Answer: Most human patients will be able to answer questions about their
illness clearly cats are unable to do this. So it is important that however
consults the veterinary surgeon should be able to express exactly what it is
that they are worried about ; in other words the nature of the problem.
The person who is present when the cats examined should be prepared
to supply information about both recent and past events; this is known as
the ‘history’ of the case. Usually question will be asked about the animals,
diets;, appetite and thirst, it is temperament and willingness to play or
exercise, the passage of urine and motions, past illness injuries, how long
it has been owned, whether it has been neutered and, in the case of entire
(i. g. unsprayed) females, the date of birth of litters and whether and the
animals, has been ‘calling’ recently. You will also be asked of detail of any
abnormal sign that have been observed. Where abnormalities have been
noted, it is important to be able to say, at least approximately, how long
they have been present (for months, weeks, or days) and they have been
present continuously or intermittently (i.e. have come and gone) if it is
possible to give exact dates, so much the batter.
Some owners keep a dairy, or at least make a notes about the sequence
of events in an illness, and certainly, and whenever the succession of
event become complex and therefore difficult to remember, it is useful
a written record of the salient points. Most event are very busy and
therefore won’t relish the idea of the plpughing through page after page of
unimportant details, but all of them will welcome an accurate and concise
sep by step account what has occurred. Whenever you have additional
documentation (e.g. the cat’s pedigree or vaccination certificates), these
should be available, especially when you are consulting a particular
veterinary surgeons for the first time.
From what has already been stated, most owners will appreciate the
problem that are created from the vet, and therefore for the patient, if the
person present with the animal knows little or nothing of the background to
the illness. This is frequently so when children are helpful neighbors brig a
sick cat to the consulting room. Wherever possible therefore, the owner or
whoever normally looks after the cat, should be available. When this isn’t
possible, the best substitute is a written record of the facts together with
a telephone number at which the owner can be contacted in case further
detail are required, or it is necessary to obtain their consent for anesthesia
or other procedures to be performed.
