Understanding Pet Health Records

Health records are vital documents that contain crucial information about vaccinations, medications, surgeries, and ongoing health conditions. So it’s pretty important to have access to your pet’s health records — and know how to read them, too. Why? Because pet health records tell your pet’s medical story, and that knowledge will shape the decisions you make for them, and the care they receive, throughout their lives. Read on to learn how to break down and better understand these vital documents.

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What are pet medical records?

All pets who see a veterinarian will have medical records. These documents are the property of your veterinarian and are created by them to document all the information they have related to your pet’s health and well-being.

These records often detail the dietary, behavioral, environmental, and physical history of your pet alongside the dates and types of their vaccinations, surgeries, examinations, diagnoses, and prescriptions. A pet medical record form will also include notes about communications you and your veterinarian have had about your pet, recommendations about your pet’s health that they have made, and, of course, your pet’s name, address, breed, color, and microchip information.

Medical records can be found in two ways: through online pet health records or in a handwritten record book. And there are many reasons why you may need to access them. These documents may be requested by a new veterinarian. Transportation and lodging companies may ask to see them if you are traveling with your pet. Pet insurance companies may view them if you are getting your pet insured. Boarding facilities and pet sitters can ask to view them if your pet requires care. And housing authorities may reference them if there are pet restrictions where you are applying to live.

How to get my pet’s medical records

Some of your pet’s medical records, such as their vaccination records, bloodwork, and physical examination dates, may be readily accessible to you if your veterinarian has an online pet-parent portal. Some veterinarians, such as Banfield, provide a mobile app to view health records, review your pet’s past visit summary, and schedule new appointments. However, if you need your pet’s complete medical records, you may need to request them from your vet by email or through a phone call.

Are my pet’s medical records confidential?

While there are no federal laws surrounding your pet’s medical records, depending on where you live, there may be some regulations in place. Since medical records are the property of the veterinarian, many states require that the pet parent give their permission before medical records are shared with anyone, including rescues, shelters, and boarding facilities. (This often means your veterinarian may need your permission before giving your pet’s medical records to another veterinarian.) Also, some veterinarians may be allowed by state laws to charge a fee to obtain and share those records.

In addition to any potential state regulations, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), considers pet medical records to be confidential. Because of this, veterinarians who are AVMA members — and the majority of them are — must treat your pet’s records as confidential. They are, however, required to provide a pet’s records when their pet parents request them. This is important to know because if your veterinarian has an online portal or app, it will usually only include a vaccination history and reminders for physical examinations and laboratory screenings — and not include your pet’s complete medical history.

What information should be on a veterinary record?

Your pet’s medical records contain their lifelong history, from your veterinarian’s perspective. This helps both you and your vet determine the best care for your pet. Medical records may be formatted differently depending on the software your veterinarian uses, or if they are handwritten, but all medical records will contain the below information.

Pet parent information

In order to know who legally owns the pet and how to contact them, the medical record will include the pet parent, shelter, or rescue group’s name, phone number, and address.

Signalment

A signalment is a description of your pet’s identifiers, such as their physical characteristics. Your pet’s name, sex, color, breed, age, and microchip or tattoo are all part of the signalment and may also be requested by pet insurance companies, rental agencies, airlines, and other entities requiring more details about your pet.

Vaccination history

The most commonly requested part of a pet’s medical record is their vaccination history. This portion of the record will typically, list the names of the vaccinations, the last dates they were administered, and any additional vaccine dates needed. If your pet has received a rabies vaccination, this history will also include the rabies tag number.

Boarding facilities often request a vaccination history to ensure your pet is up to date on vaccinations. And if you are looking to adopt a pet, rescues, and shelters may also want to know if your current and previous pets were vaccinated. They use this information as a sign that you take good care of your pets.

Surgical procedures

Spays or neuters, tumor removals, tooth extractions, and other surgical procedures your pet has had will be included in your pet’s full medical record. The names of these procedures may be recorded by their technical names or by abbreviations (for instance, instead of “spay” they may write “ovariohysterectomy” or “OHE”). Anything your veterinarian did to your pet before, during, and after a procedure should be included in the surgical record, too. This will include the anesthetic drugs given to your pet, the technique used to perform the surgery, and any laboratory testing performed.

Medication lists

Prescription medications will be included in your pet’s medical records. Generic drug names (instead of their brand names) may be documented, alongside the strengths and dosages of the drugs. Preventative medications that your veterinarian prescribed will also be noted in your pet’s medical records, in addition to supplement recommendations.

Chronic conditions

If your pet has been diagnosed with a chronic condition (such as diabetes or thyroid disease), it will be noted in their medical records. The records may have one easy-to-reference list of all your pet’s diagnosed conditions. But sometimes they are noted chronologically, from the day your pet was diagnosed — if this is the case, you may need to read through all of the notes to gather this information.

How to safely store your pet’s medical records

If you have a digital copy of your pet’s medical records, the easiest and safest way to store them is on your computer, an external hard drive, or in the cloud. If you have paper copies of your pet’s medical records, you can scan them to create a digital file, or you can keep them in a fireproof filing cabinet.

Commonly asked questions

How long should I keep pet medical records?

Depending on state laws, your veterinarian will typically keep your pet’s medical records for a few years after they last saw your pet. It’s best to get a copy of these records, so you will have them throughout your pet’s life and be able to access and share them as necessary. You can download the Banfield app for the easiest way to access your pet’s medical records and review your pet’s visit summary.

What to know about your dog’s first vet visit

Your dog’s first vet visit will include a physical examination, as well as a discussion addressing your dog’s behavior, their diet, and any concerns you might have. The visit may also include giving them vaccinations and laboratory tests. (It is also a good idea to bring a fresh poop sample to your dog’s first vet visit.) Depending on your dog’s age, history, and physical examination findings, your veterinarian may customize some recommendations to keep them healthy.

What to know about your cat’s first vet visit

Your cat’s first vet visit will lay the foundation for your new feline friend’s care. It will include a physical examination, a discussion about your cat’s diet and behavior at home, and address any concerns you might have. (It is a good idea to bring a fresh poop sample to your cat’s first vet visit.) Be prepared for your cat to get some vaccinations and laboratory tests that involve needles. Your vet will recommend what is needed depending on your cat’s age, history, and physical examination findings.