Reason To Keep Itemized Vet Receipts?

[vjgrey]

I recently bought a great new printer/scanner and have been digitizing a lot of our home files to reduce paper clutter.

 

I have a big file of itemized vet receipts that I've held onto for all four of my hounds, but I can't decide whether they need to be scanned or just discarded.

 

Thinking about it, I don't remember ever referring back to them, except maybe to check the vaccination due date reminders at the bottom.

 

Do you keep these? Is there a "just in case," reason I should keep and scan them?

[turbotaina]

I found them useful in that I was able to figure out what anesthetic Heyokha was given that gave him problems. I tend to keep them so I'll have an itemized list of things done and in what quantities.

Also good for price comparisons

[Wonder]

I've kept every scrap of paper on each of my dogs since 2001. Which is insane

 

I've only gone back to blood work results (which my vet doesn't give unless asked for) and a couple invoices to see how much I paid for certain drugs.

[deboosh]

I keep all vet records, too, mostly because I picture being asked something that only my records can confirm. You can take them with you should an emergency arise and the attending wants a history. Just don't tally them in the course of a year like I just did, if you don't want to feel sick.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited: b/c perfectionist

Edited March 19, 2013 by deboosh

[KF_in_Georgia]

As long as you have the digitized copies, you should be fine. Usually, you can get your vet to print out records if you should ever need paper copies, but I know of a local vet's office that closed and more-or-less vanished, leaving owners with no way to get records of vaccinations.

 

The one use for paper copies is if you need an emergency trip to the e-vet. You might want to have an easy-to-grab folder of papers rather than files you need to take time to print out.

Edited March 19, 2013 by KF_in_Georgia

[vjgrey]

As long as you have the digitized copies, you should be fine. Usually, you can get your vet to print out records if you should ever need paper copies, but I know of a local vet's office that closed and more-or-less vanished, leaving owners with no way to get records of vaccinations.

 

The one use for paper copies is if you need an emergency trip to the e-vet. You might want to have an easy-to-grab folder of papers rather than files you need to take time to print out.

 

I'll definitely hold onto my copies all of their x-rays, any reports, special instructions from Lucy's cardiologist, rabies certificates, licensing papers, etc... But is there any reason an e-vet would need to see my receipts? These are just the lists of services and prices (e.g. Physical annual exam - $XX.XX"). I can't think of how that would come up, unless they needed to see what meds they were prescribed, or..? I just can't imagine why I'd need them, but I'm so paranoid that I WILL need them that I've kept them for years.

[KF_in_Georgia]

The receipt from my vet for an office visit generally says what we were there for and documents any of the vet's recommendations--"Give antibiotics for four weeks, call if there's no improvement"--which would document when we started/stopped a round of meds.

[vjgrey]

The receipt from my vet for an office visit generally says what we were there for and documents any of the vet's recommendations--"Give antibiotics for four weeks, call if there's no improvement"--which would document when we started/stopped a round of meds.

 

Ah - yeah, our vet doesn't typically put detailed notes on the receipt. Sometimes things like that are offered on a separate page, but usually not.

[macoduck]

I have a notebook for each of my dogs and still hold on to the deceased ones too.

On receipts I make notes of what the visit was for if it isn't spelled out. I helps me remember what worked, what caused a reaction. I have found a need to refer to the notebooks when another grey had a similar problem. I also include medical articles that I've printed out.

[Remolacha]

My previous vet used to give detailed receipts that I kept, and sometimes referred back to for dates when we did a certain procedure, or gave a medication (many of my pets have had chronic health issues). She later changed and the receipts were just $ totals, I quit keeping those (yeah, never add them up! ) My new vet's receipts are somewhere in between. I keep them all for the current year, then with a new year, I toss the routine ones. It may be a bit OCD, but I like having them. I would think scanned and kept online would work just as well.

 

edited to add, I haven't kept records for deceased pets, and now I am sorry, because things have come up where some information on treatment from one of the old ones might have helped a current situation.

Edited March 19, 2013 by Remolacha

[Hubcitypam]

I only keep the ones with rabies shot info on them. They don't issue certificates of rabies here vaccination like in some states, it's on their paperwork. A lot of events around here require you to bring written proof of valid rabies (splash days, festivals, play days at the cotton bowl).

[Guest kkaiser104]

I keep all of Teddi's receipts/info in a binder that I grab in an emergency situation (luckily it's only happened once!) It's so convenient to just grab one book every time I go to the vet/evet. On the back of the binder I have a vacc. record which has the type of vaccine, date, and when it's due again. Also have info about heartguard meds/flea and tick stuff, etc..

 

Works well for me!

[Guest MnMDogs]

I keep them to remind me just how expensive these beasts are... very, in case you're wondering