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Vet Discharge Instructions: Templates That Work

Printed veterinary discharge instruction packet and take-home medication on a clinic counter, owner reaching for it
A discharge the client can re-read at 9 PM is a callback you never get.

The single highest-leverage piece of paper in your clinic is the discharge instructions. A clear discharge prevents the "is this normal?" call at 11 PM and the second visit that should have been a phone confirmation.

The Six Things Every Discharge Needs

  1. Diagnosis in plain English — "ear infection," not "otitis externa with Malassezia overgrowth."
  2. Medication table — drug, dose, route, frequency, duration, with food/without.
  3. What to watch for — three concrete signs that warrant a callback.
  4. Activity restrictions — with a number, not "rest." ("Leash walks 10 min, 3× per day.")
  5. Recheck — date and what we're checking.
  6. 24/7 callback path — clinic line + after-hours ER number.

Surgical Discharge Template

Procedure: ___
Today: We placed ___. The surgery went well.

Medications:
  - ___ : ___ mg, by mouth, every ___ hours, for ___ days. With food.
  - ___ : ___ mg, by mouth, every ___ hours, for ___ days.

Activity:
  - No running, jumping, or stairs for ___ days.
  - Leash walks only.
  - E-collar on at all times until sutures are out.

Watch for and call us if:
  - Redness, swelling, or discharge at the incision
  - Vomiting more than twice
  - Not eating after 24 hours

Recheck: ___ at ___
After hours: ___

Dental Discharge Template

Today: ___ teeth cleaned, ___ extractions performed.

Soft food only for ___ days.
No chew toys, bones, or hard treats for ___ days.

Medications:
  - Pain meds: ___
  - Antibiotics (if extractions): ___

Call if you see:
  - Bleeding from the mouth
  - Refusing to eat for >24 hours
  - Pawing at the face

Sick-Visit Discharge Template

The Trap

Sick-visit discharges are where vague language costs the most. "Bland diet for a few days" generates the most callbacks of any phrase in veterinary medicine. Give a brand, a portion, and a duration.

Let the Discharge Write Itself

Chartling generates a plain-language client discharge from the same exam conversation that drafts your SOAP — medications, watch-fors, and recheck date filled in automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a veterinary discharge include?

Diagnosis, medications with dose/frequency/duration, watch-fors, activity restrictions, recheck schedule, and a 24/7 callback number.

What reading level should it target?

6th-grade level. Stressed clients don't retain jargon — short sentences and bullets.

Should discharge be printed or emailed?

Both — print at handoff, email or text the digital copy for re-reference later.

Discharge Written, Printed, Sent

Chartling drafts both the medical record and the client discharge from the same recording.

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