(and yes, the front desk is absolutely part of medicine)
“If I ever get really sick, I’m going to a veterinarian, not a physician.”
It’s a joke…until it isn’t.
With colon cancer now being diagnosed more often in people under 50 and screening ages being pushed earlier, humans are finally starting to do what we’ve always done for our pets: look ahead instead of waiting for disaster to knock.
And that’s what this whole post is about.
If humans treated themselves the way we treat our animals—preventively, systematically, and with a team that actually reads the chart—would fewer people die young? I think yes.
But here’s the twist: none of that magic starts in the exam room.
It starts at the front desk.
You, the veterinary receptionist, are often the first and last set of eyes on that patient. You hear the “by the way” comments. You see the limp in the lobby. You smell the breath. You notice the weight gain before anyone puts the pet on a scale.
You are only as good as what you know.
So let’s talk about the why behind the Big Five—the five things we do in veterinary medicine that literally keep pets alive, and how understanding them helps you read a history, guide a conversation, and flag the right things for your techs and doctors.
The Big Five:
Dental disease prevention
Obesity management
Parasite control
Infectious disease prevention through vaccination
Early detection via bloodwork and diagnostics
1. Dental disease prevention
It’s February—Dental Month—so we’re starting with the mouth.
Teeth basics:
Adult dogs: 42 teeth
Adult cats: 30 teeth
Adult humans: 32 teeth (including wisdom teeth)
So yes, many of our patients are walking around with more teeth than we are. More tooth surface = more places for plaque, bacteria, and problems.
What is periodontal disease, really?
Periodontal disease is infection and inflammation of the tissues that support the tooth, the gums, ligaments, and the bone. It starts with plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) that forms on the tooth surface within hours after cleaning. If it’s not removed, it mineralizes into calculus (tartar). That rough surface holds even more bacteria. Over time: 12
Stage 1: Gingivitis—red, inflamed gums, but no bone loss yet.
Stage 2–4: Periodontitis—bone loss, deep pockets, loose teeth, pain, tooth root abscesses, and even jaw fractures in severe cases.
Why does this matter beyond “bad breath”?
The mouth is not a closed system. When gums are inflamed or ulcerated, bacteria have a direct highway into the bloodstream. From there, they can travel to: 3
Heart (endocarditis)
Kidneys
Liver
Other organs, contributing to systemic inflammation and disease
In humans, untreated dental infections can and do become life-threatening—sepsis, brain abscesses, and other complications. The same biology exists in pets; we just tend to intervene earlier because dentistry is (blessedly) more accessible in veterinary medicine.
Why cats and small dogs especially benefit from dental vigilance
Small breed dogs (Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, etc.) have crowded mouths in tiny jaws. Crowding traps plaque and accelerates periodontal disease. Tiny teeth = big problems.
Cats are prone to resorptive lesions and severe gingivitis/stomatitis—conditions that are excruciating and often under-recognized by owners. Tiny teeth= big problems.
Both can have significant disease long before the owner notices anything beyond “their breath is a little bad.”
As a veterinary client service representative, when you see:
A tiny dog with “fishy” breath and tartar at check-in
A cat who’s dropping kibble or only licking gravy
A senior pet who’s “just not eating like they used to”
…you’re not just checking a box.
You’re spotting a potential systemic disease source. That’s life-saving.
2. Obesity management
“You are what you eat” hits different when you’re the one entering the weight in the chart every year.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Humans often treat obesity like an aesthetics issue. “Do I look fat?”
In veterinary medicine, we treat it like what it is: a medical condition that shortens life.
Why weight matters in pets:
Shortened lifespan: Even mild excess weight has been associated with shorter lifespans in dogs.
Joint disease: Extra weight = extra load on joints = earlier and more severe arthritis. Think, if the dog doesn't have that curve from body to butt, it's probably got too many curves. They walk on all fours, their joints can't handle obesity.
Metabolic disease: Increased risk of diabetes (especially in cats), pancreatitis, and other inflammatory conditions. Did i mention especially in cats?
Respiratory and cardiac strain: More work for the heart and lungs, especially in brachycephalic breeds.
We don’t ask, “Is this dog beach-body ready?”
We ask, “Can this dog move comfortably, breathe easily, and live longer?”
Body Condition Score (BCS) is our truth-teller.
Instead of fixating on the number on the scale, we use a 1–9 or 1–5 BCS chart. Ideal is usually 4–5/9:
You can feel the ribs without digging.
There’s a visible waist from above.
There’s a tuck from the side.
As a receptionist, you can:
Get an ACCURATE weight, by weighing the pet yourself. Yes, you can get up and do that.
Notice when “Oh, he just loves treats” has turned into a two-point BCS jump.
Gently normalize weight conversations:
“I see Fluffy gained a couple pounds since last year—great time to ask the doctor about a feeding plan.”
Connect food, treats, and table scraps to real health outcomes, not shame.
We are meticulous about what pets can’t eat (grapes, chocolate, xylitol), but we often ignore the slow, quiet damage of chronic overfeeding. Obesity isn’t a vibe—it’s a risk factor.
3. Parasite control
If everyone used veterinarians for parasite control, a lot of human public health problems would look very different. (Half-joking. Mostly.)
Parasites aren’t just “gross.” They’re a three-way problem:
For the pet: Itching, anemia, GI upset, organ damage.
For the household: Flea infestations, environmental contamination.
For humans: Many parasites are zoonotic—meaning they can infect people.
Common culprits:
Fleas: Cause itching, flea allergy dermatitis, can transmit tapeworms and other diseases.
Ticks: Transmit Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and more.
Heartworm: Spread by mosquitoes; causes severe, often fatal heart and lung disease in dogs and increasingly recognized in cats.
Intestinal parasites: Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia, etc.—some of which can infect humans, especially children.
As a receptionist, you’re often the one who:
Asks about heartworm and flea/tick prevention at check-in.
Notices “scooting,” potbellies in puppies, or chronic soft stool in the history.
Hears, “We stopped prevention over the winter” or “He’s indoor-only” (hello, mosquitoes and litterbox parasites).
Parasite prevention isn’t just a product sale. It’s disease control—for the pet and the family.
4. Infectious disease prevention through vaccination
Yes, we have vaccine skeptics in veterinary medicine too. But overall, people don’t skip puppy and kitten vaccines the way humans skip their own boosters.
Why do we bring puppies and kittens back for multiple rounds of vaccines, especially for things like distemper and parvo?
Because of maternal antibodies and timing.
Baby animals get antibodies from their mother (via placenta and especially milk).
Those antibodies protect them early on—but they also interfere with vaccines.
We don’t know exactly when those maternal antibodies will drop low enough for the vaccine to “take,” so we give a series of boosters every 3–4 weeks until about 16 weeks of age.
That’s why “just one shot” at 8 weeks is not enough. The pyrantel that we give the puppies to deworm them, tastes like bananas and is completely safe. So safe, if you feel wormy take your own dose, jk. Go to a doctor...
As a receptionist, you can:
Explain why the series matters, not just “because the doctor said so.”
Reinforce timing: “We really want to keep these on schedule so your puppy is fully protected.”
Connect vaccines to real diseases: parvo, distemper, panleukopenia, rabies—not abstract “shots.” When people say their dog does not need a rabies vaccine, they are saying "I rely on everyone else to be responsible and have their dog vaccinated, so I can live in my own world and not pay for this vaccine." Rabies= Death in < 3 days. Fact. Rabies HAS been spotted in Illinois. Also facts.
Coughing/Sneezing: Room right away, could be infectious, if it's a senior dog, it's probably heart related. How well do you know that pet's history? Room any dog or cat that's sneezing or coughing, it's about appearance too. Reverse sneezing alert the Vet. Alert the vet anyway. Other owners don't know what you know.
You’re not just booking “puppy visit #2.” You’re helping build an immune system on schedule. People don't have money for you to make mistake on their pets vaccines schedules. SAY TWO WEEKS (MAX IS 3). Then make sure they know if they miss part of the "series" they will have to restart the entire set, pay for the office visit all over again (basically throwing money away). Take vaccine series SERIOUSLY. These pets are compromised in the time between vaccines. c
5. Early detection via bloodwork and diagnostics
This is where veterinary medicine quietly flexes.
We don’t wait for a senior pet to crash before we run labs. We build baselines and watch for change.
Typical core labs:
CBC (Complete Blood Count): Looks at red cells, white cells, platelets—anemia, infection, inflammation, clotting issues.
Chemistry panel: Evaluates organs (liver, kidneys, pancreas), electrolytes, proteins, blood sugar.
Urinalysis: Adds context to kidney and metabolic health. Blood in urine or stool = red flag.
For senior pets, many clinics recommend:
Wellness bloodwork once or twice a year, depending on age and health status.
Pre-anesthetic panels before any procedure requiring sedation or anesthesia—especially in older or higher-risk patients.
IDEXX and other labs offer senior profiles that bundle CBC, chemistry, thyroid, and more, giving doctors a detailed snapshot of internal health.
As a receptionist, you’re often the one who:
Explains why “just a dental” still needs pre-anesthetic bloodwork. Because anesthesia is INCREDIBLY dangerous. (for humans too)
Normalizes twice-yearly senior visits: “Things can change quickly as they age; this helps us catch issues early.” A pets bloodwork can go from 100% fabulous to renal failure in two weeks.
Flags patterns in the history: increased drinking/urination, weight loss, vomiting, behavior changes—things that scream “run labs” to a medical team. READ the notes the other Veterinary CSRS left for you. That's what it is, your insider code is in the history.
Early detection isn’t just a slogan. It’s the difference between catching kidney disease at a manageable stage…or meeting it for the first time in crisis.
Why this matters so much at the front desk
AI, genetic testing, fancy diagnostics? none of it matters if we don’t understand the basics of medicine and the context of the patient sitting in front of us.
Context =
What the owner says
What the chart says
What you observe
People lie. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes because they genuinely don’t connect the dots.
Pets can’t talk.
You are the translator.
When you understand why we care about teeth, weight, parasites, vaccines, and bloodwork, you stop being “just the receptionist” and start being what you actually are:
A medical professional at the front line of prevention.
You are only as good as what you know.
And the more you know, the more lives you quietly help save—one history, one question, one “Hey, can you take a look at this?” at a time.
References (3)
1Periodontal Disease in Small Animals - MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/digestive-system/dentistry-in-small-animals/periodontal-disease-in-small-animals
2Periodontal Disease in Dogs and Cats - Veterinary Partner - VIN. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951292
3Dental Disease and Its Relation to Systemic Disease in Pets. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-disease-and-its-relation-to-systemic-disease-in-pets
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