How often should my dog visit the vet?

What’s our number one tip for helping your dog to live their happiest, healthiest, and longest life?

In addition to providing a balanced diet, regular exercise, mental stimulation, and ALL the cuddles (which most dog owners in Australia have got covered), you can ensure your doggo always feels their best by keeping up with regular veterinary visits. And no, we’re not just talking about taking your pet to the vet if they’re sick. To really max out your dog’s health potential, regular health checks can be beneficial – even if your dog seems fine!

Here’s your guide to the best proactive health care for your canine companion.

Why regular vet visits matter

If you only take your dog to the vet when they’re sick, you’re missing valuable opportunities to “prevent the preventable problems” and spot any other developing health issues as early as possible.

While keeping up with a regular vaccination and parasite prevention schedule for your pet may seem expensive, it’s important to remember that these amazing treatments that we often take for granted are effectively protecting pets from diseases that are far more costly to treat, can cause significant pain and suffering, and can even be deadly.

It’s also very common for vets to pick up on subtle developing health problems in pets during routine health checks, providing the opportunity to treat as early as possible. This can prevent your pet from suffering, and in many cases, may reduce overall treatment costs and improve their prognosis because the problem was treated before it got too severe.

Puppy visits and vaccination schedule

For the average pup, we recommend the following health care schedule:

6-8 weeks old: first health check and vaccination

• If your pup is with a responsible breeder, the breeder will arrange this first vet visit
• This is the first opportunity for any congenital health issues (problems your pup may have been born with, such as luxating patellas or a hernia) to be spotted
• Puppies are also usually microchipped at this visit

10-12 weeks old: second health check and vaccination

• This will usually be the first time that you present your new pup to the vet, who will be able to give you personalised advice on parasite control routines, healthy diet options, recommended timing for desexing, tips for socialisation etc
• Your pup will receive another health check for any congenital or developing health problems

Around 16 weeks old: third health check and vaccination

• This vaccination is important for helping to ensure good immunity develops in those pups who still had high levels of maternal antibodies interfering with their response to the first and second vaccinations

Dogs will be recommended to receive their next vaccination at around 6-12 months old and then booster vaccinations (or in some cases, titre testing) every 1-3 years thereafter, depending on their lifestyle.

Routine health and dental check-ups: how often should my dog see the vet?

Regardless of your dog’s vaccination schedule, it’s highly recommended that they should still receive a full veterinary health check:

• Every 12 months for the average adult doggo (1-7 years of age)
• Every 6 months for the average golden oldie (8+ years of age)
• Every 3-6 months for dogs with known health issues (e.g. heart disease)

Remember that even if your dog seems to be carrying on as normal, there can still be subtle health issues simmering away beneath the surface. It’s very common for vets to detect issues during health checks that the pet owner just wasn’t aware of, such as:

• Dental disease
• Heart murmurs
• Organ issues such as chronic kidney disease
• Ear infections
• Arthritis
• Cancerous lumps and bumps

Early detection and treatment of these issues spares your dog unnecessary discomfort and can improve their prognosis for effective treatment or management before the problem gets too severe.

Spotting and managing injuries or illness

If something “just doesn’t seem right” with your dog, it’s safest to have them checked over promptly. Unfortunately, our pets can’t always tell us if something hurts!

Keep an eye on your dog’s day-to-day activities (such as their eating, drinking, toileting and overall energy levels), and monitor for any obvious symptoms of injury or illness, such as limping, vomiting, diarrhoea or lethargy. If your dog seems off for more than 24-48 hours, it’s recommended to have them assessed.

An urgent veterinary visit is recommended if:

• Your pet is very lethargic, poorly responsive, weak, wobbly, or unable to walk
• Your pet is showing breathing difficulties
• Your pet seems to be in obvious pain
• Your pet is having profuse or bloody vomiting or diarrhoea
• Your pet is unable to pass urine or stools properly
• Your pet has suffered significant trauma, such as falling from a height
• Your pet may have been exposed to a toxin

Grooming and skin checks between visits

Just like us, dogs can develop skin problems such as allergic irritations, injuries or lumps. Unlike us, however, your dog’s thick coat of fur can make these issues trickier to spot!

Regularly grooming your pet is a great way to bond with them and maintain their skin health and comfort, and can also be an effective means of monitoring for any developing dermatological issues. If you spot a new lump on your pet, it’s best to have it assessed by your vet promptly to see if any treatment is required.

Preparing for your dog’s vet appointment

To get the most out of your dog’s veterinary visit, your vet needs to be able to learn about your dog’s recent activities AND examine them thoroughly.

You can help by:

• Ensuring whoever accompanies your dog knows about their activities and history, as well as any health issues, medications or diets they may have
• Letting your vet know if your dog can be nervous or otherwise uncooperative for examination, so your vet can plan accordingly to prevent undue stress for everyone!
• Bringing along any relevant ‘aids’, such as videos of concerning behaviours, or a urine or stool sample if your dog is showing changes in their toileting habits

By keeping up with proactive health care, you’re giving your dog the best chance at a long and happy life.

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28 May 2026