Coughing, vomiting, limping during the first few steps, shaking the head: when a symptom occurs in episodes and then disappears, it often doesn’t happen again at the clinic, and all you can remember is “every now and then.” To arrive with a timeline of facts, note each episode using a few concrete details and, after a few days, sum them up in three lines to read at the start of the appointment. If your dog or cat is visibly unwell, call the veterinarian first: the diary can wait.
What to write down for each episode
Six details are enough to tell the veterinarian. Note them right away, while they’re still fresh.
| Detail | Descriptive example |
|---|---|
| Date and time | June 12, 9:40 p.m. |
| Duration, measured with your phone’s stopwatch | 1 minute and 20 seconds |
| What they were doing in the minutes beforehand (eating, playing, resting, walking, visitors, noises) | Dog: playing in the garden, visitors at home. Cat: finished eating ten minutes earlier |
| What you saw and heard (body part, number of coughs, sounds, postures) | Dog: four dry coughs in a row, neck stretched forward. Cat: three retches, then undigested food on the rug |
| How they were afterward and how long it took to return to normal | After five minutes, they were drinking and playing as usual |
| What you did | I stopped the play and watched, without intervening |
Write a line even on quiet days: “no episodes” helps show how often the symptom occurs.
Facts, not interpretations: how to rephrase
A conclusion written too soon can shape the account and cause details to be missed: you note what confirms it and discard the rest. Instead, write down what anyone in the room would see or hear.
Avoid → Write:
- “The cat has a stomachache” → “They curled up and refused a treat for about an hour”
- “The dog limps because of old age” → “They put little weight on the right hind leg for the first 2–3 minutes after resting, then walk as usual”
- “The dog coughs because they get excited” → “Four dry coughs in a row after five minutes of running”
- “The cat has an ear problem” → “They shake their head and scratch their left ear about six times in the evening”
The phrases to avoid are examples of wording, not likely diagnoses. Don’t discard your theories: write them separately under the label “my question” (for example, “my question: does this happen more often after running?”), and take them to the veterinarian as questions.
When to stop observing and call right away
The diary is not a reason to wait. Call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic right away if your pet:
- is struggling to breathe;
- cannot stand;
- loses consciousness;
- has suffered an injury;
- gets worse quickly;
- has episodes that are much more frequent or different from the ones you’ve recorded.
If in doubt, call the clinic and ask whether you should bring the appointment forward. Don’t give medication or home remedies on your own, and don’t trigger an episode to get a better look.
Paper, phone, or PawsPet: where to keep the diary
Any tool you can always keep close at hand will work: a notebook or your phone’s notes app with the date and time.
If you’d rather keep everything in one place, you can use an “Other” type of health entry in the PawsPet smartphone app:
- “Pets” tab » choose the pet » “Health” tab » “+” button (bottom right) » “Other” type » “Next”.
- In the “Information” step, enter a name that describes the issue without diagnosing it, such as “Cough to monitor,” and enter the date of the first episode. Continue to the “Photo” step, which is optional, and save.
- Later, open the entry from “History” at the bottom of the “Health” tab, and record each episode under “Updates” » “New,” with the date and a note: repeat the six details in the table.
This keeps all the episodes under one entry, which you can open on your phone during the appointment and show to the veterinarian.
Family members with a PawsPet account can add their own notes if you add them as collaborators (⋮ icon on the pet’s profile » “Collaborators”) and give them “Edit” permission for “Health”; with “View” permission only, they can read the notes. Please note: “Edit” applies to the entire “Health” area, including deleting entries.
Recording observations helps organize the facts; it doesn’t interpret them or make a diagnosis. The veterinarian is the one who reviews them.
After a few days: count and prepare three lines
Reread the diary and count: how long the symptom has been occurring, how many times a day or week it happens, whether it stays the same, increases, or changes, and what often happens before an episode, as a simple observation and not a cause. For example, for a cat that vomits every now and then:
Bring the summary to the appointment to read at the start, along with the complete diary: the veterinarian may ask for details.
Frequently asked questions
What if another family member sees an episode?
Write it down anyway, noting who observed it.
How many days should I keep going?
Until the appointment, or for as long as your veterinarian advises.
