Free tool
Free Pet Symptom Log for Dogs and Cats
Something seems off, but it comes and goes. This printable sheet gives you two weeks of daily notes on appetite, thirst, energy, mood, and stool, so you can show your vet what changed and when. No signup.
What to write down
- Appetite
- Their usual amount, less, or more. Note skipped meals and food left in the bowl.
- Thirst
- Is the water bowl emptying faster or slower than usual?
- Energy
- More tired than usual, slower on walks, sleeping more, or restless.
- Mood
- Hiding, clingy, irritable, or just not themselves. Use your own words.
- Stool
- Firm, soft, loose, or watery, or a 1 to 7 score if your vet uses one.
- Anything else
- Vomiting, scratching, coughing, limping, or accidents, with the time it happened.
- What changed around them
- New food or treats, a new medication, a change in routine, or visitors.
Fill in the normal days too, because they show when a change began. If your vet asks for a stool score, the scale runs from 1 (hardest) to 7 (softest). This fecal scoring chart shows each score, and the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center has a plain-language version.
Why small changes are worth recording
A change that looks minor on its own is easy to forget by the time you see your vet. A log turns "I think it started a while ago" into dates you can point to. Cats make this harder: DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital notes that they "can be masters at hiding when they're sick."
"Every cat has their own routines. Pay attention to your cat’s typical behavior, appetite, grooming, and activity levels. That baseline will help you recognize subtle shifts that might otherwise be missed."
BluePearl Pet Hospital
"Minor changes like a decreased energy level, sleeping more than usual, or a loss of appetite may be signs that your pup is under the weather."
Vetstreet
Don't let the log make you wait
This sheet is for keeping track, not for deciding whether your pet is okay. If you are worried, call your veterinarian, and bring whatever you have written so far.
Some changes can't wait. VCA Animal Hospitals advises: "If your cat hasn’t eaten anything in 24 hours, seek immediate veterinary care!"
Prefer to log on your phone?
In Everkin for iPhone, a daily check-in takes seconds and covers mood, energy, appetite, and thirst. You can log symptoms with severity and photos, then look back over your pet's whole timeline. Check-ins and symptoms are on the free plan, for up to 2 pets.
Frequently asked questions
Is this pet symptom log free?
Yes. There is nothing to pay for, no account to create, and nothing to install. Print as many sheets as you need.
How do I use the log?
Print a sheet and keep it where you feed your pet. Take a minute each day to fill in one row, including the days when everything seems normal. Bring the sheet to your next vet visit.
What if my pet's symptoms come and go?
Write down each episode with the date and time, even if your pet seems fine an hour later, and mark the good days as normal. Your vet can then see how often it happens instead of relying on memory.
Can I fill it in on my phone?
This sheet is made to print and write on by hand. If you would rather log on your phone, Everkin for iPhone has daily check-ins and symptom logging on its free plan.
Can this log tell me what is wrong with my pet?
No. It only records what you notice. Only your veterinarian can diagnose your pet, so if you are worried, call them rather than waiting to fill in more rows.
Sources
- Is My Cat Sick? A Guide for Cat Owners. DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. Cited for: cats hiding illness.
- Is My Cat Sick? Subtle Feline Health Signs. BluePearl Pet Hospital. Cited for: knowing your pet's baseline.
- How to Tell If Your Dog is Ill. Vetstreet. Cited for: minor changes in dogs.
- Recognizing signs of illness in your cat. VCA Animal Hospitals. Cited for: when a cat has not eaten.
- Fecal Scoring. Purina chart, hosted by The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center. Cited for: what each stool score looks like.
- Fecal Scoring Scale for Dogs and Cats Made Sweeter. Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, 2020. Cited for: the 1 to 7 stool scale in plain language.