Dog & Cat Vaccination Schedule
What each vaccine protects against, when it is given, and why the timing matters — drawn from the WSAVA and AAHA/AAFP guidelines vets work from. Enter a date of birth to get the dates for your own pet.
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Why puppys need a series, not one shot
Puppies and kittens absorb antibodies from their mother's first milk. Those antibodies protect them early on, but they also block vaccines from working — and they fade at a different age in every animal, anywhere from 6 to 16 weeks. Nobody can tell without a blood test when a given animal becomes able to respond. That is the entire reason for repeating doses every 3–4 weeks and finishing at 16 weeks or later: each dose is another chance to catch the moment protection becomes possible. Missing the last one is what leaves an animal exposed.
Core vaccines — recommended for every dog
Core means recommended for all dogs regardless of lifestyle, unless there is a specific medical reason not to.
DAP / DHPP
Distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus
Protects against: Canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus-2 (infectious hepatitis and part of kennel cough), canine parvovirus-2
Parvovirus and distemper are the two illnesses most likely to kill an unvaccinated puppy. Parvo survives in the environment for months and needs no dog-to-dog contact.
- First dose
- From 6 weeks, then every 3–4 weeks until 16 weeks or older
- Starting as an adult
- Two doses 2–4 weeks apart, though a single dose of modified-live vaccine will likely protect most dogs.
- First booster
- Consider revaccinating at about 6 months rather than waiting for 12–16 months — this narrows the window for any puppy that failed to respond earlier.
- Then
- At 3 years of age, and thereafter no more often than every 3 years.
In especially high-risk situations the series continues to 20 weeks, dosing every 2–3 weeks.
Rabies
Often required by lawProtects against: Rabies virus
Fatal once symptoms appear, and transmissible to humans. This is the one vaccine that is often a legal requirement rather than a recommendation.
- First dose
- From 12 weeks
- Starting as an adult
- Follow local law first, then the product leaflet.
- First booster
- A booster 1 year after the first dose is required in most jurisdictions.
- Then
- Every 1 or 3 years depending on the licensed product and, above all, on local law.
Leptospirosis
Lepto, L4/L2
Protects against: Leptospira bacteria, spread in the urine of rats, wildlife and livestock, and in standing water
Causes kidney and liver failure and is transmissible to humans. AAHA reclassified it as core for all US dogs in 2024 — any dog that goes outdoors, urban or rural, can be exposed.
- First dose
- From 8 weeks, then every 2–4 weeks
- Starting as an adult
- Two doses 2–4 weeks apart.
- First booster
- 1 year after the second dose.
- Then
- Annually — immunity is short-lived, so this one genuinely needs yearly boosting.
Non-core — depends on your pet
These are decided on where you live and how your pet lives. Some are needed for boarding or daycare. None of them is automatically right for every animal.
Bordetella bronchiseptica
The main bacterial cause of kennel cough
Consider if: Boarding kennels, daycare, grooming, training classes, dog shows — many venues require it.
Intranasal or oral: a single dose protects; some products from 3 weeks, others 7–8 weeks. Injected versions need two doses 2–4 weeks apart.
Boosters: Annually, or 1–2 weeks before a known exposure such as boarding.
Intranasal and oral versions must never be injected — doing so can cause a severe reaction.
Canine parainfluenza (CPiV)
A virus that contributes to kennel cough
Consider if: Dogs mixing with other dogs. Usually bundled with Bordetella or into DHPP.
From 6 weeks, then every 2–4 weeks until 16 weeks or older. Adults: two doses 2–4 weeks apart.
Boosters: Annually.
Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)
Lyme borreliosis, carried by ticks
Consider if: Only for dogs living in or visiting areas with high tick exposure. Tick prevention matters more than the vaccine.
Two doses 2–4 weeks apart, generally starting around 8 weeks.
Boosters: Annually, timed just before your region's tick season.
Not a substitute for tick control — that remains the mainstay of prevention.
Canine influenza (H3N2 / H3N8)
Canine flu strains
Consider if: Dogs in kennels, shows or daycare during an outbreak. Licensed only in the USA.
Two doses to immunise, generally 2–4 weeks apart; first dose can be given from 6 weeks.
Boosters: Annually.
Vaccines against canine enteric coronavirus, Giardia and Microsporum canis are available in some countries but are not recommended for pet dogs. Note canine enteric coronavirus is unrelated to COVID-19.
After a vaccine — when to call the vet
Most pets get nothing worse than a quiet day. Serious reactions are rare but happen fast, so stay with your pet for a few hours afterwards.
- Facial or muzzle swelling, or hives, within hours of a vaccine
- Vomiting or diarrhoea shortly after vaccination
- Difficulty breathing, collapse, or pale gums — an emergency
- Severe or worsening pain at the injection site, or a lump that persists beyond a few weeks
- Persistent lethargy lasting more than 48 hours after a vaccine
Vaccination questions owners actually ask
Why does my puppy need several shots instead of one?
Not because one dose is weak. Antibodies from the mother block the vaccine while they last, and they fade at an unpredictable age between 6 and 16 weeks. Each dose is another attempt to catch the window once those antibodies drop. The final dose at 16 weeks or later is the one that matters most.
Can my puppy meet other dogs before the series is finished?
WSAVA states plainly that careful socialisation can begin before the vaccination series is complete, during the sensitive period for socialisation. Behavioural problems from under-socialisation kill more dogs than infectious disease does. Choose low-risk settings — known, vaccinated adult dogs and clean private spaces rather than public parks — and ask your vet about local parvovirus risk.
Is annual boosting for everything necessary?
No, and modern guidelines actively advise against it. After the initial series and its booster, core distemper/parvo/panleukopenia protection lasts at least 3 years. Leptospirosis and most non-core vaccines are the genuine annual ones because their immunity is short-lived.
What if we missed a dose or started late?
Usually you continue rather than restart. The rule that matters is that the final dose of the series lands at 16 weeks of age or later, with the doses spaced 2–4 weeks apart. An adult with no known history normally needs two doses a few weeks apart rather than a full puppy course. Your vet will confirm what a gap means for your individual animal.
My cat never goes outside — does it still need vaccinating?
Core vaccines, yes. Panleukopenia is extremely hardy and travels indoors on shoes and clothing, and indoor cats still escape, board, or visit the vet. FeLV is different: core for every kitten under a year, then reassessed on actual exposure, so a strictly indoor adult with no feline housemates may not need it continued.
Are titre tests an alternative to boosting?
For some vaccines. A titre test measures antibodies against distemper, parvovirus and panleukopenia and can show that a booster is not yet needed. Titres are not accepted in place of rabies vaccination where the law requires it, and are not useful for leptospirosis or the other short-immunity vaccines.
Are the side effects worth worrying about?
Most animals get nothing worse than a day of tiredness or a tender injection site. Serious reactions are rare but real, so keep your pet in company for a few hours after a vaccine appointment. Facial swelling, hives, vomiting, or difficulty breathing need a vet immediately.
Where this comes from
Schedules on this page follow published veterinary guidelines rather than our own opinion. Guidelines are revised periodically — your vet works to the current edition and to local law.
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