Pet Vaccination & Health Schedule
Vaccination is the cheapest, most reliable protection you can give your pet. This guide explains what the shots do, when they're given, and how to keep a record that actually works.
Core vs non-core vaccines
- Core — recommended for every animal because the diseases are severe and widespread.
- Non-core — given based on lifestyle and exposure risk, like kennel cough for a boarding dog.
Dogs
- Core: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza (usually combined as DHPP) and rabies.
- Non-core: kennel cough (bordetella), leptospirosis — often annual where risk exists.
Cats
- Core: feline panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus (combined as FVRCP) and rabies.
Puppy & kitten series
Young animals need a series because antibodies from their mother can block the first shots. Typical timing:
- 6–8 weeks: first core vaccine
- 10–12 weeks: second
- 14–16 weeks: third, with rabies at the final visit
- ~1 year: booster, then every one to three years per the vaccine and local law
Why records matter
- Kennels, groomers, daycare and training classes ask for proof.
- Crossing a provincial or national border requires a valid certificate.
- An expired booster can mean restarting a series — more cost, more risk.
- In an emergency, the vet needs to know what your pet is protected against.
Titre testing
A blood test can measure existing immunity instead of boosting on a fixed schedule. Useful for older pets or those who reacted to a vaccine — but some kennels and laws still require documented vaccination. Discuss with your vet.
Common questions
When do puppies get their first vaccines?
The first core vaccine is usually at six to eight weeks, with boosters at ten to twelve weeks and fourteen to sixteen weeks, and rabies at the final visit. A booster follows at about one year old.
How often do adult pets need boosters?
After the one-year booster, core vaccines are typically boosted every one to three years depending on the vaccine and local law. Rabies frequency follows local legislation — follow your vet's schedule.
Why keep a vaccination record?
Kennels, groomers, daycare and cross-border travel all require proof of vaccination. An up-to-date record also means you never miss a booster that leaves your pet unprotected.