Your Complete Guide to First-Year Puppy Vaccinations

When you bring that fuzzy ball of puppy energy into your home, you know right away that your new puppy depends on you for everything. It’s up to you to give your new puppy all the care they need every day. It can be a little intimidating  your puppy needs the best puppy food, plenty of attention, puppy training, puppy-safe toys, puppy socialization, a comfortable and safe place to sleep, and proper veterinary care. And that includes making sure to schedule puppy shots throughout your puppy’s first year.

Going to the vet over several months for a series of puppy vaccinations and then for boosters or titers throughout your dog’s life may seem inconvenient, but the diseases that vaccinations will shield our puppies and dogs from are dangerous, potentially deadly, and, thankfully, mostly preventable.

We read about so many different dog vaccinations for various illnesses that it can sometimes be confusing to know which vaccinations puppies need and which puppy shots are important but optional. Here is an overview of the diseases that puppy vaccinations will help your pet avoid.

This highly infectious bacterium causes severe fits of coughing, whooping, vomiting, and, in rare cases, seizures and death. It is the primary cause of kennel cough. There are injectable and nasal spray vaccines available.

If you plan on boarding your puppy in the future, attending group training classes, or using dog daycare services, proof of this vaccination will usually be required.

A severe and contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous systems of dogs, raccoons, skunks, and other animals, distemper spreads through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) from an infected animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment. It causes discharges from the eyes and nose, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, twitching, paralysis, and, often, death. This disease used to be known as “hard pad” because it causes the footpad to thicken and harden.

There is no cure for distemper. Treatment consists of supportive care and efforts to prevent secondary infections, control symptoms of vomiting, seizures, and more. If the animal survives the symptoms, it is hoped that the dog’s immune system will have a chance to fight it off. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months.

Infectious canine hepatitis is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and the eyes of the affected dog. This disease of the liver is caused by a virus that is unrelated to the human form of hepatitis. Symptoms range from a slight fever and congestion of the mucous membranes to vomiting, jaundice, stomach enlargement, and pain around the liver. Many dogs can overcome the mild form of the disease, but the severe form can kill. There is no cure, but doctors can treat the symptoms.

This is one of several viruses that can contribute to kennel cough.

The canine coronavirus is not the same virus that causes COVID-19 in people. COVID-19 is not thought to be a health threat to dogs, and there is no evidence it makes dogs sick. Canine coronavirus usually affects dogs’ gastrointestinal systems, though it can also cause respiratory infections. Signs include most GI symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Doctors can keep a dog hydrated, warm, and comfortable, and help alleviate nausea, but no drug kills coronaviruses.

When your puppy is around 12-to-16 weeks, talk to your vet about starting a heartworm preventive medication. Though there is no vaccine for heartworm in dogs, it is preventable with regularly administered heartworm medication that your veterinarian will prescribe.

The name is descriptive  these worms lodge in the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries (that send blood to the lungs), though they can travel through the rest of the body and sometimes invade the liver and kidneys. The worms can grow to 14 inches long and, if clumped together, block and injure organs.

A new heartworm infection often causes no symptoms, though dogs in later stages of the disease may cough, become lethargic, lose their appetite, or have difficulty breathing. Infected dogs may tire after mild exercise. Unlike most of the conditions listed here, which are passed by urine, feces, and other body fluids, heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Therefore, diagnosis is made via a blood test and not a fecal exam.

Also known as infectious tracheobronchitis, kennel cough results from inflammation of the upper airways. It can be caused by bacterial, viral, or other infections, such as Bordetella and canine parainfluenza, and often involves multiple infections simultaneously. Usually, the disease is mild, causing bouts of harsh, dry coughing; sometimes it’s severe enough to spur retching and gagging, along with a loss of appetite. In rare cases, it can be deadly. It is easily spread between dogs kept close together, which is why it passes quickly through kennels. Antibiotics are usually not necessary, except in severe, chronic cases. Your vet may prescribe a dog-safe cough suppressant to help your dog (and you) get some rest, and some dog-safe throat soothers can help make a dog more comfortable.

Unlike most diseases on this list, Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria, and some dogs may show no symptoms at all. Leptospirosis can be found worldwide in soil and water. It is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be spread from animals to people. When symptoms do appear, they can include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, severe weakness and lethargy, stiffness, jaundice, muscle pain, infertility, kidney failure (with or without liver failure). Antibiotics are effective, and the sooner they are given, the better.

Unlike the famous “bull’s-eye” rash that people exposed to Lyme disease often spot, no such telltale symptom occurs in dogs. Lyme disease (or borreliosis) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete. Transmitted via ticks, an infected dog often starts limping, his lymph nodes swell, his temperature rises, and he stops eating. The disease can affect his heart, kidney, and joints, among other things, or lead to neurological disorders if left untreated. If diagnosed quickly, a course of antibiotics is extremely helpful, though relapses can occur months or even years later.

Talk to your vet about when your puppy will be old enough for tick preventatives. Once your puppy is old enough, keep your dog on tick preventative medication, topicals, or wearables to help stop ticks from biting in the first place.

Parvo is a highly contagious virus that affects all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies less than four months of age are at the most risk to contract it. The virus attacks the gastrointestinal system and creates a loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and often severe, bloody diarrhea. Extreme dehydration can come on rapidly and kill a dog within 48-to-72 hours, so prompt veterinary attention is crucial. There is no cure, so keeping the dog hydrated and controlling the secondary symptoms can keep him going until his immune system beats the illness.

Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that invades the central nervous system, causing headache, anxiety, hallucinations, excessive drooling, fear of water, paralysis, and death. It is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Treatment within hours of infection is essential, otherwise, death is highly likely. Most states require regular rabies vaccinations. Check with your vet about rabies vaccination laws and requirements in your area.

Talk with your veterinarian about more information and guidance on necessary and optional vaccinations.

The first thing to know is that there is not just one puppy vaccination schedule for all dogs. Factors such as where you live and your dog’s individual risk factors will play a role. Some dogs may not need every vaccine. This decision is between you and your veterinarian. Always discuss puppy vaccinations during your regularly scheduled appointments.

That said, here is a generally accepted guideline of the puppy vaccination schedule for the first year:

• 6 — 8 weeks:
• Recommended Vaccinations: Distemper, Parvovirus
• Optional Vaccinations: Bordetella

• 10 — 12 weeks:
• Recommended Vaccinations: DHPP (Distemper, Adenovirus [Hepatitis], Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus)
• Optional Vaccinations: Influenza, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease (per lifestyle as recommended by veterinarian)

• 16 — 18 weeks:
• Recommended Vaccinations: DHPP, Rabies
• Optional Vaccinations: Influenza, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, Bordetella (per lifestyle)

• 12 — 16 months:
• Recommended Vaccinations: DHPP, Rabies
• Optional Vaccinations: Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease

• Every 1 — 2 years:
• Recommended Vaccinations: DHPP
• Optional Vaccinations: Influenza, Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease (per lifestyle)

• Every 1 — 3 years:
  Recommended Vaccinations: Rabies (as required by law)
• Optional Vaccinations: None

Be sure to discuss with your veterinarian when and which vaccines are appropriate based on your puppy's lifestyle and risk factors. 

The cost of puppy vaccinations can vary based on several factors, including your location and the veterinary clinic you visit. Generally, veterinarians in urban areas may charge more than those in rural areas. You may also find low-cost clinics offering rabies vaccinations, often sponsored by local governments. However, essential vaccinations like core vaccines and rabies are necessary for your puppy's health.

• Average Costs:
  
  • Core Vaccines: Typically range from $75 to $100, which includes the series of three vaccinations: at 6, 12, and 16 weeks old.
  • Core Vaccines Include: DHLPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvo, and Parainfluenza).
  • Rabies Vaccine: Usually costs $15 to $20, and some clinics may include this in the overall vaccination package.

• Shelter Vaccination Costs:
  
  • Animal shelters may charge less, usually around $20, or even offer free vaccinations. If you adopted your puppy from a shelter, it likely received its vaccinations up until the point of adoption.

• Initial Costs:
  
  • Puppy vaccinations in the first year tend to be more expensive than those for adult dogs, as they involve a series of initial shots.

There is some debate over the necessity of annual vaccinations for adult dogs. Some veterinarians believe that too many vaccinations in adult dogs can pose health risks, while others argue that yearly vaccinations are essential for preventing dangerous diseases like distemper. It's important to have a conversation with your vet to determine the vaccination protocol that best suits your dog's needs.

Many dog owners opt for titer tests, which measure a dog’s immunity levels. These tests can help determine which, if any, vaccinations are necessary. However, there is one key exception: rabies. A titer test is not an option for rabies, as this vaccination is legally required. Rabies boosters are typically valid for three years, depending on your state’s regulations.