Hello and welcome back to the Clinical Signs Podcast. What does the term clinical signs mean? Is it the same as a symptom??? Clinical signs is term in veterinary medicine that is used to objectively describe what can be seen, felt, heard or smelled about an issue with an animal or pet. Some examples include the pet is lethargic or "lazy", vomiting (which most people have experienced with their pet dog or cat!) and lameness. These are but a few of the many possible clinical signs a pet may present with to a veterinarian with. On the other hand we have symptoms. A symptom is the term used in human medicine to communicate how we are feeling about whatever ails us when we see the physician. Examples include a cough, or pain somewhere in your body or you have a runny nose. Again a few examples of many different possible symptoms. When bringing your pet to a veterinarian for an issue, it is helpful to spend a few minutes thinking about what you are seeing, how long you have been aware of the issue, is there any medication or other treatments that you have given the pet, does the condition get better or worse with exercise for example. Being accurate and concise helps the veterinarian have the most information to guide their thoughts and diagnostics (tests) to make the most accurate diagnosis possible. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for more interesting podcasts. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. If you are concerned about your pet please see your local veterinarian.