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Vaccinations are essential in preventing infectious diseases. The most common diseases for which dogs will need vaccines are Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Parvovirus infections, Bordetellosis, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis and Rabies. The schedule for vaccinations vary depending on the dog’s age and activity level and your veterinarian is the best person to advise you on a vaccination schedule for your dogs.

Vaccination for the brood bitch: It is very important that the vaccination schedule for the bitch be carefully followed, because pups receive immunity to certain diseases from their mothers’ milk, as long as the females have been properly vaccinated.

Vaccination for new litters: Vaccinations given at the right time help the immune system of puppies. Some vaccination routines are started as early as 6 weeks of age, others at 8 weeks. A course of vaccinations will need to be given, and then the pup will need regular boosters. Your vet is the best person to advise you on when and how often the pups need to be vaccinated, and which vaccines to administer.

Many litters are born with roundworms. To ensure that the pups thrive, it is important to get rid of these worms. It's not a difficult process as there are many easy to use, safe and effective de-worming products available for this purpose, and your vet will be able to prescribe a suitable treatment. Treatment usually begins from the age of three weeks, before the pup shows signs of worms, repeating as and when necessary.

Vaccination for puppies: After the pup has reached 16 weeks of age most vaccinations are given annually, excluding the rabies vaccine. According to the guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the first rabies shot should take place at 12 weeks and the second shot at 64 weeks. After this it depends on local laws, usually falling between 1 - 3 years. The vaccination schedule may be modified depending on when the pups were weaned.

One of the vaccines often given to puppies is a combination vaccine that protects against Canine Distemper virus, Canine Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and Canine Parvovirus.

Suggested vaccination schedule for puppies:

DISEASE

1st
shot

2nd shot

3rd
shot

Revaccination
Interval



Weeks of age



Distemper

6 - 10

10 - 12

14 - 16

annually
thereafter

Infectious Canine Hepatitis

6 - 8

10 - 12

14 - 16

annually
thereafter

Parvovirus infections

6 - 8

10 - 12

14 - 16

annually
thereafter

Bordetellosis

6 - 8

10 - 12

14 - 16

annually
thereafter

Parainfluenza

6 - 8

10 - 12

14 - 16

annually
thereafter

Leptospirosis

10 - 12

14 - 16



annually
thereafter

Rabies

12

64





1 - 3 years
depending on
local laws