Do I Need to Bring My Dog to His Vet Appointment? Hilarious Tales from the Reception Desk
Let’s face it: Working the front desk at a veterinary clinic is a wild ride. Between the barking, meowing, and occasional parrot squawk, you’d think the animals would be the most unpredictable part of the day. But as any seasoned vet receptionist will tell you, it’s the humans who really keep you guessing. Case in point: the now-legendary Reddit post about “stupid questions from clients,” which has the internet howling (pun intended) at the delightful absurdity of pet parenthood.
From the existential (“Do you need my birthday or my dog’s?”) to the surreal (“Do I need to bring my dog to his appointment?”), these stories prove that when it comes to pets—and people—the only thing you should expect is the unexpected.
Whose Birthday Is It Anyway? The Great Pet Profile Mystery
It’s a classic scenario: You’re at the vet, filling out your new pet’s profile. The receptionist asks, “What’s their date of birth?” and your brain short-circuits. “Mine?” you reply, sincerely confused. Apparently, this is more common than you’d think. As u/constipated_coconut, the original poster (OP), noted, this mix-up happens all the time.
Redditors came out in droves to share their own tales of birthday confusion. u/FunkyPete recounted a trip to the pharmacy to pick up pet meds, only to be grilled about his dog’s (Mariah’s) birthdate. “I made a couple of guesses before the tech said, ‘Honestly, I can’t believe a father doesn’t even know his daughter’s birthday.’” It took an awkward explanation to clarify Mariah’s canine status, not human.
And if you’ve ever felt sheepish about guessing your rescue pet’s birthday, you’re not alone. u/AnitraF1632 assigned her bird a hatch date to match her wedding anniversary. Others simply pick a date—Valentine’s Day, for example, because who can resist a little extra love?
As u/onion_flowers astutely pointed out, “Do you know their birthdate?” might be a better question than “What’s their date of birth?”—especially when most of us have only a vague idea of when our pets actually entered the world. (Pro tip: If you’re stumped, just pick your favorite holiday. Your vet won’t judge.)
The Surname Shuffle: Do Pets Really Share Our Last Names?
Here’s a brain teaser for the ages: “What’s the surname?” the receptionist asks, searching for your account. “Mine or my dog’s?” comes the reply. While it seems like a no-brainer (after all, don’t our furry friends take our last names by default?), Redditors revealed this is a surprisingly contentious topic.
Some pet owners, like u/fractal_frog, explained that their pets have entirely different surnames—sometimes even switching them up for fun. Others, like u/keethraxmn, have bestowed their pets with grand titles: “Our snake’s surname is Smallfellow. He’s a super dwarf reticulated python. Full name: Henry ‘Hank’ S(nake) Smallfellow, Esq.” Suddenly, the surname question doesn’t seem so silly!
The OP chimed in, noting that most vet clinics just use the owner’s last name for simplicity, but the creativity of pet parents knows no bounds. One commenter, u/Pomeraniancat, told a tale of a man who insisted his pet’s last name was “Allen” and was shocked that the pharmacy thought differently. In the end, whether your dog is Mr. Sparkles Butt or Maximus Stinkbreath the Second, rest assured: There’s no wrong way to fill out that form.
Do I Actually Have to Bring My Pet to the Vet? (Yes, Really.)
And now for the pièce de résistance: The phone call to end all phone calls. “I have an appointment with my dog this afternoon,” the client asks, “do I have to bring him or can I leave him at home?”
Cue the collective facepalm from receptionists everywhere. As the OP deadpanned: “Umm, I see the appointment is for the vet to check xyz so yes, you will need to bring him in.” The caller’s response? Mild surprise, as if they’d just learned pets can’t attend appointments via Zoom.
It turns out, this isn’t as rare as you’d hope. u/TararaBoomDA revealed that their vet’s receptionist always reminds clients to bring the actual animal, because—believe it or not—some people do show up empty-handed. “You’d be surprised. It has happened several times.”
And in the age of telehealth, u/RevKyriel mused, wouldn’t it be nice if we could just get our pets checked out remotely? Sadly, as u/Minflick (a retired vet tech) joked, “Veterinarian exam via thoughts would be DAMNED handy for fractious animals. ‘Forget the drugs, the vet can do it with their MIND!’”
The Comedy (and Chaos) of Pet Ownership
If there’s one thing the Reddit community agrees on, it’s that a little confusion—and a lot of laughter—comes with the territory of being a pet parent. Whether you’re arguing with a pharmacist about your dog’s need for ID (u/nll23 brought her pup through the drive-thru to prove her point) or struggling to remember if your cat’s breed is “Standard Issue,” as u/Entire-Ambition1410 quipped, you’re in good company.
And for anyone embarrassed about their own front desk blunders, take heart: As u/ReadWriteSign admitted, “I called the mechanic and said, ‘Hi, my car is a patient of yours…’” We’ve all been there.
So the next time you’re at the vet, take a deep breath, give your pet an extra scratch behind the ears, and remember: There’s no such thing as a stupid question—just really, really entertaining ones.
Have your own hilarious vet or pet pharmacy story? Drop it in the comments below! And if you ever forget your dog’s birthday, just remember: He’s not judging you. (But your vet receptionist might be.)
Original Reddit Post: Stupid questions from clients