Puppy Year One / Puppy vaccine schedule: what AAHA recommends
Puppy vaccine schedule: what AAHA recommends
Quick answerUnder the AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, all dogs get the core vaccines: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus (with or without parainfluenza), leptospira and rabies. Puppies get at least 3 doses of the combination vaccine between 6 and 16 weeks of age, 2 to 4 weeks apart.
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Core vaccines
AAHA’s 2022 guidelines (updated in 2024 to make leptospirosis a core vaccine) list: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, plus or minus parainfluenza, leptospira and rabies.
| Vaccine | Category | Puppy dosing per AAHA table |
|---|---|---|
| Distemper / adenovirus / parvovirus (+/- parainfluenza) | Core | At least 3 doses between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart |
| Leptospira | Core | Initial series and timing set by your vet (core for all dogs per the 2024 AAHA update) |
| Rabies | Core | Timing and legal requirements vary by state or province. Your vet will schedule it |
| Bordetella, canine influenza, Lyme, rattlesnake toxoid | Noncore (lifestyle and region) | Your vet decides based on risk |
Noncore vaccines depend on lifestyle and region
AAHA notes that where noncore diseases are endemic, such as Lyme disease, a practice may treat that vaccine as core. Daycare, boarding, grooming, hiking and travel all change the list. Ask your vet.
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What to track
- Date, product and clinic for every vaccine
- Reaction, even mild, and when it started
- Deworming dates
- Your puppy’s weight at each visit
- Next visit date
Use your vet’s schedule
Schedules differ by product, risk and local law. This page is a summary of guidelines, not a plan for your puppy. Use your veterinarian’s schedule.
Frequently asked questions
How many puppy shots does a puppy need?
AAHA’s table lists at least 3 doses of the distemper-adenovirus-parvovirus combination vaccine between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart, plus other core vaccines. Your vet sets the plan.
Is the leptospirosis vaccine core now?
AAHA updated its 2022 canine vaccination guidelines in 2024 to list leptospirosis as a core vaccine for all dogs.
Sources
- AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines (updated 2024) https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/
- AAHA: Recommendations for core and noncore canine vaccines https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/recommendations-for-core-and-noncore-canine-vaccines/
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