History

• It is important to be aware of what is "normal" for your dog.Black Labrador puppy sitting between his standing owner"s legs image by Eric Issel??e from Fotolia.com
  
  A visit to the vet begins with providing the dog's history. She will inquire about symptoms, appetite, activity level, elimination, the duration of symptoms and to what extent they are affecting the dog's daily routine. History is important in determining whether the illness is acute or chronic, and can help rule out potential causes. This is why it is so important to pay attention to your dog's behavior and activities; thus, you can more readily differentiate between normal and abnormal.
  
  

Exam

• Starting with the dog's head, the vet will examine every part of his body.happy dog image by Denis Plaster from Fotolia.com
  
  During the physical exam, the vet will look for physical signs of illness. She will examine eyes, ears and mouth, checking for lumps, bumps, rashes and irregular coat. She will listen to his heart, take his pulse and check his abdomen for enlarged or hardened organs. A complete physical exam helps the vet gain an overall picture.
  
  

Lab Work

• Lab work can pinpoint infection, imbalance and the presence of parasites.lab tools image by PHOTOFLY from Fotolia.com
  
  The vet may take blood, urine and stool samples. The blood is run through a machine that counts cells by type, which can pinpoint immune response, and one that analyzes the levels of different chemicals that can point to improper organ function. A urinalysis works much the same way, and tells the vet how much of these chemicals are being excreted versus absorbed. If a urinary tract infection is suspected, the urinalysis can pinpoint the cause. A fecal exam is helpful in diagnosing intestinal parasites; a skin scraping can help diagnose external parasites. The vet may also take a culture of an infected ear or wound to ascertain exactly what bacteria is causing the problem and to what antibiotic it is sensitive.
  
  

Imaging

• X-rays show bone abnormalities, reveal swallowed objects and more.x-ray of bones image by Tammy Mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  Occasionally, the vet needs internal pictures to form an accurate diagnosis. X-rays show the condition of bones, some organs, can help locate swallowed foreign objects and more. Ultrasounds allow the vet to watch organ function in "real time," and detect any any surface irregularities or thickness.
  
  

Diagnosis

• An accurate diagnosis puts your dog on the road to recovery.dog image by Ramona smiers from Fotolia.com
  
  Once the vet has all exam results, lab work and imaging, she assembles the clues. For example, if the dog owner complained of increased urination and weight loss despite a ravenous appetite, and the urinalysis showed glucose in his pet's urine, the diagnosis would be diabetes. However, if the complaint was weight gain and restlessness, and a physical exam revealed hard lumps in the abdomen, an ultrasound would reveal pregnancy.