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Vet visit checklist

Vet time is short and animals are bad witnesses. Write the questions down before you go, because you won't remember them once the dog is on the table.

16 items

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The items

  1. Vaccination record or the pet passportThe vet needs to see it, not just hear it's up to date.
  2. List of symptoms with dates'A few days' means something different to you than it does once you're asked to be precise.
  3. Current medication and the exact doseBring the box, not your memory of the name.
  4. Insurance details
  5. Policy number
  6. Claim form, if the practice needs one filled in on the day
  7. A sample, if asked for oneUrine or stool, collected within a few hours — call ahead to check what they actually want.
  8. Carrier for a cat or small animalCovered, so the waiting room is one less thing to be frightened of.
  9. Muzzle or a lead your dog is used toEven a friendly dog can react to being handled somewhere unfamiliar.
  10. TreatsFor cooperation, and for making the practice a place that isn't only bad news.
  11. Questions written downThe one you'll forget is always the one you came in for.
  12. Payment method sorted in advanceAsk about the likely cost on the phone, not in front of the receptionist.
  13. Someone to hold the other end of the leadA second pair of hands makes the exam faster for everyone.
  14. Weight and appetite noted from the last weekBoth change before most other symptoms show up.
  15. Old notes or a referral letter, if you're seeing a second vet
  16. Follow-up booked before you leave, if one's neededEasier than calling back once the diary's full.

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Questions people ask

What should I write down before the appointment?
Every symptom with a date, plus your actual questions. Vets ask what's changed, and 'a bit off lately' answers nothing useful.
Do I need to bring a sample?
Only if asked — call the practice first. Urine and stool samples have to be fresh and collected in a specific way, so it's worth checking before you go.
Should I go in alone with a nervous dog?
Bring someone if you can. One person holds and reassures, the other actually listens to what the vet is saying.