The pet care calendar
For dogs and cats: what to do every month, season by season, and once a year. Your vet sets the exact plan.
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Time: all year
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Every month
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Write each date on your calendar: products often run on different schedules.
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The FDA warns that some dog products can be dangerous, even life-threatening, if used on cats.
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WSAVA, the world veterinary association, recommends daily toothbrushing to protect against plaque.
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The CDC advises checking pets that go outdoors for ticks every day.
Spring
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The AVMA says the risk of heartworm disease drops to almost zero with continuous, year-round protection.
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The FDA says every part of a lily, even the pollen and the vase water, is dangerous for cats.
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They’re on the FDA’s list of items that can be dangerous for pets.
Summer
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Avoid hot asphalt, which can burn paw pads.
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The inside can heat up by about 20°F in 10 minutes.
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The AVMA says these pets have a higher risk of problems with exercise in warm weather.
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Fireworks can startle pets into running away: keep them inside, in a secure room.
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There’s a checklist for traveling with a pet.
Fall
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It’s on the FDA’s list of items that can be dangerous for pets.
Winter and holidays
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The AVMA warns that even small amounts of antifreeze can be deadly.
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They can pick up de-icers and other chemicals that are toxic if licked.
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Cats may curl up near a warm engine.
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Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats; bones can cause choking or an intestinal blockage.
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Swallowed decorations can cause an intestinal blockage.
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Check ID tags and microchip details in case they get out.
Once a year
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WSAVA recommends regular health checks, usually yearly, and not just for vaccines.
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The AVMA says senior pets should see a vet twice a year or more; cats are generally senior after about 10 years.
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Which vaccines and how often depend on age, lifestyle and where you live. The CDC recommends rabies vaccination for all dogs and cats.
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The AVMA says annual testing is recommended to make sure dogs stay heartworm-free.
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UK: keeping it up to date is your legal duty; dogs must be chipped by 8 weeks and, in England, cats by 20 weeks.
A healthy year
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Good to know
- This calendar is a reminder, not a treatment plan: vaccines, parasite prevention and checkups depend on your pet’s age, health, lifestyle and where you live, and your vet decides them.
- Parasite risks change from region to region: heartworm, ticks and other parasites are more common in some areas and seasons than in others.
- If your pet stops eating, vomits repeatedly, struggles to breathe or seems very unwell, call your vet right away; don’t wait for the yearly visit.
Frequently asked questions
How often does my pet need vaccines?
It depends on the vaccine, your pet’s age and lifestyle, and local law for rabies. Some boosters are yearly and others aren’t: your vet sets the schedule at the yearly checkup.
Does an indoor cat need checkups and prevention?
Yes: yearly checkups, teeth, weight and parasites matter for indoor cats too. Which vaccines and treatments it needs is your vet’s call, based on how it lives.
Should I keep giving parasite prevention in winter?
It depends on where you live and the parasite. For heartworm, the AVMA says continuous, year-round protection brings the risk close to zero. Follow your vet’s plan.
Next step
I’m not a vet. This is general information only. For anything about your pet, always ask your own veterinarian.
- The checklistTraveling with a pet
- The checklistNew puppy: the first 30 days
- The short guideYour first month with a puppy
- The routeA dog or cat at home
Sources
- WSAVA — Vaccination guidelines (regular health checks, usually yearly)
- WSAVA — Toothbrushing toolkit
- AVMA — Heartworm disease
- AVMA — Caring for senior cats and dogs
- AVMA — Warm weather pet safety
- AVMA — Pet safety in vehicles
- AVMA — July 4 safety
- AVMA — Cold weather animal safety
- AVMA — Winter holiday pet safety
- FDA — Lovely lilies and curious cats: a dangerous combination
- FDA — Potentially dangerous items for your pet
- CDC — Preventing ticks on pets
- CDC — Bringing an animal into the U.S. (rabies vaccination recommended for cats)
- CDC — Bringing a dog into the U.S. (rabies vaccination recommended for dogs)
- GOV.UK — Get your dog or cat microchipped
For vaccines, parasite prevention and checkups, your vet is the person to ask: they set the exact calendar for your pet.