Puplr
Tool

Puppy vaccination schedule calculator

Put in your puppy's date of birth and country. You get every dose with a real date, what is in each shot, and what is optional. Print it, or drop it straight into your calendar.

If you only know the age, count back. A breeder or shelter will have the exact date.
Changes which vaccines appear and when.

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Local disease risk, the products your clinic stocks and your puppy’s own history all change the plan. Take this page to your vet as a starting point, not as an instruction.

The schedule in each country

These are the published typical schedules. Every one of them is a starting point that your own vet will adjust.

Australia: C3 core, usually given as C5

Australian vets work from the Australian Veterinary Association policy and WSAVA. The core is C3: distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. Most clinics give it as C5, which adds the two canine cough components. Australia is rabies free, so no rabies shot.

DoseTypical ageVaccinesTypeNotes
First puppy vaccination 6 to 8 weeks C3 or C5 Core AVA: core vaccines are given from 6 to 8 weeks of age. Most puppies get this dose from the breeder before you collect them, so ask for it in writing.
Second puppy vaccination 10 to 12 weeks C3 or C5 Core AVA: doses continue every 2 to 4 weeks. The 10 to 12 week age is the arithmetic of that interval rather than a separately published age.
Final puppy vaccination 16 weeks C3 or C5 Core AVA: the final dose should be not earlier than 16 weeks. Australian data found the highest risk of parvovirus vaccination failure in puppies whose last dose came before 16 weeks. Some product labels allow a 10 week finish, the AVA still advises 16.
First adult booster 6 to 12 months C3 or C5 Core Traditionally given at about 12 months. The AVA now says it may be given from 6 months following WSAVA, and RSPCA Australia recommends 6 months. Either is defensible, your vet will pick one.
Canine cough, the C5 add on 6 to 8 weeks Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza Non core Bundled into C5 and given with the core doses. WSAVA classes both components as non core, but boarding kennels, day care and puppy school almost always require it. Needs annual revaccination, unlike the core.
Leptospirosis, first dose 8 weeks Leptospira Non core Non core in Australia per the AVA. RSPCA Australia recommends it for dogs in at risk areas, with access to stagnant water, or in contact with livestock or rodents. Age from the WSAVA table, from about 8 weeks. Ask your vet whether your suburb counts.
Leptospirosis, second dose 10 to 12 weeks Leptospira Non core Two to four weeks after the first dose. Killed vaccines need two doses to immunise, then annual boosters.
  • No rabies. RSPCA Australia: Australia is a rabies free country, so a rabies vaccine is not necessary for dogs remaining in Australia. Rabies vaccines are not even licensed for pre exposure use here.
  • After the first adult booster, the AVA supports triennial core vaccination where the risk allows, and RSPCA Australia gives a range of every 1 to 3 years depending on the product.
  • Canine coronavirus vaccine is listed as non core by the AVA and as not recommended for pet dogs by WSAVA 2024.
  • The AVA policy reproduces the older WSAVA 2015 groupings, in which parainfluenza is core. The 2024 WSAVA table moved parainfluenza to non core. Australian practice still bundles it into C5 either way.

What is the difference between C3 and C5 in Australia?

C3 is the core vaccine: distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. C5 is C3 plus canine parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica, the two canine cough components. Most Australian clinics default to C5 because kennels, day care and puppy school ask for it. The C3 part gives years of protection, the C5 additions need annual boosting.

Do dogs in Australia need a rabies vaccination?

No. Australia is rabies free, and rabies vaccines are not licensed for pre exposure use in Australia. It is only relevant if you are exporting a dog overseas, which is handled separately through the federal export process.

Sources: Australian Veterinary Association policy, vaccination of dogs and cats · RSPCA Australia knowledge base, what vaccinations should my dog receive · Business Queensland, rabies, on Australia's rabies free status

United States: DAPP plus rabies

American vets work from the 2022 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines. Core is DAPP, sometimes written DA2PP or DHPP, plus rabies, which is required by state law rather than federal law. Leptospirosis is technically non core but AAHA says it should be strongly considered for most dogs in North America.

DoseTypical ageVaccinesTypeNotes
First puppy vaccination 6 to 8 weeks DAPP Core AAHA: the minimum age to begin the primary series is 6 to 8 weeks. Usually done by the breeder or shelter.
Second puppy vaccination 10 to 12 weeks DAPP Core AAHA: revaccinate at 2 to 4 week intervals. Maternal antibody against distemper is usually gone by 12 to 14 weeks, but parvovirus antibody can persist to 15 weeks or longer.
Third puppy vaccination 14 to 16 weeks DAPP Core AAHA asks for at least three doses between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart.
Final puppy vaccination 18 to 20 weeks DAPP Core AAHA: revaccinate until greater than 16 weeks old, and 18 to 20 weeks is preferred in areas of high parvovirus risk. This dose is the one most often skipped and the one AAHA is most insistent about.
Rabies, first dose 12 to 16 weeks Rabies Rabies AAHA: every licensed US rabies vaccine is labelled for puppies 3 months of age and older. The legal deadline is set by your state, not by the label, and it is not always 3 months. New York, for example, sets 4 months. Check your own state.
Booster after the puppy series 6 to 12 months DAPP Core AAHA: a booster within 1 year of the last puppy dose. WSAVA advises revaccinating at or after 26 weeks instead, to catch puppies that did not respond earlier. AAHA does not recommend a 6 month booster, whatever you may have read.
Rabies booster 15 months Rabies Rabies AAHA: a booster 1 year after the first rabies dose regardless of formulation or the age it was given. After that, every 1 or 3 years as your state law and the product label require.
Leptospirosis, first dose 12 weeks Leptospira, 4 serovar Non core AAHA keeps leptospirosis non core but says vaccination should be strongly considered for most dogs in North America, since it is life threatening, endemic across much of the continent and can infect people. AAHA suggests the first dose at or after 12 weeks and recommends the 4 serovar products.
Leptospirosis, second dose 14 to 16 weeks Leptospira, 4 serovar Non core Two to four weeks after the first. Then a dose within a year, then annually.
Bordetella and parainfluenza, intranasal 8 weeks Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza Non core A single intranasal dose for dogs at risk of exposure: boarding, day care, grooming, classes. AAHA prefers the intranasal route over oral. Annual revaccination. Most facilities require it.
Lyme disease, first dose 8 weeks Borrelia burgdorferi Non core For dogs living in or travelling to areas with endemic or emerging Lyme disease, which AAHA maps mainly to the northeast, mid Atlantic and upper midwest. AAHA publishes no minimum age, WSAVA says generally from about 8 weeks. Both doses should be finished 2 to 4 weeks before travel.
Lyme disease, second dose 10 to 16 weeks Borrelia burgdorferi Non core Two to four weeks after the first dose, then a dose within a year, then annually.
Canine influenza, first dose 8 weeks Canine influenza H3N2 and H3N8 Non core AAHA does not recommend routine use in all dogs. Consider it for dogs that board, use day care, visit dog parks, or attend shows and agility events. The bivalent product covering both strains is preferred.
Canine influenza, second dose 10 to 16 weeks Canine influenza H3N2 and H3N8 Non core Two to four weeks after the first, then annually.
  • Rabies law is state and local, not federal. AAHA is explicit that the age at first vaccination, booster timing, formulation, handling of overdue doses and whether exemptions exist can all be set in state or local law. Puplr does not track all fifty states. Ask your vet or your state veterinarian.
  • After the first booster, AAHA recommends core boosters every 3 years and says annual boosters are not necessary.
  • A puppy starting its course after 16 weeks of age needs two doses 2 to 4 weeks apart, not the full puppy series.
  • AAHA is openly sceptical of the rattlesnake toxoid, noting there are no published data documenting its efficacy in dogs.

When does a puppy get its rabies shot in the US?

Every rabies vaccine licensed in the United States is labelled for puppies 3 months of age and older, which is where the 12 to 16 week figure comes from. The legal deadline is set by state law and is not always 3 months. New York, for example, requires the first vaccination no later than four months after birth. A booster follows one year later, then every 1 or 3 years depending on your state and the product.

Did AAHA make leptospirosis a core vaccine in 2022?

No, and this gets misreported a lot. AAHA 2022 kept leptospirosis non core. What changed is the strength of the language: it says vaccination should be strongly considered for most dogs in North America, and it records that some task force members wanted it made core while others preferred to leave the decision to the veterinarian. WSAVA 2024 does list leptospirosis as core, but only in regions where the disease is endemic and suitable vaccines exist.

Should the last puppy shot be at 16 weeks or 20 weeks?

AAHA says to keep revaccinating until greater than 16 weeks old, and that 18 to 20 weeks may be preferred in high risk areas, wording it slightly more strongly for parvovirus than for distemper. Its own summary table describes at least three doses between 6 and 16 weeks. Those two statements sit in the same document. In practice, in a high parvovirus area, a dose after 16 weeks is worth having.

Sources: 2022 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, full text · 2022 AAHA core and non core vaccines for dogs, table · AVMA, vaccinating your pet · New York Public Health Law section 2141, compulsory rabies vaccination

United Kingdom: DHP plus leptospirosis

British practice treats four diseases as the ones every dog should be covered for: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis. Rabies is not part of the routine schedule, it is only needed for travel. The primary course is typically two injections, which is where UK practice diverges most from the WSAVA international guideline.

DoseTypical ageVaccinesTypeNotes
First puppy vaccination 6 to 8 weeks DHP or DHPPi, Leptospirosis (L2 or L4) Core PDSA: puppies should ideally start at around 6 to 8 weeks old. The common Nobivac products are licensed from 6 weeks.
Second puppy vaccination 10 to 12 weeks DHP or DHPPi, Leptospirosis (second dose) Core PDSA: two injections, 2 to 4 weeks apart. The product datasheets specify the second dose from 10 weeks of age. This completes the primary course under typical UK practice.
Third vaccination, some puppies 16 weeks DHP Core PDSA: some puppies, but not all, need a third injection. WSAVA advises a final core dose at 16 weeks or older for every puppy, because maternal antibody can still be blocking the earlier doses. This is the main UK versus WSAVA disagreement. Worth raising with your vet.
First adult booster 12 months DHP, Leptospirosis Core PDSA: protection from the puppy course lasts one year. After this, leptospirosis is boosted annually and DHP typically every three years. RSPCA UK describes a booster at 6 or 12 months, and WSAVA advises at or after 26 weeks, so there are three answers in circulation for the same booster.
Kennel cough 8 weeks Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza Non core Given as nasal drops, not an injection. PDSA recommends it for dogs that mix frequently with others. Nearly every British boarding kennel requires it. Annual revaccination. The minimum age is on the product datasheet, ask your vet.
Rabies, only if travelling 12 weeks Rabies Rabies Not part of the routine UK schedule. For travel, GOV.UK requires proof the pet is at least 12 weeks old, and the microchip must be implanted before or at the same time as the vaccination or it has to be done again. You must then wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before travelling.
  • Leptospirosis is treated as core in the UK and boosted every year, unlike DHP. L4 covers four serogroups: Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis and Grippotyphosa. L2 covers two.
  • Parainfluenza sits inside both the injectable DHPPi and the intranasal kennel cough vaccine, and needs annual revaccination either way.
  • PDSA says a puppy is fully protected 2 to 4 weeks after its final injection.
  • If you are taking a dog abroad you also need an animal health certificate from a vet, and dogs entering Great Britain need tapeworm treatment no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days before arrival.

Do dogs in the UK need a rabies vaccination?

Not for life in the UK. Rabies is not part of the routine British schedule, it is only required for taking a pet abroad. For travel the pet must be microchipped first, must be at least 12 weeks old at vaccination, and you have to wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before travelling.

What is the difference between the L2 and L4 leptospirosis vaccines?

L2 covers two Leptospira serogroups and L4 covers four: Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis and Grippotyphosa. Both need two doses to start and an annual booster after that. When L4 was introduced there was press coverage questioning its safety, and the British Veterinary Association's response called that coverage scaremongering, said vaccinations save lives, and asked owners to make an informed choice with their own vet.

Does a UK puppy need a third vaccination at 16 weeks?

It depends who you ask, which is unusual for a vaccine question. Typical UK practice finishes the primary course with a second dose from 10 weeks, and PDSA says some puppies but not all need a third. WSAVA advises that every puppy gets a final core dose at 16 weeks or older, because a minority still have maternal antibody blocking the vaccine at 10 weeks. If your puppy is going into a high parvovirus area, it is worth asking your vet about a 16 week dose.

Sources: PDSA, vaccinating your dog · RSPCA UK, dog vaccinations · British Veterinary Association statement on the Nobivac L4 vaccine · MSD Animal Health UK, Nobivac DHP product information · MSD Animal Health UK, Nobivac L4 product information · GOV.UK, getting your pet microchipped and vaccinated for travel

Canada: DHPP plus rabies where required

Canada has no national canine vaccination schedule. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association takes a principles based position and cites the 2022 AAHA guidelines, so Canadian practice follows AAHA and WSAVA. Rabies vaccination is a legal requirement in some provinces, Ontario being the clearest, and in many municipalities.

DoseTypical ageVaccinesTypeNotes
First puppy vaccination 6 to 8 weeks DHPP Core AAHA: begin the primary series at 6 to 8 weeks. WSAVA: start no earlier than 6 weeks of age.
Second puppy vaccination 10 to 12 weeks DHPP Core AAHA: every 2 to 4 weeks. WSAVA: every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
Third puppy vaccination 14 to 16 weeks DHPP Core At least three doses between 6 and 16 weeks under AAHA.
Final puppy vaccination 18 to 20 weeks DHPP Core AAHA prefers 18 to 20 weeks in high risk areas. WSAVA says continue to 20 weeks in especially high risk situations.
Rabies, first dose 12 to 16 weeks Rabies Rabies Ontario regulation requires every dog three months of age or over to be immunised against rabies. Other provinces and many municipalities have their own rules. There is no national requirement, so check your province and your city.
Booster after the puppy series 6 to 12 months DHPP Core AAHA: within 1 year of the last puppy dose. WSAVA: consider revaccinating at about 6 months instead. Your vet will pick one, both are defensible.
Rabies booster 15 months Rabies Rabies One year after the first dose. Ontario ties the next date to the certificate the vet issues, which follows the product label, rather than fixing 1 or 3 years in the regulation itself.
Leptospirosis, first dose 12 weeks Leptospira, 4 serovar Non core AAHA: strongly consider for most dogs in North America, first dose at or after 12 weeks, 4 serovar products recommended.
Leptospirosis, second dose 14 to 16 weeks Leptospira, 4 serovar Non core Two to four weeks after the first, then annually.
Bordetella and parainfluenza, intranasal 8 weeks Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza Non core A single intranasal dose for dogs that board, attend day care or go to classes. Annual revaccination.
Lyme disease, first dose 8 weeks Borrelia burgdorferi Non core AAHA notes Lyme disease is endemic in parts of Manitoba, eastern Ontario, southern Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Worth discussing if you live in or visit those areas.
Lyme disease, second dose 10 to 16 weeks Borrelia burgdorferi Non core Two to four weeks after the first dose, then annually.
  • There is no Canadian national vaccination schedule. The CVMA position statement says vaccine protocols should be set at the individual animal level as part of a veterinarian supervised plan, and its reference list cites the 2022 AAHA guidelines.
  • The CVMA is explicit that veterinarians must know the rabies requirement in the jurisdiction where they practise. Puplr has verified the Ontario regulation only. Do not assume the same age applies in your province or municipality.
  • Canine influenza vaccines are, per WSAVA 2024, licensed only in the USA, so that vaccine is not a routine Canadian option.
  • After the first booster, core boosters are given every 3 years.

Is rabies vaccination legally required in Canada?

There is no national requirement, it depends on your province and often your municipality. Ontario's rabies immunisation regulation requires every dog three months of age or over to be immunised, and ties the next due date to the certificate the vet issues rather than fixing an interval. Other provinces have their own rules, so check locally rather than assuming Ontario's age applies everywhere.

Which guidelines do Canadian vets follow?

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association does not publish its own schedule. Its position statement is principles based and cites the 2022 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, which are themselves written for both countries and discuss Canadian rabies and Lyme risk directly. Many Canadian practices also work from the WSAVA 2024 guidelines.

Sources: CVMA position statement, vaccination of animals · Ontario Regulation 567, rabies immunisation, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act · 2022 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, full text

New Zealand: Distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus

New Zealand does not publish a public age by age national puppy schedule. The NZVA position is deliberately non prescriptive and leaves frequency to the treating vet. The Ministry for Primary Industries code of welfare gives the start and finish ages below. Where New Zealand publishes nothing, Puplr shows the WSAVA international baseline and says so.

DoseTypical ageVaccinesTypeNotes
First puppy vaccination 6 to 8 weeks Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus Core MPI code of welfare for dogs: vaccination programmes normally begin at six to eight weeks of age. Parvovirus is common in parts of New Zealand, particularly where vaccination rates are low.
Second puppy vaccination 10 to 12 weeks Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus Core No New Zealand authority publishes the interval between doses. This follows the WSAVA international baseline of every 2 to 4 weeks. Your vet sets the actual date.
Final puppy vaccination 12 to 16 weeks Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus Core MPI: programmes are complete by 12 to 16 weeks of age depending on circumstances. WSAVA advises the final dose at 16 weeks or older, which is the stricter position, so Puplr dates this one at 16 weeks.
First adult booster 6 to 12 months Core Core Not published by any New Zealand authority. This is the WSAVA baseline: revaccination at or after 26 weeks of age rather than waiting until 12 to 16 months. Confirm the date with your vet.
Canine cough 8 weeks Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza Non core SPCA New Zealand: most dogs are routinely vaccinated against canine cough, and it is usually a requirement for boarding kennels and day care. Non core under WSAVA, annual revaccination.
Leptospirosis, first dose 8 weeks Leptospira Non core NZVA: appropriate leptospirosis vaccination should be used for at risk pets, with owners counselled about the risk when visiting farms and waterways. Age from the WSAVA table. New Zealand dogs are known to be infected with Copenhageni, Pomona, Hardjo and Tarassovi, and NZVA warns that not all serovars are covered by available vaccines.
Leptospirosis, second dose 10 to 12 weeks Leptospira Non core Two to four weeks after the first dose, then annual boosters.
  • No rabies. New Zealand is free of rabies, so it is not part of the schedule.
  • The NZVA position is that every dog should be appropriately immunised and vaccinated as frequently as its own vet considers necessary. It publishes no public list of core vaccines or dose ages, which is why several dates on this page come from the WSAVA international baseline rather than from a New Zealand source.
  • Distemper and infectious canine hepatitis are rarely seen in New Zealand, which the NZVA attributes largely to successful vaccination. They still pose a risk, which is why vaccination remains recommended.
  • SPCA New Zealand advises that a puppy should be fully vaccinated before it goes off your property. Balance that against the socialisation window: carry the puppy, and meet vaccinated adult dogs at home.
  • On safety, the NZVA client sheet reports that moderate to severe reactions are rare, at roughly three in 10,000 dogs.

What vaccinations does a puppy need in New Zealand?

The diseases New Zealand vaccinates dogs against are parvovirus, distemper, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis and kennel cough. Parvovirus is the live threat, common in parts of the country where vaccination rates are low. Distemper and hepatitis are rare now, largely because of vaccination. Leptospirosis and canine cough are given based on risk and lifestyle.

Why are some New Zealand dates less specific than the other countries here?

Because New Zealand does not publish them. The NZVA position statement deliberately leaves frequency to the treating vet, and its detailed technical note is members only. The MPI code of welfare gives the start age, six to eight weeks, and says programmes are complete by 12 to 16 weeks. Everything between those two points on this page comes from the WSAVA international guidelines, and Puplr labels it as such rather than inventing a New Zealand rule.

Sources: NZVA position statement, vaccine use in New Zealand cats and dogs · NZVA Companion Animal Veterinarians, vaccinating your pet client sheet · NZVA position statement, leptospirosis management · MPI code of welfare, dogs · SPCA New Zealand, vaccinations for dogs

What the vaccine names mean

Short nameUsed inWhat is in it
C3AustraliaThe Australian shorthand for the core combination: canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus. Named by the RSPCA Australia knowledge base as the vaccine commonly known in Australia as C3.
C5AustraliaC3 plus the two canine cough components, canine parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica. Boarding kennels and puppy schools usually ask for C5.
DAPP, DA2PP, DHPPUnited States and CanadaThe same core combination under North American trade naming. AAHA lists the product as distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, plus or minus parainfluenza. The H in DHPP stands for hepatitis, which is what the adenovirus component protects against.
DHPUnited KingdomDistemper, hepatitis, parvovirus. The British core injection, almost always given alongside a leptospirosis vaccine.
DHPPiUnited KingdomDHP with canine parainfluenza added. Parainfluenza needs annual revaccination, while the DHP part is usually given every three years.
L2 and L4United Kingdom and EuropeLeptospirosis vaccines covering two or four Leptospira serogroups. The four in Nobivac L4 are Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis and Grippotyphosa. Leptospirosis boosters are annual, whichever you use.
CAV-1 and CAV-2EverywhereCanine adenovirus type 1 causes infectious canine hepatitis. The vaccine actually used is type 2, CAV-2, which cross protects against type 1. That is why labels and guidelines use different numbers for the same protection.
MDAEverywhereMaternally derived antibody. Antibody a puppy gets from its mother, which protects it early on but also blocks vaccines from working. It usually fades between 8 and 12 weeks, but in a minority of puppies it lasts to 16 or even 20 weeks. That single fact is why the puppy course is a series and not one shot.
Core and non coreEverywhereCore vaccines are recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle. Non core vaccines are recommended based on risk: where you live, whether the dog boards, whether it swims in still water. Some vaccines are core in one country and non core in another, leptospirosis most of all.
MLVEverywhereModified live virus. Most core vaccines are modified live, which is why their duration of immunity is measured in years rather than months. Killed vaccines, like leptospirosis and rabies, generally need more frequent boosters.

Common questions

Why does a puppy need three or four vaccinations instead of one?

Because of maternally derived antibody. Antibody from the mother protects a young puppy but also blocks a vaccine from taking. It fades at different ages in different puppies, usually between 8 and 12 weeks, but in a minority it lasts until 16 or even 20 weeks. Nobody can tell which puppy is which without a blood test, so the course is spaced out to catch every puppy shortly after its own antibody fades.

When can a puppy go out and meet other dogs?

Full protection comes a week or two after the final dose, and the AVA suggests isolation from at risk areas until at least 7 to 14 days after the 16 week dose. That does not mean staying indoors. WSAVA is explicit that careful socialisation can begin before the vaccination course is finished, and the AVA says a properly run puppy school in a clean environment should not pose a risk. Carry the puppy, meet vaccinated adult dogs, and avoid dog parks and public grass until the course is done.

Do the guidelines agree with each other?

Not entirely, and the differences are on the two questions owners ask most. On the final puppy dose, WSAVA and the AVA say 16 weeks or older, AAHA says over 16 weeks with 18 to 20 weeks preferred in high risk areas, and typical British practice finishes the primary course from 10 weeks. On the first booster, AAHA says within one year, WSAVA advises revaccinating at or after 26 weeks instead of waiting for 12 to 16 months, and the AVA and RSPCA Australia have followed WSAVA to 6 months. Puplr shows each country's own published position and flags the disagreement rather than picking a winner.

Is my dog over vaccinated?

Modern core vaccines last years, not months. WSAVA says core vaccines should not be given more often than necessary and that adult boosters should be no more frequent than every three years. That is the opposite of over vaccination, and it is the current mainstream veterinary position, not a fringe one. Non core vaccines are different: most, including leptospirosis and kennel cough, only give about a year of protection and do need annual boosting.

What if we missed a dose?

Do not start again from scratch on your own. Ring the vet. AAHA's own rule of thumb for a dog with an unknown or overdue history is that the benefits of vaccinating far outweigh the risks, and to consult the manufacturer for overdue intervals. A puppy that starts its course after 16 weeks generally needs two doses two to four weeks apart rather than the full puppy series.

Next

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Guidelines change. If a date here does not match what your clinic tells you, your clinic is right.