How Long Should You Keep Veterinary Records?

Some records never stop being relevant:

• Vaccination history — proves protection and shows reaction history
• Surgical and anaesthetic notes — a vet needs to know how your pet responded to anaesthesia before the next procedure
• Allergy and adverse reaction records — arguably the single most important page in the file
• Chronic condition history — diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis and heart conditions are all judged against past readings
• Microchip registration

A blood result from four years ago is what turns "slightly elevated" into "elevated and rising".

After a pet dies, keep the file a while longer. Insurance claims, disputes and breeder or rescue obligations can all surface after the fact. Two years is a sensible floor; many owners keep the file permanently.

Pet insurers routinely request full clinical history when assessing a claim, and pre-existing condition disputes are decided on dates. If you switch insurers, the new policy is underwritten against your pet's documented history — gaps in your records are resolved in the insurer's favour, not yours.

Practices are not obliged to keep records forever, and practices close or merge. Relying entirely on your vet's system is a risk.

The most reliable setup is boring: a printed file for the documents that must be produced on demand — vaccination certificate, rabies certificate, microchip registration — plus scanned copies stored somewhere you can reach from a phone.