Describing Specific Symptoms

Describiendo síntomas específicos

Explaining your pet's unusual symptoms (e.g., loss of appetite, lethargy, limping) to the receptionist to help them determine the urgency and type of appointment needed.

Explicar los síntomas inusuales de tu mascota (p. ej., pérdida de apetito, letargo, cojera) a la recepcionista para ayudarles a determinar la urgencia y el tipo de cita necesaria.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

Sarah (Female)

Good morning, Sunshine Pet Clinic. How can I help you?

Buenos días, Clínica Veterinaria Sunshine. ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?

David (Male)

Hi, I'd like to schedule an appointment for my dog, Max. He's been acting a bit off lately.

Hola, me gustaría programar una cita para mi perro, Max. Ha estado actuando un poco raro últimamente.

Sarah (Female)

Certainly. Can you describe what 'off' means? Is he experiencing any specific symptoms?

Por supuesto. ¿Puede describir qué significa «off»? ¿Está experimentando algún síntoma específico?

David (Male)

Yes, for the past two days, he's had a really poor appetite. He's barely touched his food. And he's been very lethargic, mostly just lying around, not playing at all.

Sí, en los últimos dos días, ha tenido un apetito realmente pobre. Apenas ha tocado su comida. Y ha estado muy letárgico, la mayor parte del tiempo solo acostado, sin jugar en absoluto.

Sarah (Female)

Okay, loss of appetite and lethargy. Has he had any vomiting or diarrhea, or is he limping?

Bien, pérdida de apetito y letargo. ¿Ha tenido vómitos o diarrea, o cojea?

David (Male)

No, no vomiting or diarrhea, and he doesn't seem to be limping. His usual energetic self is just gone.

No, ni vómitos ni diarrea, y no parece que cojee. Su yo enérgico habitual simplemente ha desaparecido.

Sarah (Female)

I see. Given these symptoms, it sounds like he needs to be seen as soon as possible. We have an opening at 2 PM today, or tomorrow morning at 10 AM. Which works best for you?

Entiendo. Dadas estas síntomas, parece que él necesita ser visto lo antes posible. Tenemos una apertura a las 2 de la tarde hoy, o mañana por la mañana a las 10. ¿Cuál le funciona mejor?

David (Male)

2 PM today would be perfect. Thank you so much.

Hoy a las 2 PM sería perfecto. Muchas gracias.

Sarah (Female)

You're welcome, David. We look forward to seeing you and Max later. Please bring any recent medical records if you have them.

De nada, David. Esperamos con interés verte a ti y a Max más tarde. Por favor, trae cualquier registro médico reciente si los tienes.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

appointment

A planned meeting with a doctor or clinic, like booking time for your pet's check-up. Use it when scheduling: 'I need an appointment.'

Una reunión planificada con un médico o clínica, como reservar un horario para la revisión de tu mascota. Úsalo al programar: 'Necesito una cita.'

symptoms

Signs of illness, such as pain or tiredness. In conversations about health, say: 'What are the symptoms?' to ask for details.

Signos de enfermedad, como dolor o cansancio. En conversaciones sobre salud, diga: '¿Cuáles son los síntomas?' para pedir detalles.

appetite

Desire to eat food. 'Poor appetite' means not wanting to eat much, common when describing pet health issues.

Deseo de comer comida. 'Poor appetite' significa no querer comer mucho, común al describir problemas de salud en mascotas.

lethargic

Feeling very tired and lacking energy. Use it for animals or people who seem unusually inactive: 'The dog is lethargic.'

Sentirse muy cansado y falto de energía. Úsalo para animales o personas que parezcan inusualmente inactivos: 'El perro está letárgico.'

vomiting

Throwing up food from the stomach. It's a key symptom to mention in medical talks: 'Is there any vomiting?'

Expulsar comida del estómago. Es un síntoma clave a mencionar en conversaciones médicas: '¿Hay vómitos?'

diarrhea

Loose, watery stool, often a sign of illness. Pronounce it 'dye-uh-REE-uh.' Ask: 'Has he had diarrhea?'

Heces sueltas y acuosas, a menudo un signo de enfermedad. Pronúncialo 'dye-uh-REE-uh.' Pregunta: '¿Ha tenido diarrea?'

limping

Walking with difficulty, like favoring one leg due to pain. Useful for describing injuries: 'The cat is limping.'

Caminar con dificultad, como favoreciendo una pierna debido al dolor. Útil para describir lesiones: 'El gato cojea.'

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

I'd like to schedule an appointment for my dog.

This is a polite way to request booking time. 'Schedule' means to arrange; use it for doctor's visits or meetings. It's useful at the start of a call to clinics.

Esta es una forma educada de solicitar una reserva de tiempo. 'Schedule' significa arreglar; úsalo para visitas al médico o reuniones. Es útil al inicio de una llamada a clínicas.

He's been acting a bit off lately.

Means behaving unusually or not normally. 'Acting off' is informal for feeling unwell; 'lately' means recently. Great for casually describing changes in pets or people.

Significa comportarse de manera inusual o no normal. 'Acting off' es informal para sentirse mal; 'lately' significa recientemente. Genial para describir casualmente cambios en mascotas o personas.

Can you describe what 'off' means? Is he experiencing any specific symptoms?

Asks for more details on a vague term. 'Experiencing' uses present continuous for ongoing issues. Useful for receptionists to clarify health problems.

Pide más detalles sobre un término vago. 'Experiencing' usa el presente continuo para problemas en curso. Útil para recepcionistas para aclarar problemas de salud.

He's had a really poor appetite. He's barely touched his food.

Describes not eating well. Present perfect 'he's had' shows recent past to now; 'barely touched' means almost not at all. Common for explaining pet symptoms.

Describe no comer bien. Presente perfecto 'he's had' muestra pasado reciente hasta ahora；'barely touched' significa casi nada. Común para explicar síntomas de mascotas.

He's been very lethargic, mostly just lying around.

Present perfect continuous 'he's been' for ongoing action. 'Lying around' means resting idly. Use this to describe tiredness in animals or daily routines.

Presente perfecto continuo 'he's been' para acción en curso. 'Lying around' significa descansar ociosamente. Úsalo para describir cansancio en animales o rutinas diarias.

Has he had any vomiting or diarrhea, or is he limping?

A yes/no question with 'or' for alternatives. Present perfect for past events; useful for doctors or receptionists to check common symptoms quickly.

Una pregunta sí/no con 'or' para alternativas. Presente perfecto para eventos pasados; útil para médicos o recepcionistas para verificar síntomas comunes rápidamente.

Given these symptoms, it sounds like he needs to be seen as soon as possible.

Gives advice based on info. 'Given' means considering; 'sounds like' softens opinion; 'as soon as possible' means urgently. Practical for urgent appointments.

Da consejos basados en información. 'Given' significa considerando; 'sounds like' suaviza la opinión; 'as soon as possible' significa urgentemente. Práctico para citas urgentes.