Free printable resource

Senior Dog Vet Visit Prep Sheet

A short written history can make an older dog's veterinary visit easier to use. Fill this in before the appointment so dates, medications and recent changes are in one place.

By the Buddylio Editorial Team Published August 20, 2026 Updated August 20, 2026

Senior visits may cover eating, drinking, movement, sleep, behavior, medications and several other changes. This sheet organizes those observations so you can describe what happened and when without relying on memory in the exam room.

Who this is for: Dog owners preparing for a senior wellness or problem focused appointment, and the clinics who hand it to them.

Before you leave the house

Take the weight the same way each time. A different scale is a different number, not a different dog.

Current weight, and the date it was taken
Every medication and supplement, with dose and timing exactly as prescribed
Food brand and amount actually eaten per day, not the amount offered
A short phone video of anything you cannot easily describe: a gait, a cough, a tremor, a noise
Dates of the last vaccinations, blood work and dental work if the clinic is new to you
Any samples the clinic asked for, collected as recently as they specified

The three changes that matter most

Pick three. A list of fifteen small things buries the one that matters. Give the date each started and whether it is getting worse, holding steady or coming and going.

Change 1
When it started
Getting worse / steady / intermittent
Change 2
When it started
Getting worse / steady / intermittent
Change 3
When it started
Getting worse / steady / intermittent

Baseline numbers worth having

What	How to get it	Your number
Weight	Same scale, same time of day
Water in 24 hours	Measure what goes into the bowl and what is left. Never restrict water to measure it.
Food finished per day	Fraction of what you offered
Resting breathing rate	Breaths in 30 seconds, doubled, while fully asleep or resting. Not after activity.
Longest comfortable walk	Minutes before the dog slows or wants to turn back
Nights woken	Times per week the dog gets up and cannot settle

Questions worth asking before you leave

Ask these while the veterinarian is still in the room. They are much harder to get answered by phone afterwards.

Which of these changes concerns you most, and why that one?
What would make you want to see her sooner than the next scheduled visit?
Is anything on her medication list worth reviewing now that she is older?
What should I measure at home between now and then, and how often?
If this gets worse at 2am, what counts as an emergency and where do I go?

What not to do with this sheet

Do not use it to arrive at a diagnosis. The point of writing observations down is to describe them accurately, not to name the condition behind them.

Do not provoke a symptom to record it. Repeating the stairs to see whether the limp returns, withholding water to measure thirst or waking a resting dog for a breathing count all make the number worse and the dog more uncomfortable.

Do not wait for the appointment if something is urgent. Breathing difficulty, collapse, inability to stand, a swollen painful abdomen, repeated unproductive retching or uncontrolled bleeding need care the same day.

Sources

Written against published veterinary guidance. These are the sources behind the urgency and observation guidance on this page.

Diagnostic Tests and Recommended Frequencies for Senior Dogs and Cats, American Animal Hospital Association
Evaluating the Unhealthy Senior Pet, American Animal Hospital Association
Wellness Testing for Senior Dogs, VCA Animal Hospitals
Your Senior Pet: Home Monitoring Tips, American Animal Hospital Association

Buddylio helps you notice and organize what you see. It doesn't diagnose or treat anything, and it isn't a substitute for your veterinarian. If you think your dog is unwell, in pain, or in danger, call your vet or an emergency clinic.