What to record about your dog before a vet appointment
Prepare a clear timeline of changes, useful records and your main questions. A dog observation diary helps explain facts without guessing at a diagnosis.
Describe the change in your own words
Start with what you noticed and when. 'Did not finish the usual portion last night' is an observation; 'has gastritis' is a proposed diagnosis. A vet can ask better follow-up questions when you bring a sequence of events rather than only a conclusion.
AAHA recommends preparing questions, medication information and medical records before an appointment. If the situation seems urgent or your dog's condition changes quickly, call the clinic immediately. Do not delay seeking help to fill several days of a diary.
Build a short timeline
Record when things were last normal, the first change noticed and subsequent events. Be honest about approximate times: 'around midday' is better than an invented exact minute. If several people observed your dog, establish who saw what.
Useful fields include appetite and food actually eaten, observations about drinking, toileting, activity, sleep and unusual behaviour. You do not have to measure everything yourself. Ask the clinic what additional information would help for your particular visit.
Photos, videos and documents
If safe, save a short video of something difficult to describe. Do not provoke a symptom or make your dog repeat an uncomfortable action for a recording. Prepare earlier reports, test results and the exact names of products or medicines being used.
Ask the clinic beforehand about samples, restrictions before tests or special preparation. Do not introduce fasting, arrange tests or start treatment based on a general internet article.
Organise your records in Waglio
Save observations in your dog's diary, documents in the appropriate section, and record meals and walks as they actually happen. Before the appointment, choose records from the relevant period and prepare a few main questions. You do not need to show your entire photo album to explain one change.
Check that the files open and recent events have synced. If information is still only on another phone, ask that person to open the app and finish sharing. Diagnosis and treatment recommendations come from the vet.
Before-appointment checklist
A short, accurate note helps start the conversation with what matters.
- When the change appeared and what happened before it.
- Facts about food, toileting, activity and behaviour.
- Names and doses of already prescribed medicines, copied from current instructions.
- Earlier reports and test results.
- Photos or videos, if obtained safely.
- Your three main questions and a way to record the answers.
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Sources and editorial checks
An editorial article. General guidance was checked against the primary sources below; everyday examples and checklists were prepared by the Waglio editorial team. This article does not replace individual professional advice.