Best Vet Care Schedule for Dogs

Owning a dog is a big responsibility and you want to be sure you get everything right when it comes to caring for your dog’s health. That’s why it’s critical that you know the best vet care schedule for your dog, including a vaccination schedule, a routine visit schedule, and any additional checkups or tests your dog may need.

It’s important to understand that every dog is different! While some things, such as a puppy vaccination schedule, are likely to be the same for most—if not all—dogs, other types of visits and treatments will depend on your dog’s age, lifestyle habits, and specific needs. Be sure you speak with your vet if there’s anything that you’re unsure about.

The Best Vaccine and Checkup Schedule for Puppies

When you get a new puppy, you’ll find that there are many vaccines that you should get for them as soon as possible. In general, you’ll want to follow the recommendations of your vet when it comes to setting a vaccine schedule.

Puppy vaccines are divided into two types: Core vaccines and Noncore vaccines. Core vaccines are necessary for every puppy, while Noncore vaccines are generally given based on lifestyle factors such as your dog’s geographic location, overall health, frequency of visits to dog parks, grooming facilities, boarding facilities, etc., and whether your dog may hike near bodies of wild water or other areas that could carry disease.

Core Vaccine Schedule

The vaccines that all puppies need include:

Core Vaccine	Age of Puppy
DAP	6 -8 weeks
DAP	10 – 12 weeks
DAP	14 – 16 weeks (most vets prefer 16+ weeks)
Rabies	14 – 16 weeks (unless law requires it earlier)

DAP stands for Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, and Parvovirus. Sometimes, you or your vet may select to include the Parainfluenza vaccine, in which case the vaccine may be called DHP or DHPP. This vaccine protects against:

Distemper, a neurological disease that can also cause pneumonia, fever, encephalitis, and death.
Adenovirus/Hepatitis, a respiratory illness that can also cause liver or kidney failure, fever, and ocular disease.
Parvovirus, which is especially dangerous for puppies and causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and sometimes death.
Parainfluenza (optionally), which causes cough and potentially a fever and flu which could lead to further complications.

Rabies is a common illness spread through bites that causes a neurological disease and can be spread to humans. Most governments require some kind of rabies vaccination for all dogs.

Noncore Vaccine Schedule

Now, in addition to the vaccines your puppy must get, you do have some other options based on your dog’s lifestyle. Consider how often they see other dogs and hang out in the wild. Also, take into account their genetic predisposition to certain diseases. Your vet can help you choose the right vaccines for your pup. Some options include:

Noncore Vaccine	Age of Puppy
Bordetella	6 – 8 weeks
Parainfluenza (often included with DAP)	6 – 8 weeks
Leptospirosis	10 – 12 weeks
Lyme	10 – 12 weeks
Canine influenza	10 – 12 weeks
Leptospirosis	14 – 16 weeks
Lyme	14 – 16 weeks
Canine influenza	14 – 16 weeks

These optional vaccines prevent less common diseases such as:

Canine influenza, which can cause a low fever, cough, and runny nose and is typically caught by dogs who spend a lot of time in doggie daycare or similar places.
Leptospirosis, which is a bacterial disease that can lead to kidney or liver failure and is transmissible to humans as well; generally, this vaccine is required in areas where leptospirosis is known to occur.
Lyme, a disease borne by ticks that can cause lethargy, fever, decreased appetite, shifting leg lameness, and sometimes kidney failure; this vaccine is recommended in areas where Lyme disease is known to occur regularly.

Non-Vaccine Care for Puppies

There are a few other areas in your puppy’s health that you should take note of.

Puppies are prone to get parasites, so it’s helpful to check a stool sample for worms at each veterinary visit. Most vets will prescribe a deworming treatment of one form or another that you should administer a few times to keep your puppy safe.
Heartworms are a common disease in dogs of all ages and can be deadly if not discovered on time. Your vet will likely recommend a heartworm treatment that you should offer your dog consistently for the duration of their life and will probably establish a yearly checkup schedule to test for heartworm.
Fleas and mites can cause ear infections or intestinal parasites in all dogs, so it’s important that you perform some preventative measures to protect your dog against these pests. You can purchase medications and treatments to be administered once a month as a preventative measure.
Spaying is the process of removing your female dog’s uterus and ovaries to prevent them entering “heat” (i.e. estrus cycle, an event that occurs roughly every six months) and attracting male dogs who could get them pregnant. This should ideally be performed before their first cycle and helps prevent pregnancy, breast cancer, and uterine disease.
Neutering is the process of castrating your male dog to help prevent territorialism, prostatic disease, and tumors caused by testosterone. This process should be performed shortly after your dog reaches six months.

The Best Vaccine and Checkup Schedule for Adult Dogs

Adult dogs generally need fewer vaccines; however, their risk of developing diseases increases with age, so more vet visits may be appropriate.

Vaccine Schedule for Adult Dogs

Adult dogs should get updated vaccines at regular intervals. The recommended schedule is:

Frequency	Core Vaccine	Noncore Vaccine
Annually	Rabies initial dose	Bordetella (sometimes given biannually), Canine Influenza,Leptospirosis, Lyme
Every 3 Years	DAP, Rabies after the initial dose	None

Non-Vaccine Care for Adult Dogs

In addition to taking care of vaccines for your adult dogs, your vet will likely recommend other areas of routine care to protect your dog from illness and keep them as healthy as possible. Some other types of routine care you should consider include:

As with puppies, your adult dog should receive regular doses of heartworm-preventative medication.
Your adult dog should also receive routine monthly flea/tick/mite preventative care.
Groom your dog regularly to help prevent matting fur, to remove shed fur, and to keep skin and fur healthy and parasite free. Brush them at least weekly, bathe them monthly, and trim them as needed.
Give your dog good dental care by offering dry food, toys made to strengthen or “floss” teeth, regular brushing, and routine visits to your vet for professional dental care and cleaning.

How Often Do I Take My Adult Dog To the Vet?

Every dog is different, but it’s best if you take your dog to the vet often to help prevent serious illnesses. Two of the most prevalent issues dogs face that can lead to more serious issues include obesity and dental disease, both of which can be prevented and treated with regular vet visits.

In general, you should take your dog to the vet once a year until they’re around seven years old, depending on the type. Once they reach seven (this may be a year or two earlier for giant dogs who age faster), you should take them in twice a year to ensure you don’t miss signs of an illness.

Of course, you always want to keep an eye on your dog. You know them best, so you know when they are acting strange or exhibiting signs of an illness. Never be afraid to visit the vet if you suspect that your dog is struggling with an illness or some other form of discomfort.

Keeping Your Dog Safe

In addition to giving your dog the regular care they need, it’s important that you provide them with a safe, healthy, and happy environment in which to live. Keep your dog’s area clean, give them good food and lots of exercise, and always show them affection and attention.

If you need help keeping your dog’s yard clean, don’t hesitate to give us a call! Our team at Idaho Poop Scoop would love to help you pick up your dog’s poop to prevent parasites and give them the healthiest, cleanest, happiest yard possible!