Local risks · Global care standards
Pet health by country
Everyday health concerns and local exposure risks for dogs and cats, alongside World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidance.
🌍 Other country / global guidance
Country-specific advice is not yet available here. Use the global guidance below and ask a local vet about parasites, rabies, vaccine availability and travel rules.
These are care priorities and exposure risks, not a ranking of the most common diseases. Risk varies within a country, by season and by lifestyle. This is not live outbreak information.
Everyday health concerns
Weight gain & nutrition
Ask your vet to assess body condition, muscle condition and diet at every visit. Measure food portions, include treats in the daily intake and choose a complete diet appropriate for the life stage. Weight alone does not describe body condition.
WSAVA · Global nutrition guidelines ↗Dental disease
Bad breath, red gums, difficulty eating or a broken tooth need a veterinary assessment. Regular tooth brushing with pet toothpaste supports home care; it does not replace a full dental examination and treatment when needed.
WSAVA · Global dental guidelines ↗Vaccination gaps
Core dog vaccines protect against distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus. Core cat vaccines protect against panleukopenia, calicivirus and herpesvirus. Indoor pets still need an individual vaccination plan.
WSAVA · 2024 vaccination guidelines ↗Stress & behavioural changes
Provide a safe resting area, appropriate activity and opportunities for natural behaviour. Sudden aggression, hiding or changes in appetite can reflect pain or illness, not simply a behavioural problem.
WSAVA · Animal welfare guidelines ↗
WSAVA vaccination essentials
Puppies & kittens
WSAVA recommends repeated core vaccine doses every 2–4 weeks, with the final initial dose at 16 weeks or older; revaccination at or after 26 weeks is advised. The vet sets the start date and plan for the product, exposure risk and local requirements.
WSAVA · 2024 vaccination guidelines ↗Rabies protection
Rabies vaccination is essential for dogs and cats where rabies is endemic. Travel rules and local law may require vaccination elsewhere too. A bite or suspected rabies exposure needs urgent veterinary advice; people bitten or exposed need prompt medical advice.
WSAVA · 2024 vaccination guidelines ↗Leptospirosis
Where canine leptospirosis is endemic, implicated serogroups are known and suitable vaccines are available, WSAVA considers vaccination core for dogs. Discuss local exposure and the available vaccine with your vet.
WSAVA · 2024 vaccination guidelines ↗Feline leukaemia (FeLV)
Where FeLV is prevalent or remains a concern, WSAVA considers vaccination core for cats under one year and adult cats with outdoor access or contact with outdoor cats. Testing and the vaccination plan should be discussed with your vet.
WSAVA · 2024 vaccination guidelines ↗
Source links checked: 25 October 2026. This page has not been independently reviewed by a veterinarian. WSAVA dog and cat vaccination advice must not be applied to birds, rabbits, reptiles or other species.
For other pets, consult an experienced species-specific vet and explore the breed & species guide.