Timelines for Diagnosing Veterinary Cases: A Practical Guide for Clinicians
Dr. Geoff Carullo, DVM, FPCCP, DPCVSCA
- Articles
- 2 min read
In everyday veterinary practice, we’re often under pressure to provide quick answers.
But producing a reliable diagnosis depends on many factors—case complexity, diagnostic availability, and clinical presentation.
Below is a structured guide to help manage both professional standards and client expectations:
These are typically cases where history + physical exam + quick tests lead to a confident clinical impression.
Tools: Fecalysis, otoscopy, skin scraping, ELISA tests, in-house blood smear
Examples:
Action: Confirm, treat, educate. This builds trust through speed and clarity.
When initial workup requires in-house diagnostics—bloodwork, imaging, or urinalysis—but results are available before end of day.
Tools: CBC, blood chem, radiographs, urinalysis
Examples:
Action: Begin diagnostics early in consult. Re-discuss findings with the client within the day.
This covers conditions that need external lab processing or more complex cytology/histopath interpretation.
Examples:
Action: Always inform the client upfront of timelines. Offer symptom management while waiting.
Chronic, multisystemic, or internal medicine cases often require referral-level diagnostics, serial testing, or monitoring over time.
Examples:
Action: Provide a working diagnosis (differentials), initiate staging, and communicate clearly that diagnosis is a process, not a one-time event.
Regardless of timeline:
A diagnosis delayed is not always a diagnosis denied. Clarity, not haste, defines good medicine.
Sharing this helps others understand what it really means to be a vet. Like and follow if you’re with us.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
