Records & paperwork7 min read
Importing your adopted pet’s medical history into your records
Adopted pets often arrive with partial records. The first week is when those records are easiest to gather; six months later they are harder to track down. A calm import session prevents future scrambling.
The Driyu team
Pet safety editorial
Quick answer: In the first week: request a full records release from the shelter or rescue. Note what is documented and what is missing. Schedule a new-pet vet visit with the records in hand. Update microchip registry. Build your home record from what is verified, with clearly labeled gaps.
Why the first week matters
Shelters and rescues are busy. Records are easier to retrieve when the adoption is fresh in everyone’s memory. By six months, contact people may have moved on, files may be archived, and gaps that were fillable become permanent.
The first-week call is the cheapest hour of records work you will ever do.
What to request
- Vaccination history — dates and product names
- Spay/neuter certificate
- Microchip number and original registry
- Any test results — FeLV/FIV for cats, heartworm for dogs, fecal results
- Medications administered during shelter stay
- Intake history — notes about behavior, prior owner, found-as-stray status
- Foster notes if the pet was in foster care
- Any prior vet records the shelter received from a surrender owner
Verifying what you receive
Compare the microchip number on paperwork to a scan at the new-pet vet visit. Confirm rabies certificate dates. Cross-check vaccination products against AAFP and AAHA schedules — some shelter labels are abbreviated or generic.
Note honest gaps rather than guessing.
Gaps and what to do
Common gaps: prior owner medical history, deworming detail, exact birth date, exposure history. The vet handles most of these on a first visit:
- Repeat or boost vaccines if the schedule is unclear
- Run a baseline blood panel for a senior or chronic-condition adopted pet
- Re-check FeLV/FIV or heartworm if results are unconfirmed
- Estimate age based on teeth and physical exam
- Establish a new baseline for the future record
Microchip registry transfer
The microchip itself is hardware. The registry is what gets you called. Many adopted pets carry a chip registered to the shelter or a prior owner. Update the registry to your contact information — this is the single most important post-adoption administrative step.
See microchip-registration-vs-the-chip-itself for the full picture.
How Driyu fits
A Driyu pet profile holds the adopted pet’s consolidated record — vaccination summary, microchip, current vet, medications, allergies. The first-week visit results land in the same place. Document scans live in the Pro Cloud Vault today or any cloud folder you already use.
Related reads from Driyu
- Adopting from a shelter: the paperwork checklist
- Microchip registration vs the chip itself: what owners get wrong
- Shelter-to-home transition: the records to keep on day one
Sources and further reading
- American Veterinary Medical Association — Microchip identification
- AAHA — Adopted pet first visit
- Best Friends Animal Society
- ASPCA — Adoption resources
Frequently asked questions
What if the shelter does not have full records?
Many do not. Note the gaps, and let the new-pet vet visit fill them. Adopted pets often need some baseline retesting; this is normal.
How do I update the microchip registry?
Most chips are tied to a specific registry (AKC Reunite, HomeAgain, 24PetWatch, etc.). The chip number identifies the registry. Many registries allow online transfers; some require a small fee.
Should I import old behavior notes?
Yes, with caveats. Behavior in shelter is not always behavior at home. Use the notes as a starting point, not a verdict.
What about pets adopted from another country?
International adoptions may carry import paperwork, rabies titers, and country-specific health certificates. Keep all of it; some destinations require it for years.
