Takeaway
Patients’ lives are often closely tied to their pets. Ask about them in clinic and during follow-ups to build connection.
Connecting with Patients | February 18, 2026 | 1 min read
By Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine
“Here, Spot wants to say hello.” A patient with knee pain pulled out her phone and hit play. “Bark, bark,” yipped the cute dog looking up at the camera.
As an orthopedic surgeon, many of my patients find that their condition negatively impacts the ability to care for pets, especially dogs. Some may even have been injured while walking their dogs. Still, injured or not, patients love their dogs, and they’re an important part of their lives.
The patient above had been hurt when her dog Spot accidentally ran into her knee. I knew Spot’s name because I asked when I heard the story. I try to make a habit of including the dog’s name in my encounter notes when appropriate. That way, I can lightheartedly refer to the pet at later visits with a little small talk before the bigger discussion about clinical issues. In this case, I’d asked about Barney so often his owner, my patient, wanted to introduce Barney to me! Well, at least virtually on her cell phone. We both got a kick out of the video, and it helped set the tone for the appointment.
People love their pets, and they play an important role in their lives. Ask about pets, write down their names, and bring them up by name at the next visit—it can help set the tone for a satisfying follow-up appointment for patients and ourselves.
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.