At PetHub one of our primary goals is keeping your pet safe and healthy for life. Having a copy of your dog’s, cat’s, ferrets', or other pet’s veterinary records is important in determining what type of care and treatment he may need. Just like you, your companion pet will have a complete medical file that should travel with them if they change owners, veterinarians, or location. The laws that dictate rules of the release and transferal of your pet’s medical records vary by state, so it’s important to visit the American Veterinary Medical Association to check on the rules that apply to where you're located or moving to.
What Should Be Included
Especially if you’ve gotten your pet from another owner, you may not have a complete record of your pet’s medical history, past surgeries, or any other issues that you’ll need to know about. At the very least, you should have a record of when your pet’s essential vaccinations were last administered, and that they’ve been given treatment to avoid common issues such as heartworm.
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A complete medical history should include a record of every veterinary visit from your pet’s birth onward. It should not only include the date of the visit and a record of basics, such as length, weight, and vaccination history, but it should also include a thorough record of any medications prescribed, surgeries, and hospital visits. If your pet needs tests or blood work administered by the veterinarian, there should be both a record of that test being performed and the outcome of those tests.
Getting a Copy
If you adopt your pet from a shelter, it is necessary for them to give you your pet’s medical file, so that you can pass it along to your new veterinarian. In the case of adopting a pet from a friend or a private owner, that person should give you any pertinent records on the day you take the pet home with you. It’s important to know what level of care the dog, cat, ferret, etc., received prior to coming to live with you, and that your new pet has been given the appropriate vaccinations and checked for any health issues.
It is common for one veterinarian’s office to simply mail or fax your pet’s records to his new vet. However, as the pet parent, you are free to request a copy to pass along to the new vet in person. In some states, this is allowable, while others prohibit the doctor from giving you a copy of your pet’s file. Check the laws governing this issue in your state and whether or not your veterinarian is required to comply with your request. In case of emergency, you don’t want to be stuck without your furry friend’s important medical documents and you want to be well-informed so that you can make educated choices about his care. (You should note, too, that
PetHub allows you to store your pet’s medical records free of charge
so that you can easily surface those details to anyone helping care for your pet, whether it’s a dog walker, pet sitter, or pet day care facility.)
Looking to get or switch Pet Insurance providers?
The more recent and accurate your pet's medical records are, the easier it will be for you to secure pet insurance or possibly swap insurance providers if you already have coverage. If you're unsure what pet insurance options are out there? We invite you to check out a convenient comparison tool we have on our site.
Changing Veterinarians
Perhaps your pet isn’t really a new addition to the family, but you’ve moved and need to find your pet a new doctor, or you simply didn’t like the care you were receiving from your former veterinarian. There are all sorts of reasons for changing vets and your old vet isn’t likely to have any hard feelings regarding the change.
There is also the possibility that, as we move into a world defined by Covid-19, you are considering Telehealth as an option for your pet. Online Vet providers such as
The Kinship offer premium health care all from the comfort of your home. That’s right, no more crating and driving to the vet!
The Kinship has been a life-saving resource for those who cannot get out often or are homebound.
Before changing veterinarians, pay a visit to your old vet and ask to see your pet’s original file. Make a note of everything that’s included in the medical history so that when you request a copy to be sent to the new vet, you can verify that all pertinent documentation has been included.
If you haven’t chosen a new veterinarian yet, be sure to have all the important contact information for your pet’s old vet. Being able to put the new vet in touch with your old vet is the best way to avoid confusion, lost files, or questions regarding medical history. If your new veterinarian does have questions about your pet’s medical care, they should feel free to speak to the former vet about visits or procedures, as they’re likely to get a more thorough answer than simply asking you.
Treat your pet’s medical care with the same meticulous attention to detail as you’d pay to your own medical history. Much of what’s located in your pet’s medical history may seem like relatively insignificant detail, but you never know what’s going to prove to be helpful in the future.
