Senior Dog Vet Visit Checklist: What to Write Down Before the Appointment
The question every vet asks and almost every owner struggles to answer: "When did you first notice this?"
You know something has changed. Maybe your dog is slower getting up in the morning. Maybe she's eating less, or sleeping more, or just seeming... not quite herself. But pinning down exactly when it started, how quickly it progressed, or what else changed at the same time? That's harder than it sounds when you've been living with it gradually, day by day.
This is especially common with senior dogs. Ageing happens slowly, and the early signs of serious conditions — arthritis, kidney disease, cognitive decline, heart problems — often look like "just slowing down" for weeks before the pattern becomes obvious.
A short log before your vet visit changes the conversation entirely. Here's what to write down, and why each item matters.
Why Vets Need More Than "She Seems Off"
Veterinarians are trying to build a clinical picture from a 20-to-30-minute appointment and your account of what's been happening. The more specific and time-anchored that account is, the faster they can narrow down what's going on.
"My dog seems uncomfortable" is hard to triage. "She's been reluctant to use the stairs for about two weeks. She gets up stiffly in the morning but loosens up after 10 minutes of walking. She hasn't limped at the park but does pause more on steep ground. Her appetite is unchanged. This started around the same time we switched her to the new food" — that's a different conversation. The vet is already thinking differentially before they've put a hand on your dog.
Two weeks of simple daily notes before an appointment is usually enough to produce this kind of clarity.
The Senior Dog Vet Visit Checklist
Use this as a guide for what to observe and record in the days or weeks before your appointment. You don't need to be exhaustive — you need to be consistent.
Appetite
Note each meal: did your dog finish the bowl, eat some of it, or refuse it? A dog who "sometimes doesn't finish her food" is hard to assess. A dog who has eaten less than half her portion at dinner for the past eight days is a clearer clinical signal.
Also note any changes in what foods she accepts, whether she's interested in treats she normally loves, and whether eating seems uncomfortable (slow chewing, dropping food, favouring one side).
Weight
If you have a bathroom scale, weigh yourself holding your dog, then weigh yourself alone, and subtract. Do this once a week. Senior dogs can lose significant weight slowly enough that it's invisible to the eye until it's substantial. A trend line over four to six weeks tells a story that a single weigh-in at the clinic cannot.
Mobility and movement
- Is she stiff when she gets up after resting? Does she loosen up, and if so, how quickly?
- Any limping, and on which leg? Is it consistent or intermittent?
- Changes in willingness to jump (onto the sofa, into the car, up steps)?
- How does she move after a longer walk vs. after rest — better or worse?
Bathroom habits
Changes in frequency, urgency, or control are important. Note: more frequent urination or drinking noticeably more water is a significant symptom for senior dogs and warrants mentioning specifically — these are common early signs of kidney issues, diabetes, or Cushing's disease.
Also note any changes in stool consistency, straining, or accidents indoors.
Sleep and energy
How many hours is she sleeping compared to her baseline? Senior dogs sleep more than younger dogs, but a noticeable shift from her own normal is worth noting. Also note whether she's restless at night — unable to settle, pacing, or whining after dark.
Behaviour and mental state
- Is she seeking more comfort and closeness than usual, or withdrawing and isolating?
- Is she startling more easily?
- Does she seem confused at times — standing in a room as if she's forgotten why she went there, or failing to respond to her name?
- Is she still interested in walks, play, or activities she normally enjoys?
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (sometimes called "canine dementia") is more common in senior dogs than most owners expect, and its early signs are easy to attribute to "just getting old." If you're noticing behaviour changes alongside the physical ones, mention both.
Medications and supplements
Write down everything: prescription medications (name, dose, how long she's been on it), supplements, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, and any recent changes. Also note how she tolerates each — any vomiting or changes after doses?
A Simple Format That Works
One row per day, columns for the categories above, plus a short free-text notes field for anything that doesn't fit. Rate each category on a simple 1–5 scale (1 = normal, 5 = significantly worse than normal) so patterns are easy to scan.
You don't need a spreadsheet. A notes app with dated entries works. Paper works. What matters is that you have dates attached to observations, not just a general impression.
A free, print-ready version of this checklist — organised by symptom category with space for notes and vet questions — is available here:
Free senior dog vet-visit checklist — printable, no sign-up
This is an organisational tool, not veterinary advice.
The "Questions for My Vet" Section
Before the appointment, write down the three to five things you most want answers to. It is easy to forget them when you're worried, and appointments move fast.
Common questions worth preparing:
- Is this level of change normal for her age and breed, or is it worth investigating further?
- Would bloodwork and a urinalysis give us useful information at this point?
- Is she likely to be in pain right now? What signs should I be watching for?
- What changes should prompt me to call sooner rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit?
- Are there modifications to her exercise, diet, or environment that would help?
Having these written down means you leave the appointment with actual answers, not just reassurance.
For Large and Giant Breeds
If your dog is a large or giant breed (Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Bernese Mountain Dog, and others), the tracking framework above is the same — but a few things are worth watching more carefully.
Weight and joint health are closely linked in large breeds: even a few extra kilograms add meaningful load to hips and elbows that may already have some wear. A slow gain is easy to miss without weekly weigh-ins.
Mobility changes also matter more at this size because the consequences of untreated arthritis or hip dysplasia progress faster, and treatment is more effective when started earlier.
The Bottom Line
Vets want to help. The faster you can give them a clear, time-stamped account of what you've observed, the more useful your appointment will be — and the more likely you are to leave with a real plan rather than "let's keep an eye on it."
Two weeks of simple daily notes before your appointment is enough. Start today.
Download the free senior dog vet-visit checklist — covers the key symptom categories, medication log, and a questions-for-my-vet section. Printable, no sign-up.
If you want the full tracking system — daily symptom heatmap, automatic weight-trend chart, vet-visit history, and an auto-generating vet summary — the complete Google Sheets tracker is here: Senior Dog Health & Wellness Tracker — Everyday Trackers.
*This post is an organisational guide to help you prepare for a vet visit. It is not veterinary advice. If you are concerned about your dog's health, contact a licensed veterinarian.*