The task
Assume that today's date is 25 October 2026. Pepper is being discharged home this morning.
You are the attending veterinarian at the Out-of-Hours Emergency Veterinary Clinic. Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Pepper's regular veterinarian, Dr Wayne Aziz. Update him on Pepper's treatment and ask him to repeat her kidney blood tests. Address the letter to Dr Wayne Aziz, Veterinary Surgeon, Family Veterinary Practice, 5 Market Street. In your answer: expand the relevant notes into complete sentences; do not use note form; use letter format. The body of the letter should be approximately 180–200 words.
Length: the body of the letter should be about 180–200 words. You have 45 minutes in the test: 5 minutes to read, 40 to write. Letter type: Update letter.
Case notes
Patient details
- Name: Pepper
- Canine, Cocker Spaniel, female (spayed), 3 yrs
- Weight: 13.2 kg
- Owner: Ms Brooke Nassar, 22 Hill Road
- Admitted: 22/10/26, 21:15; discharge: 25/10/26
Social background
- Lives with owner, owner's partner and 2 children (6 and 9 yrs)
- Children left bowl of grapes on low coffee table
- Owner says partner 'always leaves food lying around' — frequent arguments at home about this
- Attends agility classes weekly
- Pet insured; owner asked for claim form
Medical history
- Vaccinations up to date (regular vet)
- Otitis externa L ear 2025 — resolved
- No previous renal disease; no current medications
- Allergies: nil known
Presentation 22/10/26
- Ate est. 300–400 g red grapes approx. 1 hr before presentation (owner estimate)
- Bright, alert; HR, RR, temp WNL; no vomiting at home
- Baseline bloods: creatinine, urea, phosphate WNL; USG adequately concentrated
Treatment/Progress
- Emesis induced (apomorphine IV) → large quantity of grape material recovered
- Activated charcoal single dose PO after emesis
- IV fluids (Hartmann's) × 48 hrs
- Creatinine & urea repeated at 24 & 48 hrs — WNL throughout
- Urine output normal; no vomiting/diarrhoea; eating well from day 2
- Owner complained about 2-hr wait in reception on arrival
Plan
- Discharge 25/10 — bright; no medications required
- Repeat creatinine & urea (± USG) at approx. 72 hrs post-ingestion (evening 25/10) at regular vet, or here if practice closed; further check 27/10 if indicated
- Owner advised: return immediately if vomiting, lethargy, ↓ appetite, ↑ or ↓ urination
- Strict avoidance of grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants (incl. baked goods)
- Owner to book appt with regular vet; lab results attached
- Owner asked about agility next week — advised light exercise only until bloods rechecked
Who is reading, and what do they need?
Dr Aziz is Pepper's regular vet. He knows her history and vaccinations but not what happened over the last three days. He needs the exposure, the treatment given, the trend in the kidney results and exactly what to do and when. Keep the treatment summary brief and make the request precise.
What to include
Selection is the skill the Content and Conciseness criteria reward. These notes earn their place:
| Case note | Why it belongs |
|---|---|
| Ate est. 300–400 g red grapes approx. 1 hr before presentation (owner estimate) | This is the exposure that drives the whole plan. Present amount and timing as the owner's estimate, not a measured fact. |
| Baseline bloods: creatinine, urea, phosphate WNL; USG adequately concentrated | Gives Dr Aziz the starting point against which his repeat results will be compared. |
| Emesis induced (apomorphine IV) → large quantity of grape material recovered | Shows the decontamination step and its result, which is the main treatment he needs to know about. |
| Activated charcoal single dose PO after emesis | Completes the decontamination picture. One short mention with the emesis is enough. |
| IV fluids (Hartmann's) × 48 hrs; creatinine & urea WNL at 24 and 48 hrs | Shows the supportive care and the results so far. State them as results to date, not as proof of no kidney injury. |
| Discharge 25/10 — bright; no medications required; eating well from day 2 | Tells him her condition at handover and that he has no medicines to continue. |
| Repeat creatinine & urea (± USG) at approx. 72 hrs, evening 25/10, here if practice closed | This is the letter's main request. Include the tests, the timing, the fallback if his practice is closed and the further check on 27/10 if indicated. |
| Strict grape/raisin/sultana/currant avoidance; return advice; light exercise only until bloods rechecked | Lets him reinforce the advice given to the owner. Give the listed return signs in full or not at all. |
What to leave out or compress
| Case note | Why it goes |
|---|---|
| Partner 'always leaves food lying around' — frequent arguments | Private family conflict with no bearing on Pepper's treatment or the request. |
| Owner complained about 2-hr wait in reception | A complaint for the clinic to handle separately, not clinical information for the regular vet. |
| Pet insured; owner asked for claim form | Administrative and not something Dr Aziz needs in order to act. |
| Attends agility classes weekly | Trap: only the exercise restriction until the bloods are rechecked matters. The classes themselves can be left out. |
| Otitis externa 2025 resolved; vaccinations up to date; allergies nil | Resolved or routine history that Dr Aziz already holds and that does not affect this plan. |
| Children left bowl of grapes on low coffee table | Compress to a brief, neutral mention of access, or omit it. Detail about who was responsible adds nothing. |
A paragraph plan for this case
Open with the purpose and the exposure with its timing, then give treatment and results in one paragraph. Follow with the condition at discharge, then make the repeat-test request with timing, location and the 27/10 contingency. Close with the owner advice and the exercise restriction.
Where candidates slip on this task
- The repeat test is due at about 72 hours after ingestion, which falls on the evening of 25/10, today. Make the request clearly time-limited and state the fallback if his practice is closed.
- Normal results at baseline, 24 hours and 48 hours are findings to date. Do not word them as meaning the kidneys are safe, or imply the repeat test is optional.
- The amount of grapes is only the owner's estimate. Say so, and add no dose, toxicity figure or cause beyond what the notes give.
No model letter is published here. Write for the named reader from the case notes in the timed editor, then get it marked.
Write it in the timed editor and get marked on the 6 criteria
More Veterinary Science letter tasks
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- Recurrent urethral obstruction in a male cat referral letter
Your profession's guide: OET Veterinary Science. Layout and structure: OET letter format.
Questions about this task
Should I explain why repeat bloods are needed after normal results?
A short reason is enough: the repeat is a planned check at about 72 hours after ingestion. Do not claim the earlier normal results exclude kidney problems, and do not add risk figures that are not in the notes.
How much of the owner's advice should go in?
Include the avoidance of grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants (including baked goods), the full list of return signs from the notes, and the light-exercise restriction. Leave out the family disagreement and the complaint.
Sources
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