What to tell your vet about your pet's medications
Vet appointments are short, and the details of your pet's daily routine are easy to forget once you are in the exam room. The most useful thing you can bring is an accurate picture of what your pet is actually taking. This guide covers what to tell your vet about medications and how to prepare. A free vet visit checklist is available to print and take with you.
Tell your vet about everything, not just prescriptions
Your vet can only take the whole picture into account if they hear the whole picture. That includes:
- Prescription medications, with the names as they appear on the labels.
- Flea, tick and worm preventives.
- Supplements, vitamins and anything from a pet store or pharmacy.
- Anything a person in your home gave that was not prescribed for your pet.
- Treats, pill pockets or foods you use to hide medication.
When in doubt, mention it. Your vet would rather hear about something that turns out not to matter than miss something that does.
Say what was actually given, not only what was prescribed
The prescription says what should happen. Your vet also needs to know what did happen. Be honest about doses that were late, skipped, spat out, or possibly given twice. This is not about blame. It helps your vet judge whether a medication is working and whether something else is going on. If a dose was possibly doubled or missed, our guide on what to do if a dose was doubled or missed explains why to call your vet right away rather than waiting for the next appointment.
Report what you noticed
Describe changes you saw, in plain words, without trying to explain them:
- Changes in appetite, or in how much water your pet drinks.
- Changes in weight, even small ones.
- New symptoms, and roughly when they started.
- Anything that seemed to change after a medication was started or stopped.
- Trouble giving a medication, such as your pet refusing it or fighting it.
"She has been leaving half her breakfast since Tuesday" is far more useful than "her appetite is off."
Tell your vet who gives the medication
If more than one person gives medication, say so. Ask who gives which one and whether everyone is following the same instructions. Two people working from two slightly different memories is a common source of mix-ups.
Bring the right things
- The medication bottles, or clear photos of the labels.
- Your medication log for the time since the last visit.
- Recent weights, if you track them.
- Records from any other clinic your pet has visited.
- A list of your questions.
Ask your questions and write down the answers
Some good ones: Are all of these medications still needed? What should I do if I miss a dose? What should I watch for at home, and when should I call? When is the next check-up or test? Who do I call after hours? Your vet decides every amount and schedule, so if anything on a label is unclear, ask. Take notes on the answers, or ask your vet to write them down.
Before you leave, confirm the plan
Repeat the plan back in your own words: which medications, when the next visit is, and what would make you call sooner. Ask for any change to be written down. When the plan changes, update your log and your pet sitter sheet too, so everyone caring for your pet is working from the same instructions.
How a log helps
A written log with times and names turns a vague conversation into a precise one. Our guide on how to keep a medication log shows how. If you would rather keep records on your phone, PetDose tracks medications, meals and walks and shows who gave what. Pro adds a vet visit report you can send or print. Records stay on your phone, and tracking is free. Get it on the App Store.