Dog Care Schedule & Checklist

The recurring care that keeps a dog healthy — vet checkups, vaccines, flea/tick and worm control, dental, and grooming — with how often each is due and typical U.S. costs. A simple schedule so nothing slips, puppy through senior.

Tasks tracked 21

Categories 5

Est. cost / year $1,030–3,430

DIY-friendly 8 of 21

Browse by life stage

Dental

Task	How often	Est. cost	Notes
Professional Dental Cleaning	Yearly	$300–800	Vet dental cleaning under anesthesia. Most dogs need it yearly; periodontal disease is very common by age 3.
Tooth Brushing Routine DIY	Monthly	$0–15	Brushing a few times a week with dog-safe toothpaste does more for dental health than anything else at home.

Grooming

Task	How often	Est. cost	Notes
Bath DIY	Every 2 mo	$0–90	Every 4-8 weeks for most coats; more for oily or outdoorsy dogs, less for dry skin.
Nail Trim DIY	Monthly	$0–25	Every 3-6 weeks. If you can hear clicking on the floor, they're too long.
Ear Cleaning DIY	Monthly	$0–15	Monthly check and clean, more often for floppy-eared breeds prone to infections.
Coat Grooming DIY	Every 2 mo	$0–80	Brush-outs and trims on a schedule that fits the coat — every 4-8 weeks for many breeds.

Parasite

Task	How often	Est. cost	Notes
Heartworm Prevention DIY	Monthly	$8–20	Monthly chewable or topical, year-round. A single missed dose can leave a gap.
Flea & Tick Prevention DIY	Monthly	$10–25	Monthly preventative, year-round in most climates. Protects against fleas, ticks, and tick-borne disease.
Deworming DIY	Every 3 mo	$10–30	Broad-spectrum dewormer; puppies more often. Many monthly heartworm products also cover intestinal worms.
Heartworm Test	Yearly	$35–75	Annual blood test before renewing prevention — required by most vets to refill heartworm meds.

Vaccines

Task	How often	Est. cost	Notes
Puppy Vaccine Series (DHPP)	Monthly	$20–50	Core puppy boosters every 3-4 weeks from ~6 to 16 weeks (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza).
Rabies Vaccine	Every 3 yr	$15–35	Legally required almost everywhere. First shot lasts 1 year, then typically every 3 years.
Rabies Vaccine (first booster)	Yearly	$15–35	First rabies shot at ~12-16 weeks, boosted one year later, then every 3 years.
DHPP Booster	Every 3 yr	$20–45	Core combination booster (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza). Usually every 3 years after the 1-year booster.
Bordetella (Kennel Cough)	Yearly	$20–40	Often required for boarding, daycare, and grooming. Every 6-12 months depending on exposure.
Leptospirosis Vaccine	Yearly	$20–40	Lifestyle vaccine for dogs exposed to wildlife, standing water, or rural areas. Annual.

Vet

Task	How often	Est. cost	Notes
Wellness Exam	Yearly	$50–120	Annual head-to-tail checkup: weight, teeth, heart, joints, and a baseline for catching problems early.
Senior Wellness Exam	Every 6 mo	$60–140	Twice-yearly checkup for older dogs — small changes matter more and move faster after about age 7.
Puppy Checkup	Monthly	$40–90	Frequent visits during the first months — growth checks, vaccine rounds, and spay/neuter planning.
Senior Bloodwork	Yearly	$80–200	Annual blood panel to monitor kidney, liver, and thyroid function as your dog ages.
Fecal Exam	Yearly	$25–55	Annual stool check for intestinal parasites, even on prevention.

Common questions

How much does dog upkeep cost per year?

Budget roughly $1,030–$3,430 a year across 21 recurring tasks at typical U.S. prices. 8 of the 21 are things most people can do themselves, which pulls the real number toward the low end.

What dog maintenance can I do myself?

8 of the 21 tasks here are marked DIY — routine, low-cost jobs that don't need a pro. The rest are worth booking out. Each row below notes which is which.

Intervals and costs are typical-case estimates for U.S. households; your climate, usage, and local prices will shift them. Information here is general and may be estimated or AI-assisted — not professional, medical, or veterinary advice. Verify against your owner's manual, a professional, or your vet before acting. See our Terms & Disclaimer.