Final answer:
The best course of action when a pet's medical record cannot be found is to create a new medical record to maintain the quality of care and document the visit.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you are unable to locate a pet's paper medical record during an appointment, the best course of action is to create a new medical record. This ensures that you can document all the necessary information and details about the pet's current condition and any treatments or recommendations given during the visit. A new record can later be merged with the original once it is located. It is important to maintain high-quality care without delay, hence, proceeding without a record or rescheduling could disrupt the pet's care continuum and is not advisable in non-critical situations.