Older pets often need a little more attention: more vet visits, more medications, and more small changes to keep track of. This page is a checklist you can print, plus a short guide to using it. It is not medical advice, and it does not say what is normal for an older pet. Your vet decides that. Its job is to help you keep your paperwork in order, notice things, and arrive at appointments with clear notes.
Senior pet care checklist
Pet's name
Age (as best I know)
Vet name
Vet phone
Emergency clinic phone
Keep up to date
Every medication and supplement on one list, with names as on the labels
Medication times written where everyone can see them
Weight written down. Last weighed on
Next check-up booked for
Vet and after-hours emergency clinic saved in my phone
Records from any other clinic gathered in one place
Refills ordered before any medication runs out
Around the house
Food and water within easy reach
A warm, quiet bed that is easy to get into
Grip on slippery floors, such as rugs or mats
Steps or a ramp, if my pet used to jump up
A litter box or yard access that is easy to use
A night light for stairs and hallways
Asked my vet what else would help
Things to notice and write down (then tell my vet)
Eating and appetite
Drinking
Bathroom habits
Sleep
Getting up, stairs and jumping
Mood, behavior or confusion
Coat, skin or new lumps
Anything else new
Your vet decides what any of this means.
Check-in log
Date
Weight
Eating
Drinking
Moving around
Notes
Questions for my vet
How the checklist works
There are four parts. The first part is paperwork: a single medication list, the vet's phone numbers, and the date of the next check-up. The second is the house: small changes that make daily life easier for an older animal. The third is a list of things to notice, and the fourth is a check-in table where you write a few words on a regular date. Tick a box when it is done, and come back to the page whenever something changes. You do not need to do everything at once.
Notice, write it down, tell your vet
The most useful thing you can bring to a senior visit is a dated list of what you saw. "She stopped jumping on the couch sometime in March" gives your vet far more to work with than "she is slowing down." Try not to explain the changes to yourself, and do not treat anything on your own. Write what you saw in plain words, then let your vet interpret it. The check-in log gives you a small place to do that each month, or on whatever schedule works for you.
Keep the medication list in one place
Older pets are more likely to take several medications, sometimes at different times of day. One current list, with each name copied from the label, saves a lot of confusion at the vet's office and for anyone helping at home. The medication log records each dose as it is given, and the weekly medication chart puts a whole week on one page. Whenever a medication changes, update the list the same day.
Bring it to appointments
Take the page, your medication records and the recent weights to each visit. The vet visit checklist lists the rest of what to bring, and a weight log shows how the numbers have moved over time. Ask your vet how often they would like to see your pet, and write the next date in the checklist so it does not slip.
Common questions
At what age is my pet a senior?
It depends on the species, the breed and the size of your pet. Your vet can tell you when your pet is considered a senior, and what that means for their care.
How often should I fill in the check-in log?
Choose a routine you can keep, such as the same day each month, and ask your vet whether they would like it more or less often. A short entry you actually write beats a detailed one you skip.
Does the checklist tell me if something is wrong?
No. It only helps you record what you notice. If you are worried about your pet, call your vet.
About this template
Print it as often as you like. Leave anything you do not need blank. Fill in the top fields by hand once, then copy the sheet for later weeks.
Older pets often mean more medications and more small changes to keep track of. PetDose is a free pet medication tracker that shows what is done and who did it, on one iPhone. It also shows what is due, warns you before a second dose, and sends a reminder only when something is overdue. Free to track, no account, and everything stays on your phone. Pro adds full history and a vet visit report you can send or print.