Preventive care is more than an annual exam. Your pet’s needs change with age, health, lifestyle, and environment, so regular conversations with a veterinarian help you make timely, informed choices. Bring notes about appetite, energy, behavior, medications, and any changes you have noticed. This checklist can help you prepare for wellness visits with a dog or cat. Your veterinarian can tailor recommendations to your pet’s medical history and daily routine.
Puppies and kittens
Early visits establish a health record and a plan for the months ahead. Discuss the timing of core vaccines and any additional vaccines suited to your pet’s exposure, local risks, or travel. Ask about screening for intestinal parasites, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention where appropriate, and when to begin routine testing. Confirm when your pet should return for follow-up doses or checks.
Use these visits to review feeding amounts, healthy growth, and how to transition foods if needed. Ask when to spay or neuter, how to care for new teeth, and what signs of illness need prompt attention. Talk through safe handling, litter-box or house-training habits, socialization, and behavior concerns. For cats, also discuss indoor enrichment and reducing risks around windows, balconies, and household plants.
Young adult pets
Once your pet has completed its initial vaccine series, keep a record of due dates and ask which boosters or tests fit its age and lifestyle. Review year-round parasite prevention and any travel, boarding, grooming, or outdoor activities that could affect risk. At each visit, mention changes in drinking, urination, appetite, stool, mobility, or energy, even if they seem minor.
Ask your veterinarian to assess body condition and recommend a feeding plan that supports a healthy weight. Discuss dental care at home, including toothbrushing and suitable products, and ask whether a professional dental evaluation is appropriate. Review exercise, play, training, and behavior. Keep a current list of medications and supplements, and check before adding products intended for people or other animals.
Mature and middle-aged pets
As pets age, small changes can be easier to miss. Tell the veterinarian about weight shifts, reduced stamina, stiffness, changes in sleep, new vocalizing, or altered litter-box and bathroom habits. Ask whether a physical exam, dental assessment, or screening tests are recommended based on your pet’s history. If a concern appears between visits, ask whether to schedule an appointment rather than waiting for the next routine check.
Revisit nutrition and activity as your pet’s needs change. Your veterinarian can help set a realistic weight goal, adjust portions, and suggest movement that fits your pet’s comfort and health. Review vaccine and parasite-prevention plans, dental care, and any ongoing conditions or medications. For cats, discuss changes in hiding, grooming, or jumping; for dogs, mention trouble rising, climbing stairs, or keeping up on walks.
Senior pets
Senior care should reflect the individual pet, not age alone. Ask how often wellness visits are appropriate and which exams or lab tests may help monitor health over time. Share a written list of changes in appetite, thirst, weight, breathing, mobility, sleep, and bathroom habits. Also note confusion, restlessness, or reduced interest in familiar activities, since these details can guide further evaluation.
Discuss pain management, dental health, nutrition, and ways to make daily life easier. Your veterinarian may suggest changes such as non-slip surfaces, easier access to food and water, or a more accessible litter box. Review medications and supplements for safety and continued need. Ask which changes require urgent care and how to adapt activity while preserving comfort and engagement.
Bring this checklist to your pet’s next wellness visit and use it to organize questions, observations, and medication details. Recommendations should account for your dog or cat’s age, health, and lifestyle, so ask your veterinarian to prioritize what matters most now. Wasatch Mobile Vet provides preventive veterinary care in Salt Lake City; contact the practice to discuss scheduling a visit.