? If so, did it prove to be beneficial in making decisions about how to proceed?
***
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to
read excerpts from Speaking for Spot. There you will also find
“Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your
own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your
pet’s health. Speaking for Spot is available at Amazon.com, local
bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Did you get your copy of Speaking for Spot yet?
If not, go get the book. It's likely the most important dog book you'll ever read.
What about Your Dog's Best Health? If
it isn't on your bookshelf yet, you ought to add it to your must-have
books. This books contains information about what is reasonable to
expect from your veterinarian Such as round-the-clock care, written cost
estimates and much more.
Do you know what you should be able to expect from your vet?
Articles by Dr. Kay:
Reasonable Expectations: The Ability to Discuss Your Internet Research With Your Vet
Finding Dr. Wonderful And Your Mutt's Mayo Clinic: Getting Started
Even The Best Veterinarian Can Make A Mistake
A Different Way to Spay
Making Tough Medical Decisions For Your Dog: Lily's Story
If You Don't Know What A Lick Granuloma Is, Count Your Blessings!
Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning
Talking Teeth
Urinary Accidents
I Can't Believe He Ate That! Foreign Body Ingestion
What Caused Murphy's And Ruska'sPneumothorax?
The Whole Picture: When The Test Results Don't Match What's In Front Of You
Stop that Scratching
Veterinarians And Vaccines: A Slow Learning Curve
What is a Veterinary Specialist?
Veterinary Specialists: Oncologist
Veterinary Specialists: Cardiologist
Veterinary Specialists: Internist
Veterinary Specialists: Neurologist
Veterinary Specialists: Surgeons
Nutritional Management of Canine Epilepsy
Have a Miniature Schnauzer? Know about Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS)
Puddles: Potential Health Hazard for Your Dog
What Is Glomerular Disease?
Leaky Dogs: A Primer on Urinary Incontinence
Eight Tips for Coping With Your Dog’s Age-Related Hearing Loss
Gut Feelings and Second Opinions
Reasonable Expectations: Access to Round-the-Clock Care
Reasonable Expectations: Discussion of All Options Regardless of Cost
Rarely am I bothered by client misbehavior, but when a client answers their cell phone while we are in the midst of discussion, I admit to feeling a bit peeved. So why in the world would I invite my clients to whip out their cell phones during the course of an office visit?
Because I want to see video of my patients’ symptoms!
Unless you are like me- still using a cell phone that my daughter considers prehistoric- your cell phone allows you to have instant access to shooting video. And if I can watch videotape of your pet’s confusing symptom or odd behavior, I’m more likely to figure out the underlying issue, more so than with just your verbal description (no offense intended). And when I have a better sense of the underlying issue, I can more expediently, and often less expensively, guide you towards rational diagnostics and/or therapy.
Unless the odd behavior or new symptom is occurring round the clock, the likelihood of it happening in my exam room is slim to none.
You’d be surprised what symptoms fully resolve when animals are under the influence of adrenaline.
So, if your dog or cat is doing something bizarre that you think will be difficult to accurately describe to your vet, I encourage you to grab your cell phone and shoot a video (feel free to include some Jacques Cousteau narration if you like). By all means, nix the video if you sense you are observing something that is life threatening, and get to the nearest veterinary hospital ASAP.
Here’s a classic example of how videotaping a medical problem can be wonderfully helpful.
A common symptom in dogs is referred to as “reverse sneezing.” It occurs when a dog feels a tickling sensation in the back of their throat. It is somewhat equivalent to a person clearing their throat. However, when dogs reverse sneeze, the symptoms appear ridiculously overly dramatic. They assume a stiff posture with head and neck rigidly extended forward. This is accompanied by forceful, noisy inhalation and exhalation that can last for several seconds, even minutes. Check out the example of reverse sneezing in the video below.
For the uninitiated, reverse sneezing is a scary thing to watch- clients commonly report that they think their dog is having an “asthma attack.”
Show your vet a video of reverse sneezing and he or she will be able to recommend what to do about it as well as provide plenty of reassurance that, no matter how dramatic the symptoms appear, they are not causing any oxygen deprivation. As much as video is helpful in this situation, I must admit I will miss watching my clients trying to imitate reverse sneezing (oops- I just revealed one of this veterinarian’s dirty little secrets)!
Here are some examples of other behaviors/symptoms that should prompt you to grab your cell phone and shoot some video (if you can think of others, please let me know):
- Weakness
- Trembling
- Incoordination
- Falling down/collapse
- Episodes of pain
- Symptoms associated with passing urine or stool
- Making odd noises (in this situation audio taping is a must along with video)
- Coughing (again, adding audio is great)
- Labored breathing
- Limping/lameness
- Odd behavior
Have you ever shared video with your vet? If so, did it prove to be beneficial in making decisions about how to proceed?
***
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to
read excerpts from Speaking for Spot. There you will also find
“Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your
own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your
pet’s health. Speaking for Spot is available at Amazon.com, local
bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.Did you get your copy of Speaking for Spot yet?
If not, go get the book. It's likely the most important dog book you'll ever read.
Do you know what you should be able to expect from your vet?
Articles by Dr. Kay:
Reasonable Expectations: The Ability to Discuss Your Internet Research With Your Vet
Finding Dr. Wonderful And Your Mutt's Mayo Clinic: Getting Started
Even The Best Veterinarian Can Make A Mistake
A Different Way to Spay
Making Tough Medical Decisions For Your Dog: Lily's Story
If You Don't Know What A Lick Granuloma Is, Count Your Blessings!
Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning
Talking Teeth
Urinary Accidents
I Can't Believe He Ate That! Foreign Body Ingestion
What Caused Murphy's And Ruska'sPneumothorax?
The Whole Picture: When The Test Results Don't Match What's In Front Of You
Stop that Scratching
Veterinarians And Vaccines: A Slow Learning Curve
What is a Veterinary Specialist?
Veterinary Specialists: Oncologist
Veterinary Specialists: Cardiologist
Veterinary Specialists: Internist
Veterinary Specialists: Neurologist
Veterinary Specialists: Surgeons
Nutritional Management of Canine Epilepsy
Have a Miniature Schnauzer? Know about Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS)
Puddles: Potential Health Hazard for Your Dog
What Is Glomerular Disease?
Leaky Dogs: A Primer on Urinary Incontinence
Eight Tips for Coping With Your Dog’s Age-Related Hearing Loss
Gut Feelings and Second Opinions
Reasonable Expectations: Access to Round-the-Clock Care
Reasonable Expectations: Discussion of All Options Regardless of Cost
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