Connecting with your pet’s healthcare team

Whether it’s a scheduled checkup or something more urgent, remembering that you’re the best advocate for your pet’s health and wellbeing can make conversations with your pet's veterinary team more productive.

Here are some ways to improve the conversation and have the best outcome for your pet's health.

Show and tell

Bring photos or videos of anything you wish to discuss, from lumps and bumps to behaviors like snoring or limping. Examples of what you might bring include:

• Photos of anything concerning, including wounds, lumps, rashes or injuries.
• Videos of movement or behaviors, such as licking, limping or seizures.
• Sample (or photos) of the item you suspect your pet ate, including plants, medication/pills, food items, mulch, etc.

If your pet swallowed something they shouldn’t have, bring along as much information as you can to inform the veterinary team’s treatment plan.

• What was contacted or ingested.
• Samples, packaging, pieces of the object or material if possible.
• How much was ingested.
• Estimated time of incident.
• Your pet's weight and medical history.

This information is valuable because the severity of symptoms can depend on type of ingestion, species, amount ingested and pet size.

Keep notes

Especially if your pet has a chronic condition. Keep a log of when issues occur, and take videos to share with your veterinary team. This is especially important for pets who experience seizures—remember to keep a detailed log or timeline of when the issues occurred.

Cats are notoriously good at hiding illness, so if you're a cat owner, consider keeping a cat diary to track subtle changes in your cat’s health.

If visiting a new clinic, specialist or emergency veterinarian, bring a list of current and past medications, dosages and any procedures your pet has had (this list is also valuable to have in emergency situations, so keep a copy in your grab-and-go kit).

Explain your situation

Miscommunication in difficult or nerve-wracking situations can lead to unnecessary stress on everyone involved. Setting expectations and establishing clear lines of communication will help ensure your pet gets the right care for their needs.

Depending on your pet's condition, there are often multiple treatment or care options for pet parents to choose from. Help your veterinary team understand you family’s goals for your pet, as well as your financial and resource constraints, so you can decide what option feels right for you and your pet.

Say thanks!

We're all on your pet's team. Caring for pets in a medical setting can be stressful for pets, pet parents and practitioners alike. Small gestures of thanks go a long way.

Gestures don’t have to be extravagant or costly to make a difference to your pet’s health care team. Here are some simple ways to show your gratitude:

• Write them a positive review online so others in the community can see
• Share your personal experience on social media and tag the clinic
• Grab some yummy treats or put together a fun gift basket for the team to share
• Send a handwritten note (signed from your pet, of course!)
• Donate to a rescue group or nonprofit in the clinic team’s name

Get questions answered from home

If you're unsure whether your pet needs to be seen, want to ask a quick question or can't make it to the clinic right away, you can consult with a licensed veterinary professional through the Nationwide VetHelpline®, available to all Nationwide® members at no additional cost. This tool saves you time, leaves veterinary clinics and emergency centers open for pets that need immediate care, and provides trustworthy guidance on important decisions from the comfort of home.

Use the buttons below to download the Nationwide VetHelpline app and connect 24/7 with pet health experts.