Pet care guide
The Ultimate Pet Health & Wellness Checklist
Most pet health problems are cheaper, easier and less frightening to deal with when they're caught early. This checklist covers everything worth tracking for a dog or cat across a year — and what to write down each time, so the record is actually useful at the vet.
1. Vaccinations
Core vaccines protect against the illnesses most likely to be fatal. Keep every dose dated so boosters never slip.
- Dogs: distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus and rabies, with boosters on the schedule your vet sets.
- Cats: panleukopenia, calicivirus, herpesvirus and rabies.
- Log the vaccine name, brand, batch and the exact date it was given.
- Set a reminder 30 days before the next booster is due.
- Keep the signed vaccination card scanned — boarding kennels and travel almost always ask for it.
2. Parasite control and deworming
Parasite cover is the routine most owners forget, because nothing looks wrong until it does.
- Puppies and kittens: deworm every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old, then monthly to 6 months.
- Adults: worm every 3 months, or monthly for pets that hunt or scavenge.
- Flea and tick prevention year-round in most climates, not just summer.
- Heartworm testing and prevention where it's endemic.
3. Medications and supplements
Missed doses undo a treatment plan quietly. Track the course, not just the prescription.
- Record drug name, dose, frequency, start date and end date.
- Mark each dose as given so anyone in the household can see what's outstanding.
- Note side effects the day you see them — it's the detail vets ask for first.
- Track supplements (joint, skin, probiotics) alongside prescriptions to avoid doubling up.
4. Vet visits and health records
A healthy adult pet needs a check-up once a year; seniors and chronic cases need two or more.
- Annual wellness exam, plus dental assessment.
- Twice-yearly exams for pets over 7 (or over 5 for giant breeds).
- Save diagnoses, test results and discharge notes against the visit date.
- Bring a summary of recent symptoms, weight changes and daily habits to every appointment.
5. Weight and body metrics
Weight is the single most useful number you can track — gradual drift is easier to see on a chart than in the room.
- Weigh monthly for adults, weekly for growing or recovering pets.
- Score body condition (ribs easy to feel, visible waist from above).
- Track height and temperature where relevant to the breed or condition.
- Watch for any loss above 10% of body weight — that's a vet call, not a wait-and-see.
6. Hygiene and grooming
Grooming is preventive medicine as much as it is cosmetic.
- Teeth brushed most days; dental disease is the most common adult diagnosis.
- Nails trimmed every 3–4 weeks, or when you hear them on hard floors.
- Ears checked weekly, cleaned only when needed.
- Coat brushed to suit the breed; bath only when genuinely dirty.
- Anal glands, clipping and de-shedding on whatever cycle your groomer recommends.
7. Daily care log
Daily entries are what turn a vague worry into evidence. Patterns show up in a week of logs that you'd never notice day to day.
- Walks and play sessions, with duration.
- Meals and treats, including portion changes.
- Water intake and refills.
- Poop and pee — frequency and anything unusual.
- Symptoms as they happen: vomiting, itching, limping, lethargy.
8. Documents, ID and money
The admin layer nobody thinks about until they need it in a hurry.
- Microchip number registered and up to date with your current phone number.
- Pet passport, pedigree and adoption paperwork scanned.
- Insurance policy number and claims contact saved somewhere you can reach on a phone.
- Expenses logged by category so you can forecast next year's costs.
Keep the whole checklist in one place
PetCare Tracker keeps vaccinations, deworming, medications, vet visits, weight, hygiene and daily logs against each pet, reminds you before anything falls due, and lets everyone in the household see what's already been done.
Start tracking your pet