Quick answer: bring whatever vaccination and medical records you have, describe your pet’s health and everyday exposures, and ask the veterinary team which vaccines fit this individual animal and why. Dog and cat guidance both support individualized decisions; this checklist helps prepare a conversation and does not set a vaccine plan or schedule.

Reviewed November 3, 2026. Method: the records fields and discussion prompts below reflect AAHA’s canine vaccination guidance and the AAHA/AAFP feline vaccination guidance. Leave unknown details blank and ask the clinic how to proceed.

Bring or note what you know

• Pet’s name, species, approximate birth date or age, and where you obtained the pet: ____________________
• Prior vaccine records available, including product or vaccine name and date when shown: ____________________
• Any known prior vaccine reaction or other reaction to an injection; what happened and when: ____________________
• Current health concerns, ongoing conditions, and medicines or supplements: ____________________
• If records are missing or history is uncertain, say so; do not guess dates or doses: ____________________

Describe your pet’s routine and exposure

Use the prompts that fit your animal. AAHA’s dog guidance considers lifestyle, location, and exposure risk for some vaccine decisions. AAHA/AAFP’s cat guidance describes an individualized assessment that can include life stage, lifestyle, health and vaccination history, and environmental or geographic risks.

• Where does the pet spend time (indoors, outdoors, or both), and what local wildlife, ticks, or other animal contact may occur? ____________________
• Does the pet visit boarding, daycare, grooming, training, shows, shelters, or other places with animals? How often? ____________________
• Is there travel planned, or contact with animals outside the household? ____________________
• For cats: describe household cats, new-cat introductions, outdoor access, and any foster, shelter, or boarding stays. ____________________
• Are you checking a local legal requirement or a facility’s written entry rule? Record the authority or facility and the wording to confirm: ____________________

Questions for the veterinary team

• Given this pet’s records, health, location, and routine, which vaccines do you recommend discussing today, and what risk or protection does each address?
• Which recommendations are routine for this animal, and which depend on individual exposure or circumstances?
• If history is incomplete or a dose may be overdue, what records or next steps do you recommend?
• What timing and follow-up should I record for this pet, and when should we review the plan again?
• What reactions should I watch for, what should I do if I am concerned, and how do I reach the clinic after hours?
• Can you provide an updated record showing vaccines given and the follow-up date you recommend?

Sources and limits

• AAHA: 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines — guideline page notes a 2024 update and explains that vaccine recommendations for individual dogs account for risk factors.
• AAHA and AAFP: 2020 Feline Vaccination Guidelines — describes patient-specific vaccination decisions informed by lifestyle and infectious-disease exposure risks.

This worksheet is not veterinary advice and does not identify vaccines needed by a particular pet, interpret incomplete records, or give doses or intervals. Guidelines are resources for veterinary professionals; the veterinarian should assess your animal and applicable local requirements. For budget planning, use your own clinic’s written estimate in the dog vaccination quote worksheet, puppy first-year planner, cat first-year planner, or pet cost planner. You can also use the adoption handoff checklist to organize records and other first-visit questions.