Getting the Right Diagnosis for Your Dog & Cat—5 Problem Areas

When pets are ill, the first thing we want to know is what caused the problem. This sounds simple, but getting the diagnosis is so complex that it takes veterinarians 4 years of schooling to learn how to begin. That many years? Yup. And only to begin getting the diagnosis right? Yup. It’s hard to get the right diagnosis.

Here are 5 problems that make it difficult to get the right diagnosis:
1. Working with incomplete or misleading information
2. Being presented with a pattern of illness that isn’t normal or typical
3. Grabbing onto one major symptom and thinking that’s where the focus should be
4. Considering the problem only in light of what local pets develop
5. Using stereotypes such as breed or age

What can pet families do to ensure their pet gets the correct diagnosis? Let’s consider each of these 5 problems and in more detail over the next few Caring for Pets entries.