The Importance of History Taking
Karol Mathews, DVM, DVSc, DACVECC, professor emeritus of clinical studies at Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, says history taking is a crucial part of diagnosing a patient.
Karol Mathews, DVM, DVSc, DACVECC, professor emeritus of clinical studies at Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, says history taking is a crucial part of diagnosing a patient. It is up to the veterinarian, she continues, to guide patients through a series of questions that might uncover the cause of the presenting symptoms.
Dr. Mathews explains some of the questions veterinarians might ask depending on the animal, season, and geographic location. For example, if a dog is lethargic and vomiting, the veterinarian might ask if the owner recently changed the antifreeze in their car.
