Lifetime health & preventative care
Routine veterinary checks & medication reviews
Make a practical plan for early recognition and ongoing treatment.
Agree review frequency
A routine check offers a chance to examine your dog and discuss changes before they become more obvious. Frequency depends on life stage, health, medicine use and individual risk. A young healthy adult and an older dog with chronic illness may need different plans. Ask when to return and what should trigger an earlier call.
A useful consultation
Bring notes on appetite, drinking, toileting, activity, sleep and behaviour, plus weight trends. Discuss teeth, skin, ears, gait, body condition and parasite or vaccination needs. Tests should be selected for a clinical reason or an agreed screening purpose, with an explanation of benefits, limits and costs. An at-home check cannot replace examination.
Review every medicine
Take a full list of prescription medicines, parasite products, supplements and items bought online. Ask what each is for, how to give and store it, and whether monitoring is needed. Do not change the dose, stop ongoing treatment, give a missed dose twice or combine products without the prescribing practice’s advice. Report suspected side effects promptly and keep packaging.
Keep records and access current
Keep practice and out-of-hours contact details, vaccination and parasite records, and a care note for another carer. Check microchip registration, contact details and jurisdiction-specific identification after a move or telephone change; a microchip does not track your dog’s location. Review veterinary health-club benefits: vaccines, treatments, checks, nail clipping or discounts vary and these subscriptions generally do not replace insurance. See senior monitoring when needs change.
Continue your care plan
Parasites & Preventative Healthcare · Keeping my dog healthy · New symptoms: find the right next step
Evidence and review
General information, not diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Sources include veterinary professional guidance, veterinary charities and relevant regional parasite organisations. Clinical recommendations need individual veterinary interpretation.
About this guidanceReview details and sources
Evidence and review
Reviewed 2 October 2026 · Review sooner if advice, distribution or requirements change.