Dog Preventive Health: The Complete Calendar

Updated March 2026 — By Claire Morin, certified canine educator

Why prevention is the best medicine

Preventive veterinary care is the most cost-effective investment you can make in your dog's life. A routine annual check-up costs a fraction of emergency treatment for a condition that could have been caught early. The principle is simple: regular monitoring catches problems when they are small, treatable, and affordable. By the time a dog shows obvious symptoms of illness, the condition is often advanced.

Dogs are stoic animals. Evolution programmed them to hide weakness — in the wild, a visibly ill animal is a target. This means your dog will not tell you when something is wrong until they physically cannot hide it any longer. Your veterinarian, armed with a stethoscope, blood work, and trained hands, can detect what your dog's behaviour conceals.

Vaccination schedule

Vaccines are divided into core vaccines (essential for every dog regardless of lifestyle) and non-core vaccines (recommended based on risk factors like geography and activities).

Core vaccines

• Distemper (CDV): Highly contagious, often fatal virus affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Puppies receive a series starting at 6-8 weeks, with boosters every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks. Adult boosters every 3 years.
• Parvovirus (CPV): Devastating gastrointestinal virus with high mortality in unvaccinated puppies. Same schedule as distemper. Extremely resilient virus that survives in the environment for months.
• Canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2): Protects against infectious hepatitis and contributes to respiratory disease protection. Included in combination vaccines.
• Rabies: Fatal zoonotic disease. Required by law in most countries. First dose at 12-16 weeks, booster at one year, then every 1-3 years depending on local regulations.

Non-core vaccines

• Leptospirosis: Recommended in areas with wildlife or standing water. Bacterial infection transmissible to humans. Annual booster required.
• Bordetella (kennel cough): Recommended for dogs that socialise in groups, attend daycare, or are boarded. Usually given annually or before exposure.
• Lyme disease: Recommended in tick-endemic areas. Annual vaccine for dogs at risk.
• Canine influenza: Consider for dogs frequently in group settings. Two initial doses, then annual boosters.

Parasite prevention

External parasites

Fleas, ticks, and mites are not just nuisances — they transmit serious diseases. Fleas cause allergic dermatitis and can transmit tapeworm. Ticks carry Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Mites cause sarcoptic mange (intensely itchy) and demodectic mange.

Monthly or quarterly preventive treatments (spot-on, oral chews, or long-acting collars) are far more effective than treating an infestation after the fact. In mild climates, year-round prevention is recommended. In colder regions, maintain coverage from March through November at minimum. Check your dog for ticks after every walk in wooded or grassy areas.

Internal parasites

Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms are the most common intestinal parasites. Heartworm, transmitted by mosquitoes, is a life-threatening parasite that lives in the heart and pulmonary arteries. Prevention is simple and safe; treatment is expensive, risky, and painful.

Deworm puppies every two weeks from 2 weeks to 12 weeks of age, then monthly until 6 months. Adult dogs should have a faecal examination at least annually and be dewormed as needed. Heartworm preventive should be given monthly, year-round in endemic areas.

Dental care

Dental disease is the most common medical condition in adult dogs. By age three, over 80% of dogs show signs of periodontal disease. Left untreated, bacteria from infected gums enter the bloodstream and damage the heart, liver, and kidneys. Prevention starts at home:

• Brush your dog's teeth daily with a veterinary-approved toothpaste (never use human toothpaste — fluoride is toxic to dogs).
• Provide dental chews approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).
• Schedule professional dental cleaning under anaesthesia every 1-2 years, or as recommended by your vet.
• Watch for warning signs: bad breath, red or bleeding gums, difficulty eating, drooling, and pawing at the mouth.

Weight monitoring

Obesity affects over 50% of dogs in developed countries and is arguably the biggest preventable health crisis in companion animals. Excess weight increases the risk of diabetes, arthritis, respiratory problems, heart disease, and certain cancers. Overweight dogs live an average of 2.5 years less than dogs at healthy weight.

Use the body condition score (BCS) system at every weigh-in. A healthy dog at BCS 4-5 out of 9 has ribs easily felt under a thin fat cover, a visible waist from above, and an abdominal tuck from the side. Weigh your dog monthly on the same scale. Record the results and share the trend with your vet.

The annual health check-up

The annual visit is your dog's most important health appointment. A thorough examination typically includes:

1. Complete physical examination: eyes, ears, mouth, skin, coat, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, abdomen, joints, and musculoskeletal system.
2. Weight and body condition assessment.
3. Dental evaluation.
4. Blood work: complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry panel to assess organ function.
5. Urinalysis to check kidney function and detect urinary tract infections.
6. Faecal examination for intestinal parasites.
7. Vaccination updates as needed.
8. Discussion of diet, behaviour, and lifestyle changes.

Spaying and neutering

Spaying (females) and neutering (males) are among the most discussed preventive procedures. Benefits include eliminating the risk of pyometra (a life-threatening uterine infection) in females, reducing mammary cancer risk if done before the second heat cycle, eliminating testicular cancer in males, and reducing roaming and certain behavioural issues.

However, recent research has introduced nuance. Large breeds may benefit from delayed neutering (after skeletal maturity at 12-18 months) to allow full musculoskeletal development. Discuss the optimal timing with your vet based on your dog's breed, size, and living situation.

Breed-specific screenings

Many breeds have genetic predispositions to specific conditions. Responsible preventive care includes:

• Large breeds (German Shepherd, Labrador, Golden Retriever): Hip and elbow dysplasia screening via X-ray.
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Annual cardiac screening for mitral valve disease.
• Boxer, Doberman: Regular cardiac screening for cardiomyopathy.
• Dachshund: Spine monitoring for intervertebral disc disease.
• Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldog, Pug, French Bulldog): Respiratory assessment, eye checks, and skin fold monitoring.

Senior dog screenings

Dogs over 7 years (or 5 for giant breeds) should transition to twice-yearly veterinary visits. In addition to the standard annual check-up, senior screenings should include thyroid function testing, blood pressure measurement, more comprehensive blood work including liver and kidney function panels, and a joint mobility assessment. Early detection of age-related conditions like hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, chronic kidney disease, and cognitive dysfunction allows for management strategies that can add quality years to your dog's life.