It’s important to routinely evaluate your pet’s health and to go to your veterinarian appointment prepared to address any changes since your last visit. A health inventory list is the perfect way to summarize your pet’s health status.
Performing a health inventory can help you make the most of your visit to the veterinarian or other practitioner. When you have the sense that something’s just not right but can’t point your finger to exactly what’s wrong, a health inventory can help you focus on previously unrecognized health or behavior changes. When there is an acute or dramatic change, the inventory can help to identify other equally important issues that may be overshadowed by or relevant to the acute change. Even when everything seems to be status quo a health inventory can help to focus on subtle changes that are not immediately obvious.
We’ve developed a simple health inventory list to help guide you in characterizing your pet’s health. Complete the list and share it with your veterinarian or other practitioner to help guide him or her in assessing your pet. The more information your practitioner has, the easier it is to diagnose any underlying conditions. Click here for an electronic copy of the list which you can complete online and send to your email.
Health Inventory List
| Inventory Item | Comments |
| 1. What is your pet’s general demeanor? | |
| 2. Has his level of activity changed? Has his interest in playing changed? Does he tire more easily? | |
| 3. Does he sleep through the night? | |
| 4. Are his eyes bright or dull? Does he have a discharge from his eyes? What color is the discharge? | |
| 5. Does he hug the wall or the furniture when he walks? | |
| 6. Has his hearing changed? | |
| 7. Has he become more vocal or less vocal? | |
| 8. Does he paw at his ears? | |
| 9. Does he scratch his head, muzzle, or ears on the carpet or furniture? | |
| 10. Is he overweight? Underweight? Has there been an unexplained weight change? | |
| 11. Has his appetite changed? | |
| 12. Is he drinking more or less water than usual? | |
| 13. Does he have a cough? What does it sound like? | |
| 14. Does he have vomiting, diarrhea, constipation? | |
| 15. Does he drag his bottom or scoot his rear across the grass or carpet? | |
| 16. What is the condition of his coat? Is it dull? Lifeless? Dry? Shinny? Are there bare or bald spots? Has his coat thinned? If it has thinned, is the thinning all over or just in certain areas? | |
| 17. Has he been scratching? Is he scratching all over or in one particular spot? Does he scratch only during certain times of the year or only under certain conditions? | |
| 18. What is the condition of his nails? | |
| 19. Are there any unusual or unpleasant odors from his mouth, ears, skin? | |
| 20. Is he alert and listening to you? | |
| 21. Is he having more accidents (urine or feces) than usual? | |
| 22. Does he appear to be in pain? Does he back away when you try to touch him in certain places? Does he growl when you touch him? Is he favoring or guarding a part of his body? | |
| 23. Has there been a recent injury? | |
| 24. Are his movements smooth? Does he favor one paw or leg over the others? When he moves, is his reach even on the left and right sides? | |
| 25. Does he show stiffness in his joints? Does he have difficulty lying down or getting up? | |
| 26. Does he hold his head erect and straight? |
