The following software review is copyright of Dogs Monthly and it is an extract from the April 2010 issue

Description: How’s my pet is a computer program for storing your pet’s essential details. It has special categories for details on vaccinations and treatments, medical contacts, weight tracking, follow-up visits to the vet and reminders to make sure nothing is overlooked.   

Price: You can try this software before you buy with a free 30-day trial, after which you pay a one-off fee of £9.95. 

Where to buy: Download from www.howsmypet.com 

Tester: Sub-editor/writer Jenny Chafer. 

Verdict: Says Jenny: “If, like me, you’re always putting important documents in a ‘safe place’ before promptly forgetting this so-called foolproof location, the How’s My Pet program could be the ideal solution for you. I recently rehomed a new dog, a Jack Russell Terrier cross called Lucky, and this software seemed like the perfect way to keep all of his details in one place. And if you have more than one pet you can set up records for each one. 

“The program was easy to download and the instructions were simple to follow. On opening the program, you click ‘update pets’ and enter basic details such as your pet’s name and date of birth. You can then get started with the important stuff, such as vet and insurance details and looming appointments.  

“The medical/care section is a really useful tool. Here, you can enter the contact details for your local veterinary surgery, along with details of past and future appointments – and you can keep a record of your pet’s weight. Lucky was a little overweight when we rehomed him, so I have been weighing him regularly and keeping a record of his progress. Based on this data, you can create a weight graph. The medical section also allows you to record details of your pet’s medical history and any treatment he is on, and acts as a reminder for annual vaccination boosters. 

“Other sections include: insurance, where you record the company’s details, claims made, cost and renewal date; and contacts, for details of your pet’s groomer, pet-sitter and so on.  

“As you add various appointments and reminders to the program, you have the option of transferring it to the pet planner. This feature is great for me – each time I open up the program, I always check the calendar for any upcoming appointments.  

“How’s My Pet is also fun to use. There is a section for memorable moments and a photo album, which is a nice touch. If you want to track the ancestry of your pet there is also a section for this. It’s not really suitable for me as Lucky is a crossbreed and his parentage is unknown, but it is a great idea for people with a pedigree dog. 

“The one thing I really like is the budget planner, which allows you to manage your finances and improve your budgeting skills. This calculates exactly how much your pet is costing, and I was quite surprised how quickly it all adds up! 

“Another great advantage of using this is the back-up application, so you can save the program and all your details to another location, such as a disc or USB drive, which ensures you do not lose the data if something goes wrong with your computer.  

“I wouldn’t class myself as particularly au fait with computer programs, but I found this easy to use. I find it particularly useful to have all the contact details I need in one place. I would definitely recommend How’s My Pet to others who like to stay organised, and don’t forget – you can try before you buy!” 

 Reprinted here with the permission of Dogs Monthly magazine