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Dog vaccination schedules: puppy vaccines and booster timing

When should puppy vaccines start, and when are boosters considered? Explore combination vaccines, rabies and kennel cough across life stages, with a puppy birth-date reference schedule and separate parasite prevention guidance for dog care in Korea.

Explore all 6 vaccines / preventives and life stages ↓
Life stage (optional)

All life stages are available without input. Leave unknown dates blank; missing records do not mean missed or overdue vaccinations.

Vaccines: what, when and why?

General guidance for dog care in Korea, not a worldwide legal schedule. Components do not all share one interval. The actual product, previous series and local requirements take precedence.

DHPPL

Combination vaccine: core viral components plus components whose use depends on exposure and product.

Targets: Distemper · Hepatitis · Parvovirus · Parainfluenza · Leptospirosis

Starting
Start around 6–8 weeks; repeat every 2–4 weeks through a final dose at 16+ weeks
Boosters / repeat intervals
Review revaccination at 26+ weeks. Later intervals differ by component, product and previous series.

Puppy

Core viral doses start around 6–8 weeks and repeat every 2–4 weeks, with the final puppy dose at 16 weeks or older. The total number depends on starting age and product.

Later puppyhood: If the initial vaccination series was not completed in puppyhood, it must be administered. Immunity is important as socialization increases contact with other dogs.

Adult

Core viral components and leptospirosis have different booster requirements. Review the product and previous series; antibody testing can inform selected core viral boosters.

Senior

Review vaccination history and current health during the senior years. For dogs with chronic conditions, agree on an individual schedule with your veterinarian.

Check before vaccination or treatment

  • Severe allergic reaction after a previous vaccination
  • Currently undergoing immunosuppressive therapy
  • Serious chronic disease present

Rabies

Prevents rabies, a fatal zoonotic disease. Check applicable local requirements and the product label.

Targets: Rabies

Starting
3 months of age
Boosters / repeat intervals
Follow the product label and local requirements

Puppy

Usually starts at 3 months or older, depending on the authorized product and local requirements.

Later puppyhood: Review whether the first dose was given as outdoor exposure increases.

Adult

Check the product and local requirements for the next booster; do not assume a universal annual legal interval.

Senior

Age alone is not a reason to stop. Review health, prior reactions and local requirements with your veterinarian.

Check before vaccination or treatment

  • Severe vaccination reaction in the past
  • Currently in acute illness

Kennel Cough

Prevents infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough). Recommended for dogs frequently exposed to multi-dog environments.

Targets: Infectious Tracheobronchitis

Starting
From 8 weeks of age
Boosters / repeat intervals
Every 6-12 months (depending on exposure environment)

Puppy

Vaccination is recommended if there is frequent contact with other dogs such as puppy kindergartens, training facilities, or grooming salons.

Later puppyhood: Socialization activity is high during this period, so vaccinate if frequently exposed to multi-dog environments.

Adult

Depends on the living environment. Recommended for frequent use of dog hotels or group walks.

Senior

Older dogs in poor health may have difficulty recovering from infection; consider vaccination if they spend time around other dogs.

Check before vaccination or treatment

  • Respiratory disease present
  • Immunosuppressed state

Parasite prevention — separate from vaccines

Oral, topical and injectable products differ in age/weight limits, coverage and duration. They cannot all be assigned a monthly interval.

Heartworm Prevention

Prevents heartworm transmitted by mosquitoes. Treatment is very difficult and dangerous after infection.

Targets: Heartworm Disease

Starting
As early as the product permits, generally no later than 8 weeks
Boosters / repeat intervals
Year-round; monthly products and long-acting injections have different intervals

Puppy

Prevention should begin from 8 weeks of age. Even young puppies can be bitten by mosquitoes, and treatment is very dangerous once worms reach adulthood.

Later puppyhood: Mosquito exposure increases with outdoor activity. Follow the prevention interval specified for the product you use.

Adult

Adult dogs are also at risk of infection, and treatment is dangerous and costly once infected. Prevention is far safer.

Senior

Senior dogs have weakened heart function and are at greater risk from infection. Continued prevention is important.

Check before vaccination or treatment

  • Liver disease present (dose adjustment may be needed)
  • Breeds with MDR1 gene mutation (Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, etc.)
  • Adverse reactions such as vomiting or diarrhea after taking preventative

Deworming

Eliminates intestinal parasites such as roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms.

Targets: Roundworm Infection · Tapeworm Infection · Hookworm Infection · Whipworm Infection

Starting
From 2 weeks of age at 2-week intervals
Boosters / repeat intervals
Adults: every 3-6 months

Puppy

Puppies can be infected with roundworms through the mother. Begin deworming from 2 weeks of age at 2-week intervals, then monthly until 6 months of age.

Later puppyhood: Risk of parasite exposure is high as outdoor activity increases. Regular deworming every 3 months is recommended.

Adult

Deworm every 3-6 months depending on the living environment. More frequent deworming if walking frequently or in contact with other animals.

Senior

Declining immunity may increase susceptibility to parasite infection. Regular deworming and fecal examinations are recommended.

Check before vaccination or treatment

  • Liver disease present
  • Pregnant or nursing
  • Very young puppies (under 2 weeks of age)

External Parasite Prevention

Prevents external parasites such as ticks, fleas, and mange mites.

Targets: Tick-borne Diseases (Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis) · Flea Allergy Dermatitis · Demodicosis

Starting
When outdoor activity begins
Boosters / repeat intervals
Monthly (or as per product instructions)

Puppy

Prevention should begin immediately when young puppies start outdoor activity. Tick-borne diseases can be fatal.

Later puppyhood: Especially important as high activity and frequent exposure to grass and outdoor environments increase risk.

Adult

Tick-borne diseases, such as babesiosis, can also be serious in adult dogs. Follow the prevention interval specified for your product.

Senior

Older dogs in poor health may have difficulty recovering from tick-borne disease.

Check before vaccination or treatment

  • Skin disease present (caution with spot-on products)
  • Digestive symptoms after oral administration
  • Liver disease present (when choosing oral products)

What about enteric coronavirus vaccines and titer tests?

WSAVA does not recommend canine enteric coronavirus vaccination routinely, so it is not automatically scheduled. Titer tests can inform immunity to selected core viruses but do not replace every vaccine.

Already have records? Bring them into your notebook

Add actual dates only. Without a confirmed product and initial series, a next dose is not automatically calculated. Keep a vet-specified date separately, then confirm the dog and save after signing in.

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Questions about dog vaccinations

When do puppy vaccinations start, and how many doses are needed?

Starting age and dose count depend on the vaccine, age at the first dose and product. The puppy combination-vaccine guide explains the initial series and final-dose age. A birth-date schedule is a reference, separate from actual clinic records.

Read the puppy combination-vaccine guide ↑

Are combination vaccines and rabies boosters given every year?

Not all vaccines or combination-vaccine components share an interval. Review the previous series and product, along with local rabies requirements. Record the next date specified by your clinic.

Read rabies timing and booster guidance ↑

Are heartworm prevention and deworming vaccinations?

Heartworm, internal parasite and external parasite prevention are managed separately from vaccines. Oral, topical and injectable products can differ in coverage and duration; one interval does not apply to every product.

Read heartworm and parasite prevention guidance ↑

What if vaccination records are missing or a reference date has passed?

A past reference date does not prove a vaccination was missed. Check previous clinic records, then enter actual vaccination dates and any next date specified by the clinic. Unknown birth dates or next dates can be left blank.

Organize actual vaccination and treatment records ↑

Does my dog need heartworm prevention in winter?

The American Heartworm Society recommends year-round prevention. Follow the clinic’s plan using the product and last administration date rather than stopping for winter. Oral, topical and injectable products may have different intervals.

Review heartworm prevention ↑

Do indoor dogs need heartworm prevention?

Mosquitoes can enter buildings, so indoor living does not eliminate exposure. American Heartworm Society guidance includes indoor and outdoor pets. Discuss the living environment and current product with your vet.

Review prevention in context ↑

What if a heartworm preventive dose is late or missed?

Contact your clinic with the product and last actual administration date. The prevention gap affects restart and testing decisions. This reference schedule does not calculate catch-up doses; record only actual administrations.

Record actual administrations ↑

Is tick prevention needed in winter, and are oral and topical products equivalent?

Tick activity depends on species, climate and living conditions; season alone does not determine when to stop prevention. Some species can persist in warm buildings. Check the labeled parasites and duration of each product, rather than its oral or topical form alone. Heartworm coverage does not automatically include ticks.

Check external parasite coverage ↑

Sources and scope

Content updated: 2026-09-20 using existing ingredient, safety and reference materials. This guide supports everyday care; discuss supplementation and vaccination with your vet in the context of your dog’s health. Benefits and precautions can differ between products.

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Dog Vaccination Schedule | Puppy Vaccines & Booster Timing | Evinutri