Medical offices – both veterinary and human – can be intimidating places.

Add a squirming pet to the experience and it can be hard for clients to remember all the things that they wanted to discuss with the veterinarian and technician during an exam.

“I personally like to see my clients have a list of questions or concerns about their pets,” said Jonathan Ross, DVM at AAHA-accredited Ross Hospital for Animals in Michigan. “It makes my job so much easier.”

In an attempt to make it easier for his clients to be well-educated pet owners, Ross encourages clients to bring in their questions, and then copies those lists and writes his answers directly onto the page.

“This way not only have I addressed all the issues, but they have the responses in writing,” he said.

Putting questions down on paper before getting to the clinic helps everyone remember what issues should be covered during pet health exams.

Writing answers to those questions is just one more way that AAHA-accredited veterinarians can help their clients remember suggestions and ensure that pets are getting the best healthcare possible.

What’s on your list?

This article originally appeared in PetsMatter Volume 2 Issue 2, published by the American Animal Hospital Association. Copyright © 2009 AAHA. Find out more.