Dog Vaccination Schedule for Every Stage of Life
Dogs, like people, need vaccines to help protect their health. They are certainly an important part of keeping them healthy and ensuring their quality of life. Your dog's vaccination schedule depends on its age and geographical location. Where you are in the world decides what your dog might be at risk for. Be sure to consult with your veterinarian to identify the appropriate vaccinations for your pet.
Generalized Dog Vaccination Schedule
There are two core vaccines that every dog gets and then there are others that depend on the age, health, and location of your pet. The two non-negotiable dog vaccinations are rabies and DA2PP shots. DA2PP is also known as DHPP or DAPP. This is a combination shot including Canine distemper, adenovirus-2, parvovirus, and parainfluenza vaccines.
Additionally, non-core vaccines include:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough) vaccine
- Leptospira (Leptospirosis) vaccine
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme) vaccine
- H3N2/H3N8 (canine influenza) vaccines
- Crotalus atrox (rattlesnake) vaccine
In general, a dog vaccination schedule would look like this:
- 6-8 weeks- DAPP, Bordetella, and parainfluenza
- 10-12 weeks- DAPP, Borrelia burgdorferi, Leptospira, and H3N2/H3N8
- 14-16 weeks- DAPP, Rabies, Borrelia burgdorferi, Leptospira, and H3N2/H3N8
Once the first 16 weeks of vaccine are completed, your dog should get annual and three-year vaccines.
- Annual- Rabies, Leptospirosis, Lyme, Canine influenza, and Bordetella
- Three-Year- DAPP, Rabies
Dog Vaccination Clinic
Who should vaccinate your dog? Other than the vet’s office, you have a few different options. Pet stores like Petco will often host vaccination clinic days. All in all, these are mobile, low-cost vaccination clinics, through places like Vetco. They make keeping your dog vaccinated and healthy a little easier without worrying about breaking the bank. You can also ask your local Animal Human Society if they do vaccinations for the public.
Dog Vaccination Record
Vet offices will generally keep records of any treatment they have provided and the mobile clinics will often send vaccination reminders. The problem is that they won’t always cross over. It is important to keep records of your dog’s treatments, especially if you don’t get vaccinations from your vet.
Basically, the records are scattered through different organizations and you need something that has all the information in one place. This is handy in case of emergencies so you don’t have to go searching for information. There are free vaccine templates online, or you can make your own for keeping your dog's vaccination record organized.
Vaccination Advice with Get Joy
Use Get Joy’s telehealth services to get all the vaccine answers you need. All Get Joy customers receive free 24-hour access to professional telehealth services for their pets. Ask questions about your dog’s nutritional needs, behaviors, health, and more. Contact us to learn more today.
