10 things to bring to every vet visit in Mumbai

Vets in Mumbai will tell you the same thing: most pet parents arrive to appointments underprepared. Not because they don't care — they do, deeply — but because nobody told them what to bring. Here's the complete list, plus a few things that are more useful in Mumbai specifically than in other cities.

The essential 10

1. Vaccination record book

This should be a physical booklet, not a photo on your phone. The booklet has the vet's stamp, the batch number of the vaccine, and the date — all of which matter if your dog bites someone, is involved in a stray dog incident, or travels by air. Keep the original; bring it to every appointment. If you've lost it, ask your current vet to issue a duplicate with what they have on file.

2. Care reports from the last 30 days

If your dog walker uses PupStep, download the last month of reports as a PDF before you leave home. Energy levels, bathroom frequency, appetite notes from walks — this is the kind of contextual data your vet can't get from a 15-minute appointment. It also saves you from trying to remember whether your dog peed normally "last Tuesday or the Tuesday before."

3. A fresh stool sample (for routine check-ups)

For any general wellness visit or if your dog has had loose stools, bring a stool sample collected within 2 hours of the appointment. A small container from your pharmacy works. This allows a fecal test on the spot if the vet suspects worms or Giardia — common in Mumbai dogs that walk near street dogs or water-logged areas during monsoon.

4. A list of everything your dog ate in the last 3 days

Especially relevant if you feed home-cooked food or give treats from multiple sources. Vets asking about diet changes can only work with what you tell them. If your dog has a stomach issue and you can't remember what changed, the appointment becomes guesswork.

5. Current medications and supplements

Bring the actual boxes or bottles, not just the names. Dosages and formulations matter. If your dog is on a joint supplement, a skin spray, a dewormer, and a coat oil — bring all of it. Drug interactions are more common than people assume, especially with some over-the-counter products available at pet stores.

6. Your dog's weight from last month

Most vets weigh dogs at every appointment, but having a recent home measurement (if you have a pet scale, or you can weigh yourself holding the dog and then without) gives a baseline for tracking. Weight changes in dogs often precede visible symptoms of illness by weeks.

7. Photos or videos of the symptom

If your dog has been limping occasionally but is fine by the time you reach the clinic, a 10-second video is worth more than any description. Same for a rash that comes and goes, a cough at specific times of day, or unusual behaviour around food. Keep a habit of filming anything that concerns you before it stops happening.

8. A note on vet bills

If your building society or employer offers any health reimbursement benefit, keep original bills from every visit. Some Mumbai vets can issue itemised receipts — always ask for one even if you don't need it immediately.

9. A non-slip mat or towel for the examination table

This is a Mumbai-specific tip. Most vet clinics in the western suburbs are busy practices with examination tables that are smooth metal or plastic — slippery for anxious dogs. A small rubber mat or a folded cotton towel from home helps your dog feel more stable on the table and reduces stress during the examination. Less stress means a more accurate physical assessment.

10. Emergency contact numbers for after-hours

Most vet clinics in Juhu and Andheri West are single-practitioner setups that close by 8 or 9 pm. Ask your vet who to call after hours for an emergency. There are two 24-hour animal emergency facilities in Mumbai — ask your regular vet to write down the contact and keep it on your phone and on paper at home. You will not think clearly enough to Google it at midnight if your dog is in distress.

A note on timing

The best time to visit most private vets in Juhu and Andheri West is Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to noon. Weekends and Monday mornings are their busiest periods. If it's a non-urgent visit, booking a midweek morning slot usually means more time with the vet and shorter waits.

Want your walk history ready to show any vet? See how PupStep's reports work or WhatsApp us at +91 98926 20677.