How to track your pet's kidney disease for your vet
Last reviewed 11 June 2026 · a 4-minute read for owners
A short note on drinking, eating, and energy is enough: how much water they're taking, their appetite, whether there was any vomiting, and how bright they seem. Kidney disease changes slowly, so a dated log is what makes a gradual drift in thirst, appetite, or energy visible — both to you and to your vet between blood tests.
What to note each day
- Water intakeLess than usual, about the same, or more than usual.
- AppetiteNormal, reduced, or off food.
- VomitingNone, once, or more than once.
- Energy levelBright, a bit quiet, or very lethargic.
Why your vet wants this, not your memory
Kidney disease is followed on slow trends in thirst, appetite, and energy alongside lab results. The day-to-day picture lives at home, not in the consult room, and it's easy to under- or over-estimate from memory. A dated log lets your vet line up what you're seeing with the numbers and judge how things are tracking.
Common questions
Do I need to measure exactly how much my pet drinks?
No. A sense of whether it's less, about the same, or more than usual is enough to show a trend across the weeks.
What changes matter most to note?
Drinking, appetite, vomiting, and energy are the common ones owners track. Record what you see and let your vet interpret it against the test results.
Does a log replace blood tests?
No. It works alongside the testing your vet schedules and makes those appointments more useful by showing the day-to-day picture.
What's the easiest way to keep a kidney log?
Whatever you'll keep up with. A digital log captures the date for you and lets you share the whole record with your vet without rewriting it. Taile is a free way to do this.
Keep the record without the rewriting
Note each day in seconds and bring the full picture to your next appointment. Free for owners.
Start a free log