Recommended Vaccine Schedule for Puppies & Dogs

Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect your dog from serious infectious diseases. They help build immunity before your puppy is exposed to harmful viruses and bacteria, reducing the risk of severe illness and helping keep the wider pet community healthy.

Many new dog owners wonder when vaccinations should begin and which vaccines their puppy actually needs. The answer depends on your dog's age, lifestyle and risk of exposure, but following a recommended vaccination schedule gives puppies the best possible start in life.

Core Vaccines for Puppies

At Urgent Paws Vet Clinic, we recommend beginning puppy vaccinations at approximately eight weeks of age. Puppies receive some protection from their mother's antibodies during their first weeks of life, but that protection gradually decreases, making timely vaccination essential.

Our typical puppy vaccination schedule includes:

• 8 weeks: DAPPv vaccine and deworming.

• 12 weeks: DAPPv booster, with Bordetella and Leptospirosis vaccines recommended for puppies with higher lifestyle or environmental risk, plus another deworming treatment.

• 16 weeks: Final DAPPv booster, rabies vaccine and, where appropriate, Leptospirosis vaccination, along with parasite prevention.

• 20 weeks: Some breeds or higher-risk puppies may receive an additional DAPPv booster if recommended by our veterinarians.

Each vaccination builds on the previous one, so completing the full puppy series is essential for developing long-lasting immunity.

What Do These Vaccines Protect Against?

The DAPPv vaccine protects against four serious canine diseases:

Canine Distemper is a highly contagious virus that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems and is often life-threatening.

Canine Adenovirus can cause infectious hepatitis, affecting the liver, kidneys and eyes.

Canine Parvovirus attacks the intestinal tract and immune system, causing severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration, particularly in young puppies.

Canine Parainfluenza contributes to respiratory infections and is one of the viruses commonly associated with kennel cough.

Rabies vaccination is also one that we recommend, which protects against a fatal disease affecting both animals and humans. Rabies vaccination is also required for many forms of travel within Canada and internationally.

Lifestyle Vaccines

Not every dog requires the same vaccinations. Dogs that regularly visit boarding facilities, grooming salons, dog parks or daycare may benefit from additional protection against Bordetella, one of the primary causes of kennel cough.

Likewise, Leptospirosis vaccination may be recommended for dogs that spend time outdoors, around standing water or wildlife, where exposure risks are higher. These vaccines are recommended based on your dog's lifestyle and environmental risk factors.

During your dog's wellness visit, we'll discuss your pet's daily routine and recommend the vaccines that best match their needs.

What If My Dog Has Never Been Vaccinated?

Older puppies and adult dogs can still be safely vaccinated. For dogs over four months of age with no vaccination history, we typically begin with an initial DAPPv vaccine and any recommended lifestyle vaccines, followed by a second visit three to four weeks later for a DAPPv booster and rabies vaccination. This catch-up schedule helps ensure dogs receive the same protection as puppies that begin vaccinations earlier.

Keeping Vaccinations Up to Date

After your dog's initial vaccination series, we generally recommend a booster one year later. Following that visit, we recommend annual wellness examinations and, where appropriate, transitioning to vaccines administered every three years in accordance with current AAHA recommendations. Lifestyle vaccines, such as Bordetella or Leptospirosis, may continue to be recommended annually depending on your dog's level of exposure.

Vaccination appointments are also an opportunity for us to perform a complete physical examination, monitor your dog's growth and discuss nutrition, parasite prevention and any behavioural or health concerns you may have.

Protect Your Dog for Life

Vaccinating your puppy or dog is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent serious disease and support lifelong health. By following a personalized vaccination schedule, we can help ensure your pet receives the protection they need at every stage of life.

At Urgent Paws Vet Clinic, we're committed to providing preventative care tailored to your dog's age, lifestyle and health. Whether you've welcomed a new puppy into your family or want to update your adult dog's vaccinations, our team is here to help.

Contact Urgent Paws Vet Clinic in Red Deer today to schedule your dog's next vaccination appointment.