Cat and dog vaccination schedule: when to start and how often

Which vaccines are core?

Core vaccines are the ones every pet needs, wherever it lives, because they protect against serious, widespread diseases:

• Dogs: distemper, infectious hepatitis (adenovirus) and parvovirus.
• Cats: panleukopenia (feline distemper), calicivirus and herpesvirus, the two main causes of cat flu.
• Rabies: core wherever the disease is present, and usually required for travel with your pet.

The puppy and kitten schedule

• First dose: at 6–8 weeks old.
• Next doses: every 2–4 weeks, and not less than 2 weeks apart.
• Last dose of the series: at 16 weeks old or later, one of the most important doses.
• Booster: at around 26 weeks (6 months).

After the first year

According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), adult dogs and low-risk cats need core boosters no more often than every 3 years. Cats that go outdoors or mix with other cats may need cat-flu vaccines yearly, and some vaccines, such as rabies, follow the product’s duration and local rules. That’s why we keep a personal schedule for each pet and remind you when a dose is due.

Before and after the vaccine

• Bring any previous vaccination record.
• Tell the vet about any diarrhoea, vomiting or lethargy before the vaccine.
• Mild tiredness or a sore spot at the injection site for a day or two is normal.
• Contact us straight away if you see face swelling, breathing difficulty or repeated vomiting after a vaccine.