How Often Do Dogs Need Vaccinations? A Complete Guide for Dog Owners

Vaccines are among the most effective and convenient methods of keeping your dog safe from serious and potentially fatal diseases. But for many owners, the schedule is unclear. Do annual vaccines still need to be given? Should dogs who don’t go outside but stay indoors all day have the same protection as a dog that goes to the park every day? Then, how often should dogs be vaccinated, and what could be the consequences of not doing so?

Preventive care is our top priority at Grove Center Veterinary Hospital in Gaithersburg, MD. This guide helps you understand the puppy and dog vaccine schedule, what vaccinations are necessary and which are lifestyle dependent, and how to ensure your dog’s life-long protection.

The short answer is that puppies require several vaccinations 3–4 weeks apart starting at about 6–8 weeks of age until about 16 weeks of age. Core vaccines are recommended every 1-3 years for most adult dogs after a booster at one year of age, while lifestyle vaccines are recommended every 6-12 months, depending on the vaccine, such as Bordetella, leptospirosis, Lyme, and canine influenza.

Dog vaccines are important for a number of reasons.

Vaccines teach your dog’s immune system how to identify and deal with harmful viruses and bacteria before they can make your dog sick. Some diseases are capable of transmitting rapidly between dogs or to humans, such as rabies, and are even potentially fatal, like parvovirus and distemper. Prevention is so much easier – and much less stressful and expensive – than treating a serious infection, so vaccination is a key part of responsible pet care. It’s also why the inquiry into how often do dogs need vaccinations is worth a definite answer.

When Do Dogs Need to be Vaccinated? The Core Schedule

All dogs should receive core vaccines. They are resistant to most serious and most common diseases. This is the standard timetable:

• Distemper, parvovirus & adenovirus (DHPP/DAPP): These are administered to puppies starting at 6-8 weeks of age and repeated every 3-4 weeks up to 16 and beyond. A booster is given at one year and most adult dogs are given it every 3 years.
• Rabies: Once at 12-16 weeks of age, booster the next year. Boosters are then administered at 1-3 year intervals, as per vaccine type and local requirements. Dogs must be rabies vaccinated in Maryland.

Your vet will determine when your dog is due for its shots; all of these factors are important – age, health history, and vaccine product.

The Puppy Vaccine Series

Puppies are particularly susceptible as they lose the maternal antibody protection from their mother’s milk with age and so it may interfere with the early vaccines. This is why multiple shots are required instead of a single shot. Typically, puppies receive vaccines and health checks around 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age.

Owners who ask the question how many vaccinations does a dog need in the first year of life should be told that this is more than at any other time in a dog’s life, typically every 3 to 4 weeks until the young dog is finished. Do not go to dog parks, pet stores, or where dogs without vaccinations are in the same area as your puppy until the series is over. Socialization is still important, particularly when it comes to early socialization, so please let us know what the safe options are and give us a call about supervised play with healthy and fully vaccinated dogs.

Should You Give Lifestyle Vaccines to Your Dog?

Non-core vaccines are tailored to your dog’s living, travel and play habits. After vaccination, your veterinarian will help you determine how often your dog should be vaccinated in terms of risk. The most frequently occurring are:

• Bordetella or Kennel Cough is recommended for dogs that go to boarding facilities, dog parks, dog day care, or groomers, and is given every 6 to 12 months. Some facilities have it as a requirement.
• Leptospirosis: A liver/kidney damaging bacterial disease transmitted by contaminated water and wildlife urine. It is given as two doses initially and then yearly.
• Lyme disease: Recommended for dogs who have been exposed to ticks, including hiking and spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Administered in two doses and then once a year.
• Dogs in high contact areas: Canine influenza recommended. It is a two dose series with a few weeks between doses and then a yearly booster.

A brief discussion of the dog’s lifestyle during the examination is worthwhile even for dogs that spend the majority of their time at home, as they may come into contact with all of these.

Even though your dog has started adulthood, it is important to still have an annual check-up.

One of the most common questions many dog owners have is, “how often do dogs need shots when they’re grown? How often do adult dogs need to go to the vet?” While many core vaccines can last up to three years, it’s still important to get a wellness checkup every year. Your dog is weighed, examined for ticks, heart worms, teeth issues, joint concerns, eye health and vision, and screening tests for heartworm and tick-borne infections are performed as appropriate – all of this, along with reviewing the vaccinations that are needed. Early detection can result in easier and less expensive treatment.

What If My Dog is Overdue?

Life gets busy and it’s easy to forget to put on the booster. If your dog is just a bit late, one booster will likely restore protection. If a considerable amount of time has elapsed, your veterinarian may want you to repeat the series, especially with puppies and for some vaccines, like leptospirosis, which require multiple doses. If your dog’s rabies vaccine has expired, call us, as there are other legal issues to consider with rabies. Avoid waiting for the “right time,” the sooner your dog is on schedule, the safer they will be.

Rescue and Adult Dogs with unknown history vaccines.

A dog that has been adopted without records will typically begin with a new series of core vaccines and lifestyle vaccines will be discussed based on lifestyle. A blood test known as a titer may be used to determine the level of antibodies in the bloodstream, but is not a substitute for rabies vaccination under the law.

Are Vaccines Safe? Understanding Side Effects

Vaccines are extremely safe and so much better for the vast majority of dogs that the risks are minimal. Side effects are mild and common, and typically subside within a day: tiredness, slightly sore injection site, and a slight loss of appetite. Dogs very rarely develop an allergy. If you see facial swelling, hives, repeated vomiting, difficulty breathing or collapse, call us immediately or seek emergency help. If your dog had a reaction previously, inform your veterinarian, and adapt the plan accordingly.

Here are some tips to help make your vaccine visit go smoothly.

• If new to our practice, please bring your dog’s old vaccination records.
• Let the doctor know if you are sick, taking any medicines, or eating less or more than usual due to illness.
• Take treats and a favourite toy with you to make it a positive visit.
• Try to keep your dog relaxed the rest of the day and observe for any unusual behavior.
• Make a calendar reminder for the next booster to avoid forgetting.

Conclusion

Vaccines are one of the best ways to keep your dog and your community protected and up-to-date. In summary, how many times do dogs need vaccinations? The boosters should be given to puppies every two weeks until about 16 weeks old, and to all adult dogs (core boosters once every 1-3 years) plus lifestyle vaccines when advised and an annual wellness exam.

Still not sure how often do dogs need vaccinations for your dog? Our staff will create a plan just for you. Give Grove Center Veterinary Hospital a call (301) 963-0400 or schedule an appointment online. We are at 9033 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 and are prepared to keep your dog healthy for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do dogs require any further vaccinations?

Core vaccines are given annually after the booster dose at 1-year-old, then every 3 years. Core vaccines: DHPP is given every 3 years after 1-year-old vaccine and rabies is given every 1-3 years as required by vaccine and local regulations, depending on which vaccine is used. Lifestyle vaccines are given every 6 to 12 months, as recommended by the vaccine and local regulations, such as Bordetella and leptospirosis.

What vaccines do puppies need?

Puppy vaccines are a series of distemper, parvovirus and adenovirus shots given beginning at about 6 to 8 weeks of age and then every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks of age, and a rabies vaccine at about 12 to 16 weeks of age. Lifestyle vaccines may be considered based on risk.

Should my house dog get vaccinations?

Yes. All dogs should be given core vaccines and rabies vaccination is mandated by law. Indoor dogs can also become exposed by people in their home, outdoor activities, or through wildlife that come indoors or into the yard.

Is my dog able to become ill after receiving a vaccine?

Most dogs don’t have any problems or symptoms and will experience them for a short duration such as sleepiness or soreness. Severe reactions are very uncommon. If you see swelling of the face, hives, vomiting or difficulty breathing, call your veterinarian right away.

What will happen if I miss a booster?

A short gap typically translates to a single booster will provide protection, and a long gap may mean a vaccine series will need to be started again. Contact your veterinarian for advice, especially if your dog’s rabies vaccine has lapsed.