When bringing home a new puppy, that pet parent checklist is chock-full of fun things like securing a cozy place to sleep and keeping yummy training snacks on hand. Figuring out—and sticking to—a puppy vaccination schedule is also super important.
Because their immune systems are not fully developed, young puppies are at risk for bacterial and viral infections, including distemper, parvovirus, canine hepatitis and canine influenza. Once they’ve received all appropriate vaccinations, they’ll be able to venture out more freely into the world of dog parks, doggie daycare, groomers and beyond.
Ahead, your ultimate puppy vaccine guide.
Puppy Shot Schedule: Vaccines Puppies Need
When considering your puppy vaccination schedule, there are four core puppy shots you’ll need to ensure your puppy receives; some of these are even required by state law. You’ll also want to consider additional inoculations based on your dog’s lifestyle and breed.
Core Puppy Vaccines
Core puppy vaccines are considered essential for all puppies, regardless of lifestyle or environment. These vaccines protect puppies from serious and potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, and minimize the spread of contagious diseases among our furry friends, explains Dr. Andrea Cermele, DVM, an Asheville, North Carolina, veterinarian for Best Friends Animal Society.
These are the four core puppy vaccines:
- Canine distemper virus (CDV) vaccine: Protects against distemper, a highly contagious viral disease that affects a dog's respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems.
- Canine parvovirus (CPV) vaccine: Protects against parvo, another highly contagious viral disease that causes severe gastrointestinal illness. This is a life-threatening condition that causes dehydration and malnutrition.
- Canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) vaccine: This vaccine shields your puppy against infectious canine hepatitis, which is caused by the canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), as well as respiratory disease caused by CAV-2.
- Rabies vaccine: Protects against rabies, an uncommon but extremely dangerous and deadly viral disease that affects all mammals (including humans). In many places, it is required by law to vaccinate dogs against rabies.
Optional Puppy Vaccines
There are some optional, non-core vaccines pet parents may want to consider for their puppy based on location, breed and other unique factors, per the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) guidelines. Ultimately, it’s best to discuss these non-core vaccines with your veterinarian, says Dr. Nicole Savageau, VMD, an Austin, Texas-based veterinarian with The Vets. Your vet will assess risk factors, she says, to determine the best plan of action for your pup.
Dr. Savageau says you may want to consider some of these optional vaccines.
- Bordetella vaccine / parainfluenza vaccine: This shot shields your pup against kennel cough, a super-contagious respiratory infection caused by the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus type 2 and several other pathogens.
- Canine influenza (dog flu) vaccine: This vaccine contains one or both strains of canine influenza virus (H3N2 and H3N8), which causes a contagious respiratory infection that can progress to pneumonia.
- Leptospirosis vaccine: Protects against lepto, a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals, causing fever, muscle pain and potentially life-threatening organ damage. It’s considered an important vaccine for dogs living in rural or farming areas, but city dogs can get this too. Importance depends on where outbreaks are occurring.
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) vaccine: Protects against Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which can lead to joint pain, fever and, in severe cases, kidney or heart problems. Again, this is most important for rural or wooded environments, but speak with your vet.
Puppy Vaccination Schedule
Puppy shot schedules vary depending on the vaccines your veterinarian recommends (if any) outside of the core vaccine list. Great vets will set you up with a puppy shots timeline and help you make all necessary appointments. Sometimes all of these appointments are scheduled up front, while other times they may have you come in for the first vaccinations, then schedule the second series at the following appointment and so forth.
“A typical puppy vaccination schedule, as recommended by the AAHA guidelines, involves a series of vaccinations given at three-week intervals,” Dr. Cermele says. “The process typically begins when the puppy is around 6 to 8 weeks of age and continues until they are approximately 16 to 18 weeks old.”
These vaccinations are strategically spaced to ensure your pup’s immune system has time to respond effectively to each vaccination and to provide optimal protection.
6-8 weeks
DAP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus)
Bordetella, parainfluenza
10-12 weeks
DAP
Leptospirosis, Lyme, canine influenza
14-16 weeks
DAP, rabies vaccine
Leptospirosis, Lyme, canine influenza
Puppy Vaccinations Cost
The initial vaccination series can range from $75–$150 per visit, with additional costs for optional vaccines or preventive treatments, Dr. Savageau notes. Plan for three to five vet visits, with booster shots required every one to three years depending on the vaccine.
Some veterinarians provide puppy packages that offer a discount if you pay for the vaccination series up front. There are also low-cost shelters and facilities you can look into. In some cases, pet insurance may defray the total cost.
FAQs About Puppy Vaccines
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Are there puppy vaccine side effects?
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Does my puppy need to stay on a strict vaccine schedule?
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Does my puppy need booster shots?
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What other preventive medications should I consider for my puppy?
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