Pet Health Records: What to Keep and Why It Matters
Most pet owners have a vague idea of their pet’s vaccination history and a vet’s business card somewhere in a kitchen drawer. That’s often enough β until it isn’t.
When your pet is ill abroad, found by a stranger, taken to an emergency vet out of hours, or needs a replacement prescription, having organised records can make a genuine difference to their care. Here’s what to keep and how to keep it accessible.
Vaccination records
Your pet’s vaccination card (the physical booklet from the vet) is the primary record, but it has a big limitation: it’s paper, easy to lose, and gives a finder or emergency vet no information at all.
Keep a digital copy. Photograph each page and store it in your phone’s photos app, in cloud storage, or in a dedicated pet app. Note the due dates for boosters β your vet should send reminders, but having them yourself means you’re not relying on their system.
Microchip number
Store your pet’s microchip number somewhere you can access without the chip reader. You’ll need it when:
- Reporting a lost pet to Petlog or a rescue centre
- Travelling abroad with your pet
- Registering with a new vet
- Proving ownership in a dispute
The number is on your registration paperwork and on your vet’s records. Write it down and store it with your important documents.
Medications and allergies
If your pet takes any regular medication, note the drug name, dosage, and prescribing vet. If they have known allergies or adverse reactions to any medications or anaesthetics, this information is critical for emergency vets who don’t have access to your regular vet’s notes.
A card in your pet’s carrying case is helpful; information on their tag profile is better β it’s always with them, not at home in a bag.
Insurance details
Keep your policy number and the insurer’s emergency claims number accessible. Emergency vets will often ask for this before treatment. Knowing your policy number saves time when you’re stressed and time matters.
Vet history and diagnoses
You don’t need to keep every consultation note, but a brief log of significant diagnoses, surgeries, and ongoing conditions helps any new vet understand your pet’s history quickly. A bullet-point list updated once or twice a year is sufficient.
Keeping records accessible on the go
The limitation of paper records and phone photos is that they’re not on your pet. If your pet is found by a stranger or taken to an emergency vet without you, none of that information travels with them.
Taggzi’s Pet Passport stores your pet’s key health information β vaccinations, medications, allergies, microchip number, and insurance details β directly on their tag profile. You control exactly what’s visible β when you enable passport sharing in your profile settings, anyone who taps or scans the tag can see what they need to know, even if you’re not there. The information is updated in real time from your phone, so it’s never out of date.
A simple system that takes 10 minutes to set up
You don’t need a complicated filing system. A single note on your phone with the following is enough to start:
- Pet name, species, breed, date of birth
- Microchip number
- Current vaccinations and next due date
- Any medications with dosage
- Known allergies
- Insurance provider and policy number
- Vet name, address, and phone number
Update it after every vet visit. It takes 2 minutes and could matter enormously in an emergency.
