The UK Dog Owner's Annual Health Checklist

A healthy dog year involves more than it looks like. Annual vaccinations, quarterly flea and worm treatments, monthly weight checks, biannual teeth checks, and one or two vet visits - none of it is complicated, but it's easy to lose track of when things were last done or when they're next due.

This is the full list, organised by how often each task needs to happen.

Every year

Annual booster vaccination The core vaccines against distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, and leptospirosis are given annually or every three years depending on which component and your vet's protocol. Leptospirosis is typically annual; the others may be every three years once the primary course is completed. Your vet will track which are due. According to the PDSA PAW Mini Report 2025, 80% of UK dogs receive regular booster vaccinations - meaning around 1 in 5 dogs is currently unprotected for part of their adult life.

Kennel cough vaccination (intranasal, typically) is usually annual and is required by most boarding kennels. If you use kennels, groomers, or training classes, keep this current.

Annual vet check-up Even if your dog seems healthy, an annual examination allows your vet to assess things you can't at home - heart sounds, lymph nodes, eyes, teeth, and an overall physical picture. Many conditions are detectable earlier with regular examination than waiting for symptoms.

Dental check If your vet doesn't explicitly include a dental assessment in the annual check-up, ask for one. Periodontal disease affects most adult dogs and benefits from being caught before it requires surgical extraction.

Microchip database check Confirm your details are current on the microchip database. If you've moved house or changed phone number since registration, update it - the chip is only useful if it leads back to you. Check via PetLog, Petango, or whichever database your dog is registered on.

Every three months (quarterly)

Worming treatment Adult dogs should be wormed at least every three months. If your dog hunts, eats raw food, scavenges, or lives in an area with high lungworm risk, your vet may recommend more frequent treatment or a product that covers lungworm specifically (not all wormers do). According to the PDSA PAW Mini Report 2025, 84% of UK dog owners treat their dogs for worms - with 96% of those doing so preventively rather than in response to an active infestation.

Note the product name and date each time - different wormers have different active ingredients and cover different parasites.

Flea, tick, and mite treatment Treatment intervals vary by product - monthly for many topical spot-ons, up to three months for some oral chews. Follow the product instructions and note each treatment date. If you're in a tick-endemic area (woodland, moorland, areas with deer), make sure your product covers ticks as well as fleas.

Every month

Weight check Step on the scales holding your dog, then without. Record the number. Monthly weight tracking gives you the trend data that makes gradual changes visible. Takes two minutes.

Nail check Check nail length. If they click on hard floors, they're overdue for a trim. Some dogs wear their nails down naturally on hard surfaces; others, particularly less active dogs or those on soft ground, need trimming every three to six weeks.

Ear check Look inside both ears. A small amount of light-coloured wax is normal. Dark discharge, a bad smell, or your dog scratching at their ears indicates infection. Breeds with floppy ears or those who swim regularly need more frequent checks.

Skin-and-coat check Run your hands over your dog's whole body when you groom them. Feel for any new lumps, bumps, or skin changes. Note anything new with a date. Any lump that's still present after a month is worth showing a vet.

Seasonally

Flea and tick prevention audit In spring (when fleas and ticks become active in the UK), confirm your prevention routine is in place. If you've been using a product through winter, check it's still within its protection window.

Paw care in winter Road salt and ice-melt products can irritate paw pads. Check pads regularly in winter months and rinse paws after walks on gritted roads.

Coat care in shedding season Double-coated dogs (Labradors, German Shepherds, Huskies) shed heavily in spring and autumn. Increase brushing frequency during these periods to reduce coat impaction and manage household hair.

For senior dogs (7+ in large breeds, 9+ in smaller breeds)

Add a second annual vet visit. Most vets recommend twice-yearly examinations for older dogs. Add a senior blood panel (kidney function, liver function, blood glucose, thyroid) - once a year as a baseline, more frequently if a condition is detected.

Keeping track

The PDSA PAW Mini Report 2025 also found that 64% of UK dogs are insured - up from 61% in 2023 - though 45% of uninsured dog owners cited cost as the reason for not having cover. The challenge isn't knowing what needs to happen - it's remembering when things were last done and when they're next due. Pup Notes handles this with reminders for each treatment type, so you're not relying on memory for when the last flea treatment was or when the next booster is due.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my dog really need a vet check if they seem completely healthy? Yes. Annual examinations detect conditions that don't show obvious symptoms: early heart murmurs, dental disease, elevated lymph nodes, early kidney changes in blood tests. The conditions most treatable early are often the ones hardest to notice without examination.

Is it okay to use supermarket flea and worm treatments instead of prescription products? Over-the-counter products vary significantly in efficacy. Some licensed OTC products are effective; many heavily marketed products (particularly herbal or "natural" ones) have little evidence behind them. Ask your vet what they'd recommend for your area and your dog's lifestyle. Prescription-only products tend to have better efficacy data.

What if I can't afford annual vet visits? Many practices offer health plan schemes - a monthly subscription covering annual vaccinations, check-ups, flea and worm treatments. These spread the cost and typically work out cheaper than paying individually. It's worth asking your vet what they offer.

My dog had their boosters last month. Do they still need an annual check-up? The booster visit typically includes a health check, but ask your vet whether everything was covered. Some practices do a full examination at boosters; others are briefer. If there are things on this checklist that weren't covered, it's reasonable to ask about them.