Checklist
What to include in a pet health record
In short
Include enough context to understand a change without turning the record into a duplicate clinic chart. Label information as owner reported unless it comes directly from an official record.
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Core profile
- Pet identification and a recent photo.
- Primary and emergency clinic contacts.
- Baseline diet, behavior, activity, and routine.
- Known allergies, ongoing conditions, and important prior procedures.
Sources for this section: American Animal Hospital Association
Current care
For cats, AAHA feline life-stage guidance specifically supports keeping prior medical or surgical information, diet, medications and supplements, and dated trends available.
- Medication and supplement list copied from current instructions.
- Preventive-care and follow-up dates.
- Recent weights with measurement dates.
- Current questions and the changes you are monitoring.
Sources for this section: American Animal Hospital Association
Source and date matter
Record where a fact came from and when it was current. “Owner observed on July 18” and “from clinic discharge instructions dated July 12” communicate different levels of authority.
Sources
- Storm Preparedness for Pets: Shelter and Evacuation Planning, American Animal Hospital Association
- Medical History and Physical Examination Focus Based on Specific Life Stage, American Animal Hospital Association
CovePet helps you organize information for a veterinary conversation. It doesn’t diagnose a condition or recommend treatment.
Keep these details close
Keep these details with the rest of your pet’s history so you can find them when you need them.
Open your pet’s health recordMore about pet health records
