According to Pets WebMD, healthy adult dogs only need to go to the vet once a year. At these annual checkups, your vet will conduct a complete head-to-tail physical exam, perform routine blood work and answer questions about your dog’s health. The vet will also track your dog’s growth and development and update its vaccinations. These are the most common vaccines adult dogs need each year, per ASPCA:

• Rabies
• Distemper
• Canine hepatitis
• Canine parvovirus
• Parainfluenza

It’s debated how often dogs require booster shots, so talk with your vet about what’s appropriate for your dog. 

Once your dog reaches 7 years old, many vets recommend bringing it in every six months. This is to check for any developing illnesses or breed-specific conditions and catch any injuries that could become chronic and lessen your pet’s quality of life. As your dog ages, your vet will do more blood and urine tests to check its kidney and liver health, thyroid hormone levels and more.

If your vet finds something concerning, you’ll schedule a follow-up appointment to take a closer look. Otherwise, you won’t need to bring your dog in for another six to 12 months. Your vet’s office will maintain a record of your dog’s health so you can monitor it over the years. 

The cost of a routine exam varies depending on the vet, location and types of testing performed, but most checkups range between $50 and $100. If you need follow-up appointments, your vet can price those for you based on the type of office visit required.

As with babies and young children, puppies need extra health care. Experts recommend monthly vet checkups for puppies until they’re 16 weeks old. During these wellness exams, your vet will conduct a physical exam to ensure your puppy is developing properly and not showing signs of illness or injury. 

One of the most important aspects of these visits is vaccination. Though vaccines aren’t covered in most standard pet insurance plans, many providers offer wellness add-ons to reimburse these expenses. If you decide not to get a wellness package, expect each shot to cost $15 to $30. Your puppy’s vaccination schedule may change slightly depending on your vet and location. See the section below for a typical puppy vaccination schedule. 

Once your puppy’s vaccination schedule is complete, you won’t need to come back to the vet until it’s time to discuss spaying and neutering. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends spaying and neutering at 6 months to help control breeding and pet homelessness. However, many veterinarians recommend waiting to spay or neuter large-breed dogs until they are done growing, which can take 12 to 18 months, to prevent development-related issues down the road.

After your puppy has had its vaccinations and any spaying/neutering procedures, you won’t need to bring it back to the vet until it’s 1 year old. You’ll only need to bring your dog in annually after that unless your vet detects a health issue that needs to be more closely monitored. 

Puppy Vaccinations

Puppy vaccinations are important to establish a solid health foundation for your dog’s life. Young puppies’ vaccinations are typically administered on the following schedule:

• 6–8 weeks: First DHLPPC shot (combined vaccine for distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvo and corona)
• 10–12 weeks: Second DHLPPC shot
• 12–24 weeks: Rabies
• 14–16 weeks: Third DHLPPC shot

These vaccines address common health issues in puppies, such as kennel cough, and can prevent nasty issues that will require more trips to the vet and expensive treatment. 

Learn more about Parvo Shot and their cost in our in-depth guide.

Other Treatments for Puppies

Outside of vaccinations, here are some other treatments and procedures to discuss with your vet while your puppy is young.

• Deworming: Most puppies are born with intestinal parasites, and all puppies receive several doses of an oral dewormed during their first months.
• Heartworm testing: Heartworms can be transmitted to your pet’s blood via an infected mosquito bite. If left untreated, a heartworm infection can damage the heart and lungs. It’s a good idea to test pets 6 months and older for heartworms as well as other tick-borne diseases such as Lyme, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. 
• Dental exams: Although dental problems in puppies are rare, dental work can become expensive if a problem continues for too long.
• Microchipping: Microchipping has become more popular in the last couple years as a way to increase the chances lost pets will be returned. While microchips don’t track your dog’s location, they do make it easy for whoever finds it to reach you. Many animal shelters and vet offices have microchip readers, and it’s become standard practice to check for a chip if a lost dog is brought in.

The earlier you begin routine wellness care, the better chance you have at catching and correcting issues that could greatly affect your dog’s life. Many pet insurance companies offer wellness plans to help cover the costs of these treatments, so if finances are a concern, look into providers that have these.

Here’s how much you can expect to pay for common pet procedures if you don’t have a wellness plan:

• Blood work: $80 to $200
• Dental cleaning: $70 to $400
• Fecal exam: $25 to $45
• Heartworm test: $45 to $50
• Routine wellness exam: $50 to $100
• Spaying/neutering: $160 to $220
• Vaccination: $15 to $30 per shot

The age your dog is considered senior varies by breed. Most senior dogs need to go to the vet every six months unless they have a condition requiring more frequent checkups. Dogs in their later years often show signs that they need extra care, such as suddenly increasing their water intake, urinating more, losing weight, experiencing disorientation, startling more easily, not eating or exhibiting abnormal behavior. These could be signs of diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, heart disease, osteoarthritis or another illness. 

Your vet should do a full physical examination, a complete blood count and chemistry profile, a urinalysis, a blood pressure test, a heartworm test and an intestinal parasite exam. If your dog is suddenly drinking a lot of water, urinating frequently or is hungry all the time, your vet will likely perform an ACTH stimulation or low-dose dexamethasone suppression test to rule out Cushing’s disease. Your vet should also perform specialized testing for any conditions your pet’s breed is known for. For example, terriers have a higher risk of developing bladder tumors, so an ultrasound may be part of their exams in later years.

A typical dog wellness exam isn’t that different from yours. Your vet will first discuss any issues you’ve noticed and then ask some routine questions about your dog’s recent health. They’ll then assess every part of your dog’s body, feeling for anything that might be off. A wellness exam includes assessment of vision, hearing, reflexes and other appropriate responses. Your vet will check your dog’s heart, lungs and lymph nodes for any irregularities. Many vets will perform a dental exam to look for tartar buildup. 

After this hands-on examination, your vet will administer any vaccines or boosters your dog is due for and get a fecal sample to check for intestinal parasites or eggs. Blood tests help establish a normal baseline for your dog and identify abnormalities as it ages, so blood work is typically performed at every appointment. For adult dogs, urinalysis testing is common to check for urinary tract infections, kidney disease or kidney stones.

Most pets have at least one emergency in their lifetime, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your pet’s behavior to spot any abnormalities. You know your pet best, so if you see a physical difference in your dog’s body, notice a change in appetite or thirst, or observe behavioral changes, take your dog in for a vet exam as soon as possible. Treatment should be covered if you have a pet insurance plan, but review your coverage details to be sure.

If your dog shows any of these signs, go to an emergency vet office right away:

• Bloody stools
• Difficulty waking up
• Disorientation
• Labored breathing
• Limping
• Pale gums
• Seizures
• Sudden collapse or inability to stand
• Sudden drop or rise in body temperature
• Swollen or hard abdomen
• Vomiting or having diarrhea for more than 12 hours
• Vomiting blood
• Weak or fast pulse
• Whining, shaking or refusing to socialize (a sign of pain)

Trust your instincts when it comes to your dog. Get medical attention right away if anything seems off about your pet’s well-being. If your pet has had an accident, such as being hit by a car or swallowing something toxic, go to the vet immediately. If you’re unsure whether to take your dog to the vet, many pet insurance providers offer a 24/7 vet telehealth line you can call.

Pet insurance is meant to cover unexpected costs related to accidents and illnesses. Routine preventive care is considered an expected cost that isn’t medically required, so it’s uncommon for providers to include it in their standard plans. However, emergency vet visits are typically covered because they’re deemed medically necessary.

The typical accident-and-illness plan covers treatments, medications and procedures needed for instances such as a broken bone, laceration, swallowed object, illness or corrective surgery. Many pet insurance companies offer a preventive care add-on you can combine with your base plan. This coverage reimburses preventive vet visits anywhere from 70% to 100%, depending on your provider and contract. Some insurers also offer Wellness Rewards programs that work similarly to a health savings account (HSA) for your pet. 

If you’re not familiar with pet insurance, we recommend doing some research and picking a provider that aligns with the coverage your dog needs. Here are some basics to understand as you begin your search.

Plan Types

There are three main types of pet insurance plans to choose from.

• Accident-only: This plan reimburses vet-recommended treatments for accident-related issues, such as broken bones. 
• Accident-and-illness: An accident-and-illness plan is more expensive, but it covers accidents as well as costs related to illnesses if your pet gets sick.
• Wellness: Preventive wellness coverage usually comes in the form of an add-on you can tack on to your base plan to cover routine care. 

Premium Customizations

Most providers offer at least a few options to customize your deductible, annual coverage limit and reimbursement rate. Adjusting this selection affects your monthly premium, so make selections that provide the coverage you need at a price you’re comfortable with. 

• Deductible: Your deductible is the maximum amount you’ll pay out of pocket per year or per condition, depending on the provider.
• Annual limit: This is the maximum amount a provider will pay toward your vet claims per year.
• Reimbursement rate: The reimbursement rate is the percentage of each claim a provider will pay, usually between 70% and 90%. 

A low reimbursement rate and high deductible will decrease your monthly premium, but you’ll pay more out of pocket when you file a claim. A high reimbursement rate and low deductible will decrease your out-of-pocket costs but increase your monthly rate. 

Top Pet Insurance Companies

There are many reputable pet insurance providers to choose from, all with their own pros and cons. Lemonade offers more affordable plans than many providers, plus discounts if you bundle your pet insurance plan with the company’s home, renters or auto insurance.

Spot has unlimited, easily customizable coverage, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. Healthy Paws offers quick reimbursements and affordable unlimited coverage, while Embrace provides multiple discounts and dental care in its standard plan. Fetch is a great choice if your dog needs behavioral therapy coverage, and Trupanion has the most flexible deductibles. 

When choosing a pet insurance company, review coverage details on the website or read a sample policy. Also, read customer reviews and get quotes from multiple providers before making a decision.

Jessica Wimmer is a veteran writer and content producer with experience in the home, pet insurance and tech industries. She’s a Pushcart Prize nominee and Write Well Award winner who has been published in ​​Deep South magazine, The Dead Mule Journal of Southern Literature, and the Deep Water Literary Journal. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English and had a previous life as an English teacher.

Dana Getz is a seasoned editor with nearly a decade of experience writing and editing content. She has a background in journalism and worked as a fact-checker for prestigious magazines such as New York and Chicago. She holds a journalism and marketing degree from Northwestern University and has worked across numerous categories within the home services space.

Angela Beal, DVM, loves using her writing to help pet owners provide the best possible care for their furry companions. Angela has worked in private practice and taught veterinary technicians for 15 years. Since 2020, she has worked full-time with Rumpus Writing and Editing, a veterinary-specific writing and editing company. Angela lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, two sons, and their spoiled Chihuahua mix, Yogi.