How to Keep Track of Your Pet's Vaccinations
Updated July 2026
To keep track of pet vaccinations, record each shot's name, the date it was given, and the date the next dose or booster is due, then set a reminder for that due date. Keep it all in one place — ideally a digital record on your phone rather than loose paper certificates — so any family member can see what's done and what's coming up. Confirm the exact schedule with your vet, since it varies by region, vaccine and your pet's lifestyle.
Core vs non-core vaccines
Vets generally split vaccines into two groups. Core vaccines are recommended for almost every pet because they protect against diseases that are widespread, severe or dangerous to people. For dogs, these typically include rabies and the combination shot often written as DHPP (distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza). For cats, the core set usually includes rabies and the FVRCP combination (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia).
Non-core vaccines are given based on your pet's individual risk — where you live, whether they board, hike, swim or socialize with other animals. Examples include Bordetella (kennel cough) and leptospirosis for dogs, and feline leukemia (FeLV) for cats that go outdoors. Your vet decides which non-core shots make sense for your pet, and the exact names and schedules vary by region, so always treat any list as a starting point for that conversation.
Good to know: "How often do dogs need shots?" doesn't have one answer. Puppies get a series of doses a few weeks apart, then boosters shift to every one to three years depending on the vaccine and local rules. Your vet's records are the source of truth — your job is to keep a copy you can actually find.
Why paper records get lost
Most of us start with good intentions and a paper vaccination certificate from the clinic. Then it gets filed in a drawer, tucked into a folder, or left in the glovebox — and when the boarding kennel, groomer or new vet asks for proof, it is nowhere to be found. Paper fades, tears, and only exists in one place at a time, which is never the place you happen to be.
The bigger problem is that a certificate tells you what happened, but it does not remind you what's next. A booster that was "due sometime next year" quietly slips past because nothing prompts you. Missing a booster can mean losing protection, being turned away from boarding, or having to restart a vaccine series. A living record that carries the next due date with it solves both problems at once.
What to record for each vaccination
You don't need to be a vet to keep a useful record. For every shot, capture four simple things:
- Vaccine name — for example rabies, DHPP or FVRCP, exactly as written on the certificate.
- Date given — the day it was administered.
- Due date — when the next dose or booster is expected, straight from your vet.
- Clinic — where it was done, so you can call with a question or request a copy.
Snapping a photo of the certificate or vaccine label is a smart bonus — it captures the batch number and the vet's stamp, which some kennels and travel authorities want to see. With those details logged, you have everything a groomer, kennel or new clinic could reasonably ask for.
Keep track of vaccinations with PetnotePlus
A pet care app is the natural home for this, because it keeps the record and the reminder together. Here is how to stay on top of shots in the free PetnotePlus app:
- Use the Vaccine record category. Log each shot under the built-in Vaccine category with its name, date and a photo of the certificate.
- Add a calendar event for the booster. Put the next due date straight onto the calendar so it lives alongside vet visits and birthdays.
- Turn on an event notification. Set a notification for the due-date event so a booster is never a surprise.
- Keep the family in the loop. Share the pet with up to 15 family members; with notifications turned on for the Vaccine category, everyone knows when a new shot is logged — so whoever takes the pet to the vet, the record is updated for all.
- Review the history any time. Open the calendar to see the full vaccination history at a glance, ready to show a kennel or a new vet.
Never miss a booster again
Log every shot, set due-date reminders, and keep the family in sync — free for iOS and Android.
This guide is for general information only — always consult your veterinarian about your pet's health.