Dogs

Puppy vaccination and deworming planner

Enter your litter's birth date to get every deworming and vaccine date for the litter, from 2 weeks to the first-year booster. Planning a breeding? Switch to the breeding female for her pre-breeding, pregnancy and lactation dates.

  1. 2 weeks

    First deworming, puppies and dam

    • Deworm every puppy and the dam at 2 weeks, whatever the fecal result. Roundworms and hookworms pass to puppies before birth and through the milk, and eggs may not show in a fecal test until 4 to 5 weeks.
    • Pyrantel pamoate is the usual choice at this age. Dose by weight with an oral syringe.

    Source: CAPC hookworm guideline [S7]; AKC preventive care [S5]; AKC and SFT neonatal care [S3]

    What you need

  2. From 3 weeks

    Optional: intranasal kennel cough vaccine

    • Intranasal Bordetella with parainfluenza can be given from 3 weeks of age per label, as a single dose. It is the earliest vaccine available and useful for kennels with respiratory disease pressure.

    Plan this step with your veterinarian.

    Source: Nobivac Intra-Trac KC label [S20]; Merck Veterinary Manual, kennel cough [S21]

    What you need

  3. 4 weeks

    Second deworming

    • Deworm puppies and the dam again. Weigh each puppy and dose by weight.

    Source: CAPC hookworm guideline [S7]; AKC preventive care [S5]

    What you need

  4. 6 weeks

    First core vaccine and third deworming

    • Give the first DAPP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza) at 6 weeks, under the skin with a fresh needle and syringe for each puppy.
    • Deworm puppies and the dam a third time.
    • Record the vaccine, lot number and date for each puppy.

    Source: AAHA 2022 canine vaccination guidelines [S1]; WSAVA 2024 [S18]; AKC and SFT neonatal care [S3]

    What you need

  5. 8 weeks

    Second core vaccine, fourth deworming, microchip

    • Second DAPP 2 to 4 weeks after the first (AKC and SFT: no more often than every 3 weeks).
    • Fourth deworming for puppies and the dam.
    • Microchip with an ISO chip and register it, so registration can transfer to the buyer.

    Source: AAHA 2022 [S1]; AKC and SFT neonatal care [S3]; AAHA position statement on animal identification [S19]

    What you need

  6. 8 to 10 weeks

    Go home with a complete record

    • Send each puppy home with its vaccine and deworming record (product, lot, date), microchip number and registration, and the doses still due.
    • Tell new owners the series is not finished: DAPP every 2 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks or older, leptospirosis from 12 weeks, and rabies by a veterinarian as state law requires.

    Source: AAHA 2022 [S1]; WSAVA 2024 [S18]; AAHA animal identification [S19]

    What you need

  7. 10 to 12 weeks

    Third core vaccine

    • Third DAPP 2 to 4 weeks after the second. Maternal antibodies block early doses unpredictably, which is why the series continues (the parvo window).

    Source: AAHA 2022 [S1]; WSAVA 2024 [S18]

    What you need

  8. 12 to 16 weeks

    Leptospirosis and rabies

    • Leptospirosis is now a core vaccine: 2 doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, starting at 12 weeks, then yearly.
    • Rabies is required by state law, typically at 3 to 4 months, and in nearly all states must be given by a veterinarian.

    Plan this step with your veterinarian.

    Source: AAHA 2022 [S1]; state rabies laws [S17]; AKC preventive care [S5]

    What you need

  9. 16 weeks or older

    Final puppy core vaccine

    • The last DAPP must be given at 16 weeks or older; stopping at 12 weeks can leave a puppy unprotected.
    • Second leptospirosis dose if not done.

    Source: WSAVA 2024 [S18]; AAHA 2022 [S1]

    What you need

  10. 26 weeks to 1 year

    Booster and first-year parasite plan

    • WSAVA: a core booster at 26 weeks or later. AAHA: a booster within a year of the last puppy dose, then DAPP every 3 years; leptospirosis and Bordetella yearly.
    • Keep monthly broad-spectrum parasite prevention going and run fecal checks at least 4 times in the first year.

    Source: WSAVA 2024 [S18]; AAHA 2022 [S1]; CAPC [S7]

    What you need

A general plan based on published guidelines, not veterinary advice. Your veterinarian sets the vaccines, dewormers and doses for your dogs, and rabies must be given as your state law requires.

Sources

[S1] AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines. [S3] AKC and Society for Theriogenology, Neonatal Care (2021). [S4] Cornell Riney Canine Health Center, Canine Brucellosis. [S5] AKC, Preventative Health Care for Bitches and Puppies. [S7] Companion Animal Parasite Council, Hookworms. [S10] UC Davis, Canine Herpesvirus. [S17] Animal Legal and Historical Center, State Rabies Vaccination Laws. [S18] WSAVA 2024 Vaccination Guidelines. [S19] AAHA, Animal Identification. [S20] Merck Animal Health, Nobivac Intra-Trac KC. [S21] Merck Veterinary Manual, Kennel Cough.