Vaccines, teeth, parasites, grooming, exercise, and senior checks. Intervals follow common US, UK, and Australian practice and still need a local veterinarian to set the dates.
Core vaccines protect every dog. Non-core vaccines depend on lifestyle and on whether you live in the US, UK, or Australia. A clinic sets the dates; this is the map owners use to ask better questions.
6–8 weeks
Start the core distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus series. In the US this is often a DA2PP or DHPP combination. In Australia it is the C3 core.
Every 3–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks
Booster the core series. Maternal antibodies can block an early dose, so the final puppy dose should land at or after 16 weeks.
12–16 weeks, then as local law requires
Rabies where it is legally required. The US and many travel rules require it. Mainland Australia does not routinely vaccinate pet dogs against rabies.
1 year after the puppy series
Booster core vaccines. After that, many antigens move to a 3-year interval under AAHA and WSAVA guidance when the product label allows it.
Lifestyle, US
Non-core options include leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme, and canine influenza when exposure is real.
Lifestyle, UK
Leptospirosis is commonly included with the core DHP series. Kennel cough is used for boarding and group walks. Rabies is for travel under the pet travel rules, not for every household dog.
Lifestyle, Australia
C4 or C5 adds parainfluenza and Bordetella. Leptospirosis is used in risk areas. Heartworm prevention is a separate plan from vaccines.
Periodontal disease is painful and common. Brushing is the home step that changes the outcome. A dental diet does not replace a professional examination.
Daily
Brush with a veterinary toothpaste. Human toothpaste is not safe to swallow.
Weekly
Lift the lips and look for red gums, broken teeth, or a smell that returns the day after brushing.
Every wellness visit
Ask for an oral exam. Bad breath plus drooling or dropping food should not wait for the next annual visit.
When the mouth is painful
A full dental assessment is done under anesthesia with dental radiographs. Scaling on an awake dog does not clean under the gumline.
Heartworm, fleas, and ticks are prevented with products chosen for the dog's weight and for the country you live in. A missed month is a clinical problem, not a coupon issue.
Year-round in the US
Use a veterinarian-selected heartworm preventive. Many regions also need flea and tick cover every month. Test before starting preventives if doses were missed.
UK
Lungworm and fleas drive most plans. Tick cover matters in areas with endemic disease. Heartworm is a travel concern more than a backyard one.
Australia
Heartworm risk is higher in the north and east. Paralysis ticks on the east coast need a product that actually kills Ixodes holocyclus, which is not every flea tablet.
After a swim or a walk in grass
Check the coat, ears, and between the toes. Remove an attached tick with a tick tool and watch for weakness or wobbliness, especially in Australia.
Coat type sets the calendar. Mats are a skin problem, not only a cosmetic one.
Several times a week
Brush double coats and long coats. Standard Poodles and other curly coats need brushing between clips so mats do not reach the skin.
Every 4–8 weeks
Book a full groom for curly or dropped coats. Short smooth coats may only need bathing when dirty.
Every 2–4 weeks
Trim nails. A nail that clicks on the floor is usually too long.
After every muddy walk
Dry the ears of floppy-eared dogs and check skin folds on short-nosed breeds.
Adult sporting and herding dogs need about an hour or more a day. Short-nosed and long-backed breeds need shorter, cooler sessions. Puppies should not jog for miles.
Puppies
Use short play sessions and avoid repetitive jumping and long runs until growth plates close.
Adult high-energy breeds
Plan roughly 60–90 minutes of walks, training, or swimming, split so the dog can cool down.
Adult toy and brachycephalic dogs
Keep walks short and out of the heat. Noisy breathing after mild play is a reason to stop and call a clinic.
Hot weather
Walk in the cool part of the day. Asphalt and a closed car are emergency risks, not training tools.
Large dogs are often senior from about 6–7 years, and smaller dogs closer to 9–10. The last quarter of the expected lifespan is a useful household rule.
Every 6 months
Book a wellness exam with a pain check, weight, and a dental look.
Annually, then more often if values change
Discuss blood and urine screening so kidney, liver, and thyroid shifts are caught before the dog stops eating.
At home each month
Note stairs, stiffness after rest, drinking, and new lumps. A lump that grows needs a visit.
Pain or confusion
Do not start a human painkiller. Ask about a mobility plan and whether the diet should change.
