When do puppies get vaccinations, what do they protect against & what are the side effects?
Vaccinations are an important part of your puppy’s ongoing health. When you bring your puppy home, you should ask your puppy’s breeder for their up-to-date vaccination record so you can show that to your vet on your first visit. By ensuring the schedule is followed you’ll ensure that they’re covered against any potential life-threatening diseases and ultimately help them grow into a healthy adult dog.
If you’ve just got your first pup, or are thinking about it, you may be wondering all about puppy vaccinations, including schedules and how much they cost. At Purina, we’ve done all the hard work for you and have created this puppy vaccination guide to tell you all you need to know.
When should I vaccinate my puppy?
First and second vaccinations
When considering your puppy’s vaccination schedule, the initial vaccinations will usually begin when your pup is aged between six and twelve weeks of age. The full course will usually take the form of two injections, spaced out over two to four weeks. The first vaccinations will usually be given while the puppy is still with their breeder. It’s important for you to ask your breeder, or, if you’ve adopted your puppy, your rescue centre which vaccines have been given and when, so you can schedule an appointment with your vet in order to complete the course.
Until your puppy has completed their full vaccination schedule, you won’t be able to take them for walks or have your puppy socialise with any dogs outside out of the household and that you don’t know the vaccination history of. It is also important to make sure that the dogs in your home are vaccinated too.
Booster vaccinations
As well as their initial puppy injections, your dog will require additional booster vaccinations. Some vaccines may provide protection for longer periods, while others will need topping up more regularly to maintain immunity. Don’t worry though, your vet will be able to tell you exactly what your dog needs and can put together a vaccination schedule based on your dog’s individual requirements.
Puppy Vaccination Timetable
| Age range | Vaccination | Notes |
| 6 – 8 weeks | 1st Vaccine | Usually given by the breeder or shortly after adoption. Covers core diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus/hepatitis and often leptospirosis. |
| 10 – 12 weeks | 2nd Vaccine | Normally given 2 - 4 weeks after the first injection. Puppies are usually considered protected around 1 - 2 weeks after this dose. |
| Around 12 months | First Booster | Given about one year after the puppy course to strengthen long-term immunity. |
Important Considerations Before Socialisation
Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, you should not let them mix with dogs outside your household and you should also avoid taking them out in public places where unvaccinated dogs may have been. However, there are still safe ways you can socialise and habituate them during this important period. This can include carrying your puppy either in your arms or in a puppy rucksack – which will give them a chance to experience a bit more of the world around them without touching the ground. You can take them for a drive in the car – and they can even mix with puppy-friendly known adult dogs in your own garden if you are confident of their vaccination status.
Ongoing Vaccinations for Adult Dogs
After your dog has completed their puppy vaccination course, they will need ongoing booster vaccinations to help maintain protection against infectious diseases. How often these boosters are needed will depend on the vaccine and your vet will advise you on the most appropriate schedule.
What types of puppy vaccinations are needed?
Puppy vaccinations are divided into two different types: core and non-core. The core vaccines are recommended for all dogs, where non-core is recommended on a dog-by-dog basis and will depend on their lifestyle and individual risk factors. Your vet will be able to advise you on which vaccinations your dog needs.
What Do Puppy Vaccinations Protect Against?
Core vaccinations:
These are the core diseases that your pup will be inoculated against:
Canine parvovirus is a potentially fatal viral disease, spread mainly through contact with infected faeces. It’s both widespread and contagious. Symptoms often include: vomiting and diarrhoea (sometimes containing blood), fever and loss of appetite. Affected dogs usually require intensive veterinary treatment. Vaccination is critical to prevent infection and to control the spread of the disease.
Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that is also often fatal. It generally affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems and begins with a fever. It’s spread as an airborne infection and vaccination is the only effective means of control. Thankfully this condition is much less common in recent times, but reported cases have increased in areas where vaccinations have fallen. Vaccinating your puppy against it is therefore still important.
This contagious viral disease can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from fever, thirst and loss of appetite to bleeding problems and liver damage. Infection is spread through the ingestion of infected urine, faeces or saliva. The good news is that it can be prevented by vaccination.
Non-core vaccinations:
Unlike core vaccinations which are essential for all dogs, non-core vaccinations are chosen based on your dog's individual lifestyle and risk factors. For dogs with specific exposures, these can be just as vital as core vaccines; for example, Leptospirosis can be extremely serious for dogs with certain outdoor lifestyles. Your puppy may still need them if their lifestyle puts them at increased risk or under certain circumstances, such as if they are going on holiday or staying in a boarding kennel. Your vet will be able to tell you if your dog could benefit from them.
This is a potentially fatal bacterial disease generally transmitted through direct contact with infected urine or contaminated water. Rats are the main carriers of disease. Thankfully it’s less common in the UK than in other countries but, if contracted, it can cause rapid and fatal kidney and liver damage. This is one of the diseases that can be contracted by humans too in the form of Weil’s Disease.
Kennel cough is a highly contagious, but generally mild disease that can be caused by a range of infectious agents, including canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus-2 and bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica. It starts with an inflammation of the throat but it can progress to the lungs and can be more serious in young or old dogs.
The main symptom is a dry, harsh, non-productive cough, which can be followed by retching or gagging. This dog vaccine is typically given either as a nasal spray or by injection, and most reputable kennels insist on this vaccine before they’ll accept your dog.
Rabies is a very serious and fatal disease that, thankfully, isn’t currently seen in the UK. To keep it that way, it’s compulsory to have this vaccination if you want to travel with your dog abroad.
Coronavirus causes diarrhoea in dogs, particularly puppies and young dogs. You may find that this vaccine is included in combination vaccinations. Your vet will be able to tell you more.
I want to travel with my puppy/dog – what vaccinations will I need?
If you are planning to travel abroad with your dog, the key vaccination to think about is rabies. Dogs must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies before they can travel, and they usually need to wait at least 21 days after their first rabies vaccination before travelling. Your vet can also advise on the travel documents required,
If your dog is going into kennels rather than travelling abroad, you will usually need to provide proof that their routine vaccinations are up to date. Because both boarding and travel requirements can take time to arrange, it is best to check the rules well in advance and speak to your vet early so you have everything in place before your trip.
Puppy vaccination side effects
Most puppies have no side effects after vaccination. If they do occur, they are usually mild and short-lived, and usually settle within a short time.
Possible side effects can include:
- Being quieter than usual.
- Sleeping more.
- Mild fever.
- Reduced appetite.
- Swelling or tenderness at the injection site.
If your puppy seems very unwell, has severe or persistent symptoms, or you are worried for any reason, contact your vet for advice.
Want to know more about getting a new puppy? Read all about what to expect with their first trip to the vet.
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Purina Editorial Team
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