Describing Symptoms to the Vet

Explaining the pet's current health issues, symptoms, and medical history to the veterinarian during the examination.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

Veterinarian (Male)

Good morning, come on in. So, what brings your furry friend in today?

Pet Owner (Female)

Good morning, Doctor. This is Luna. She's been acting a bit off for the past two days. She's usually very playful, but now she's been very lethargic.

Veterinarian (Male)

I see. And what do you mean by 'a bit off'? Any specific symptoms you've noticed?

Pet Owner (Female)

Well, she hasn't been eating much, just picking at her food. And she's had some diarrhea, maybe three or four times since yesterday evening. She also seems to be drinking more water than usual.

Veterinarian (Male)

Okay, that's helpful. Has she been vomiting at all?

Pet Owner (Female)

Not that I've seen. She did cough a little this morning, just a couple of times. And sometimes it sounds like her stomach is gurgling.

Veterinarian (Male)

Alright. Any changes to her diet recently, or has she gotten into anything she shouldn't have?

Pet Owner (Female)

Not that I can think of. Her food is the same. She spends most of her time indoors, so it's unlikely she ate anything outside. She hasn't had any new toys either.

Veterinarian (Male)

Understood. And when was her last vaccination and deworming? Have there been any other health issues in the past?

Pet Owner (Female)

She had her boosters about six months ago, and was dewormed then too. No major issues before this, just a minor ear infection last year that cleared up quickly.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

furry friend

A friendly way to refer to a pet, like a dog or cat, emphasizing its soft fur and companionship. Use this in casual conversations about pets.

lethargic

Feeling very tired and lacking energy. Common for describing pets or people who are not active as usual. Say, 'The dog looks lethargic today.'

diarrhea

A condition where bowel movements are loose and watery. Important for health discussions; say, 'My pet has diarrhea.'

vomiting

Throwing up food or liquid from the stomach. Use in medical contexts: 'Is your child vomiting?' or for pets.

gurgling

A low, rumbling sound, like water bubbling. Often describes stomach noises: 'My stomach is gurgling because I'm hungry.'

vaccination

A shot given to prevent diseases. For pets, it's routine: 'When is the next vaccination?'

deworming

Treatment to remove worms from a pet's body. Common in pet care: 'The vet recommended deworming every six months.'

boosters

Additional doses of vaccines to keep protection strong. Use for pets or people: 'Time for booster shots.'

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

What brings your furry friend in today?

This is a polite, welcoming question a vet might ask to start the conversation. It's useful for professional service settings like doctors or vets. The phrase 'brings in' means 'the reason for visiting.'

She's been acting a bit off for the past two days.

Use this to describe unusual behavior vaguely at first. 'Acting off' means not normal. The present perfect 'has been' shows ongoing action from past to now, great for symptoms.

She hasn't been eating much, just picking at her food.

This explains reduced appetite specifically. 'Picking at' means eating only a little. Useful for health talks; the negative present perfect continuous tense describes recent habits.

She's had some diarrhea, maybe three or four times since yesterday evening.

Describes a symptom with frequency and time. 'Maybe' adds uncertainty. Present perfect 'has had' connects past events to now. Practice this for reporting health issues accurately.

Has she been vomiting at all?

A yes/no question to check for symptoms. 'At all' emphasizes checking for any occurrence. Simple present perfect for recent possibilities; common in medical interviews.

Any changes to her diet recently, or has she gotten into anything she shouldn't have?

This asks about possible causes. 'Gotten into' means accidentally consumed. The 'or' connects alternatives. Useful for troubleshooting problems in everyday or pet care talks.

She had her boosters about six months ago, and was dewormed then too.

Reports past medical history. Past simple for completed actions; 'about' approximates time. 'Too' means 'also.' Essential for sharing background in health consultations.