Does Your Pet Need A Health Record?
When you choose to be a pet owner, you take on the responsibility of making sure your pet stays healthy. Part of keeping your pet healthy is keeping a health record for your pet. When it comes to obtaining a pet health record, you can either search the internet for websites with a free one you can download or you can ask your veterinarian for the form. A pet health record is usually a small pamphlet that contain several parts: basic information, vaccinations, vet visits, and other important info.
Basic Information
The first part of a health record contains basic details about the pet and its owner. Basic info about the pet includes its name, birth, breed, distinguishing physical coat markings, and sex. The owner part contains your name, address, and phone number.
Vaccinations
 The second and most important part of the health record is common vaccinations and wormings. The vaccination part of a cat's record and dog's record are different. A dog's record includes vaccine records for bordetella, coronavirus, canine parvovirus, canine periodontitis, distemper hepatitus, leptospirosis, lyme, parainfluenza, and rabies. However, a cat's record includes vaccine records for FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), FeLV (feline leukemia), RHINO (rhinotracheitis), CAL (calicivirus infection), CHL (chlamydiosis), PAN (panleukopenia), and rabies. Both animals will obtain these vaccines gradually from 6 weeks-1 year old and then get boosters for some of them throughout their lives. Each time your cat or dog receives a vaccination, the doctor needs to sign to verify the vaccination was given. Some health records give a definition for each disease.
Doctor Visits
The third part of a pet health record is the doctor visit section. This section needs to be filled out each time your pet visits the doctor. The date, the reason for visit, and the diagnosis and/or medication prescribed. Usually somewhere on this page is also the date your pet was neutered or spayed.
Other Important Info
The last part of a pet health form is additional important info that one would need to know in an emergency. This section includes the doctor's phone number, any medications your pet takes, and any problems or allergies your pet might have. Some forms have a segment for filling in the pet's diet and exercise.
Many owners don't realize the importance of keeping your pet's health record up-to-date. If you have to board your cat or dog while you and your family go on vacation, kennels will need to see proof of current vaccinations and make note of other details of the health form. A health record is also important for keeping track of your pet's overall health. If you want to give your pet the best care possible, be sure that you keep his or her health form current. When it's current your pet's doctor will be able to recognize when your pet is having issues that may be a sign that something is wrong.
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