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First vet visit checklist for a puppy or kitten

A free two-page checklist for your puppy’s or kitten’s first visit to the vet: what to prepare and bring, the topics worth asking about, and a page to write down what the vet did and said. Print it or fill it in on screen.

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Free, no email or sign-up. You can fill in the fields on screen.

Page 1 of the first vet visit checklist: fields for the pet and the appointment, tick boxes for before the visit, what to bring and topics to ask, and a box for your own questions
Page 1 of 2

What’s on the checklist

  • Your pet and the appointment: name, species and breed, date of birth, the breeder or shelter, the date and the clinic.
  • Before the visit and what to bring: the papers from the breeder or shelter, a fresh stool sample if the clinic wants one, a carrier or leash and your questions.
  • Topics to ask about, from vaccines and parasite prevention to food, microchipping, spaying or neutering, behavior and pet insurance.
  • Page 2, for the visit itself: weight, microchip number, what was given or tested, the medicines prescribed, what the vet said and the next dates.
  • US Letter and A4, with fields you can fill in on screen and a tick box for every item.

How to use it

  1. Book the visit and ask the clinic whether to bring a stool sample, and what to do after hours or in an emergency.
  2. Gather the papers. The AKC suggests bringing the records from the breeder or rescue, so the vet can add them to your pet’s file.
  3. Tick the topics you want to cover and add your own questions in the box. Fear Free Happy Homes suggests writing them down beforehand so you don’t forget anything.
  4. Give a kitten time at home to explore the carrier before the visit.
  5. At the visit, fill in page 2 as you go, or right after, while the details are fresh.
  6. File the sheet with your pet’s papers and copy any vaccinations into a vaccination record.

What the vet usually checks

According to the AKC and Fear Free Happy Homes, a first exam usually includes weighing your pet, taking its temperature, listening to the heart and lungs, and checking the eyes, ears, mouth, skin and coat. The vet may examine a stool sample for worms and ask about food, activity and, for a kitten, the litter box. Page 2 has room for the weight and for what was done.

Topics, not answers

The checklist lists topics and leaves the answers to your vet. Which vaccines, which parasite prevention, when to spay or neuter and how much to feed depend on your pet’s age, breed, health and where you live. The topics come from AAHA’s puppy checklist and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association’s life stage guide for cats.

Talk to your vet

This checklist is not medical advice. Vaccines, parasite prevention, spaying or neutering and food are your vet’s call. Call the clinic whenever your puppy or kitten seems unwell.

Sources

  1. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). The Ultimate Checklist for Your Puppy’s Veterinary Care. aaha.org (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
  2. Feline Veterinary Medical Association (formerly AAFP). Your Cat’s Life Stages, based on the 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines. catvets.com (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
  3. American Kennel Club. What to Expect at Your Puppy’s First Vet Visit. akc.org (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
  4. Fear Free Happy Homes. Your Kitten’s First Vet Visit: What To Expect. fearfreehappyhomes.com (opens in a new tab) (accessed )

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