Preventive care schedules for dogs and cats: what the guidelines say

It is not a substitute for your veterinarians’ judgement: the right schedule for a pet depends on its risks, the products your clinic uses and local law.

Core vaccines: the puppy and kitten series

The 2024 WSAVA guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats recommend a series of core vaccine doses in early life, followed by a revaccination at or after 26 weeks of age rather than waiting until the first birthday¹. The 26-week dose closes the gap for animals that did not respond to earlier doses because of maternal antibodies.

Core boosters for adults: not every year

For adult dogs, WSAVA advises that core vaccines (distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis and parvovirus) should be given no more often than every three years¹. The British Small Animal Veterinary Association states the same for most UK-authorised dog vaccines². For cats, WSAVA places core modified-live boosters at intervals of three years or more, with more frequent boosters for cats at higher risk¹.

Leptospirosis and kennel cough: yearly

BSAVA notes that leptospirosis and kennel cough vaccines require annual boosters². WSAVA treats leptospirosis as a core vaccine in areas where the disease is endemic¹.

Deworming: at least four times a year when risk is unknown

ESCCAP recommends that if a dog’s risk cannot be assessed clearly, it should be dewormed, or its faeces examined, at least four times a year. Dogs at high risk may need monthly treatment³. A survey of 5,001 owners in five European countries found that dogs were dewormed 2.3 times a year on average and cats 2.2 times⁴, well below that minimum.

Mediterranean extras

Canine leishmaniasis is widespread in Cyprus: in a study of 900 randomly sampled dogs, 14.9% had antibodies to Leishmania⁵. Clinics in the region commonly add leishmaniasis prevention (vaccination and repellent collars through the sandfly season), alongside year-round flea, tick and heartworm prevention. Product choice and timing are clinical decisions for your veterinarians.

What this means for reminders

• An adult dog in Cyprus can easily have 15 or more dated preventive events a year once monthly parasite control is counted.
• Each item runs on its own cycle: yearly, every three years, every three months, monthly or seasonal.
• A single “annual reminder” misses most of them. Reminders need to follow each item’s own cycle, from the date it was actually given.