Vaccination Schedule for Puppies: What Shots Your Puppy Needs and When

Most puppies start their vaccines at 6 to 8 weeks of age and get a booster shot every 2 to 4 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old. Core puppy vaccines protect against canine distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, leptospirosis, and rabies, and lifestyle vaccines are added based on your puppy’s risk.

What Shots Does Your Puppy Need?

Puppy vaccines fall into two groups. Core vaccines protect every dog. Non-core vaccines, also called lifestyle vaccines, protect dogs with specific risk factors.

What Are Core Vaccines for Puppies?

A core vaccine is recommended for every dog, no matter where it lives or how it spends its day. Here are the core dog vaccines:

• DAPP combination vaccine: One shot protects against canine distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. These viruses spread easily and can be life-threatening diseases for young puppies. About 1 in 2 dogs with distemper die, and treatment focuses on preventing secondary infections.
• Leptospirosis: Is a core vaccine recommended for all dogs. The disease, affecting both people and animals, is caused by bacteria, as it is spread in the urine of infected animals.
• Rabies: The rabies vaccine is required by law. Rabies is nearly always fatal in people if treatment does not start before symptoms appear.

What Are Lifestyle Vaccines?

A non-core vaccine depends on your dog’s lifestyle and travel plans. Your veterinarian will ask about your puppy’s routine before recommending any of these:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica & canine parainfluenza virus: This vaccine is recommended for dogs at risk of exposure. It is given as a single intranasal dose, with subsequent boosters administered annually.
• Bordetella bronchiseptica: This vaccine is available as an injectable, intranasal, or oral vaccine. The injectable version requires two doses 2 to 4 weeks apart, while the intranasal and oral versions are given as a single dose. Subsequent boosters are administered annually.
• Canine influenza: This vaccine protects social dogs who spend time around other dogs. It takes two doses given 2 to 4 weeks apart.
• Canine Lyme disease: This vaccine may fit dogs that spend time in tick habitat or travel to areas where Lyme disease is common. Your veterinarian can tell you if your puppy needs it.

What Is the Recommended Vaccination Schedule for Puppies

This vaccine schedule follows the AAHA canine vaccination guidelines and the UC Davis veterinary hospital guidelines. Your veterinarian may adjust the timing based on your pet’s age at the first visit.

Why Do Puppies Need a Series of Shots?

Newborn puppies get temporary protection through antibodies in their mother’s milk. Those antibodies also stop vaccines from working. This protection can fade before a puppy’s own immune system is ready. Spacing shots 2 to 4 weeks apart covers that window. That is why the last DAPP dose should happen at 16 weeks of age or older.

What Does South Carolina Require for Rabies?

South Carolina requires dogs to stay current on rabies vaccination. Rabies Aware notes that every dog needs a booster within one year of the first rabies shot. After that, your veterinarian may use a 1-year or 3-year vaccine. 

Pro Tip
Keep your puppy away from dog parks until the series is complete. Puppy classes that require proof of vaccination are a safer way to socialize.

What Should You Expect After Your Puppy’s Vaccines?

Are Mild Reactions Normal?

Most puppies feel fine after their shots. Mild reactions usually pass within 24 hours:

• Soreness: Your puppy may have tenderness or slight swelling where the shot went in.
• Low energy: Your puppy may sleep more than usual that evening.
• Mild fever or low appetite: Your puppy may feel warm or skip part of a meal.

How Rare Is an Allergic Reaction?

Serious reactions are uncommon. A Banfield Pet Hospital analysis of nearly 5 million dogs found about 18 adverse events for every 10,000 dogs vaccinated. Smaller dogs and dogs getting several vaccines in one visit had higher odds. In rare cases, a puppy has an allergic reaction. Here are the warning signs:

• Facial swelling: Your puppy’s eyes, muzzle, or lips may look puffy.
• Hives or itching: Raised welts may appear, and your puppy may scratch more than usual.
• Vomiting or diarrhea: Your puppy may have an upset stomach that keeps going after the visit.
• Collapse: Weakness or trouble breathing signals one of the severe cases that need emergency care.

Call your veterinarian right away if you notice any of these signs.

What Happens After Puppyhood?

Your adult dog will need routine vaccinations for life. Most adult dogs get a DAPP booster every three years and leptospirosis every year. Rabies timing depends on the vaccine label. A yearly dog wellness exam is the best time to review your dog’s health and update shots.

Coastal Veterinary Care: Your Partner in Puppy Vaccinations 

A proper vaccination schedule gives your puppy a strong start toward a healthy life. Core vaccines guard against the most dangerous preventable diseases. Lifestyle vaccines add protection based on how your puppy lives and plays.

At Coastal Veterinary Care, our AAHA-accredited and Fear Free Certified veterinary team keeps puppy visits calm and positive. We offer puppy vaccine series starting at 6 to 8 weeks, along with wellness exams, parasite prevention, and heartworm testing as part of your puppy’s preventive care. If a concern comes up, same-day lab results help us find answers fast.

Ready to start your puppy’s vaccine plan? Contact us or schedule an appointment today to give your puppy the strong start they deserve.