Pet reminders: flea, tick, worming and vet dates

Pets are family members who can’t read a calendar. Their health routine is a set of repeating cycles — and paralysis ticks, in particular, punish a missed month on the east coast.

The recurring treatments

• Flea treatment. Most spot-ons and chews are monthly; some products run longer. Match the reminder to your product.
• Tick treatment. Along the eastern seaboard, paralysis tick season makes this the one not to miss. Monthly is typical; your vet may advise year-round coverage.
• Heartworm. Monthly chew or a yearly injection at the vet — track whichever your pet is on.
• Worming. Intestinal worming usually runs three-monthly for adult dogs and cats.

The yearly dates

• Vaccinations. Annual boosters (C5 for many dogs, F3 for cats) keep kennels, catteries and daycare open to you — most require current certificates.
• Council registration. Most Australian councils renew cat and dog registration annually; lapsed registration can mean fines.
• Vet check-up. Yearly for the young and healthy, six-monthly for seniors.

Set them once

Each pet template in Home Heads Up asks for the last treatment date and repeats on the right cycle. The heat heads-up helps too: on days forecast above your threshold, the app reminds you to check pets have shade and plenty of water.

• Dog flea/tick treatment due Friday.
• 37°C tomorrow. Check pets have shade and plenty of water.

Reminders help you keep a routine; they’re not veterinary advice. Dosages and schedules belong to your vet.

Home Heads Up is a free app for Australian households — no ads, no account. It sends the reminders described here automatically.