Keeping Good Records

Good records help your vet, your sitter and you. A clear history of vaccinations, treatments, weights and past illnesses saves time in an emergency and helps spot patterns, like an itchy spell every spring. ORLAGH’S Health Passport and records in the app are designed to keep all of this together, so the right details are always in your pocket.

Start with the basics: name, date of birth, breed, sex, neuter status, coat colour and a recent photo. Then add vaccination dates and next due dates, flea, tick and worming treatments, medicines and doses, allergies, past illnesses and surgeries, and monthly weights. Note insurance details and policy number too. Small notes about changes in appetite, thirst or behaviour can be really useful to your vet.

Across the UK, dogs must be microchipped, and keeping your contact details up to date on the microchip database is a legal responsibility too. Note your dog’s microchip number and which database it’s registered with. When out in public, dogs also need a collar tag showing the owner’s name and address. Check the chip is still readable at your yearly vet visit.

Record your usual vet’s name, address and phone number, plus your nearest out-of-hours emergency vet. Note who can make decisions for your dog if you’re away, and share key details with anyone caring for them. Keeping these in the app and saved in your phone means you won’t be hunting for numbers in a stressful moment.

Dogs are a long-term financial commitment. Plan for regular costs such as food, insurance, parasite prevention, vaccinations and grooming, plus occasional ones like kennels, sitters, new beds and toys. Setting aside a little each month for unexpected vet bills brings real peace of mind. Tracking spending for a few months shows you what your dog really costs.