There are a lot of vaccines out there, and costs can add up quickly. You know that it’s probably important for your pet to stay up to date on shots, but which ones? Below is a brief overview of the most common vaccines as well as when you should give them.

Core Vaccines

Rabies: This one is pretty obvious, we would recommend this shot for pretty much every pet over 12 weeks old. In some cases it’s a legal requirement and in all cases it’s a good idea. Pets can have it as soon as they’re 3 months old, after which their second shot is due in 1 year. However, after that you only need to update it every 3 years. So keep your pets records!

DHPP/FVRCP: These combination vaccines are occasionally nicknamed ‘distemper’ although they treat for much more than that! DHPP (for dogs) helps protect against Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus while FVRCP (for cats) helps protect against Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia. In both cases, it’s a good idea to administer the first vaccine around 6-8 weeks and then booster it every month until they reach 4 months old. After that, it should be good for one year, and then 3 years for each subsequent shot provided they stay up to date.

Dogs

Bordetella: The ‘kennel cough’ vaccine. This is recommended if your dog is going to have an active social life – boarding, dog parks, day care or other exposure to new dogs. This vaccine is good for 1 year.

Leptospirosis: Found in rodent urine, this disease can be extremely unpleasant and even fatal. This vaccine is recommended in cases where the risk of exposure is high: dogs likely to spend time running around in the woods, irrigated fields, or other wet and marshy areas where wildlife can be found. This vaccine is administered in 2 doses 2-4 weeks apart, after which it should be updated at least once per year.

Lyme: This tickborne disease can also be extremely unpleasant or fatal, but pets on flea and tick preventatives run a much lower risk of contracting the disease. This vaccine is administered in 2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart and should be updated annually.

Cats

FeLV: Feline Leukemia is a widespread immunosuppressant virus and is the most common cause of cancer in cats. It is spread through contact with other infected cats and is therefore recommended for outdoor cats or cats likely to come into contact with other infected cats. This vaccine is administered in 2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart and should be updated annually.