Questions to Ask Your Veterinarian

Most people leave a vet appointment with some version of the same regret: they forgot to ask something important, or didn't ask a follow-up when they should have. It's easy to get flustered in an exam room, especially when your pet is anxious or when unexpected news comes up.

Writing down questions beforehand helps. Here's a starting point, organized by when you'd ask them.

Before you commit to a practice

• Are you currently accepting new patients?
• How far out do routine wellness appointments typically get scheduled?
• What's the standard exam fee?
• How do you handle after-hours emergencies — do you have an on-call vet, or do you refer to an emergency clinic?
• Do you provide written estimates before non-emergency procedures?
• Is the practice AAHA accredited?

At a wellness visit

• Based on today's exam, what are the things I should be most attentive to over the next year?
• Is my pet at a healthy weight? What should I be aiming for?
• Are there any vaccinations coming due, and which ones do you recommend for this pet specifically?
• What parasite prevention do you recommend, and why?
• Are there any dietary changes you'd suggest?
• At what age should I start thinking about senior bloodwork or screenings?

When a problem is found

• What do you think is causing this?
• What are the other possibilities?
• What would happen if we waited to see whether this resolves on its own?
• What does this test or procedure involve, and what are you hoping to learn from it?
• What's the estimate for what you're recommending?
• Is there a less expensive approach that would give us useful information?
• What would you do if this were your pet?

About medications

• Is there a generic version of this medication available?
• Can I fill this at a regular or online pharmacy, or does it need to come from you?
• What side effects should I watch for?
• What should I do if my pet won't take it?
• How will we know if it's working?

About follow-up

• When should I call if things aren't improving?
• What symptoms would be reason to come back sooner?
• Will you send me a visit summary by email?
• Is there anything I should watch for at home over the next few days?

A note on asking questions

A vet who gets impatient with questions, or who doesn't explain their reasoning when asked, is giving you important information about how that relationship is going to go. A good vet genuinely welcomes engagement. You're not being difficult by asking what something costs or why something is being recommended — you're doing exactly what an informed pet owner should do.

If a question is answered in a way that leaves you more confused than when you started, ask it again differently. "Can you explain that in simpler terms?" is a completely reasonable thing to say in an exam room.