Mochi's Clinic

Dog vaccination schedule: what and when

Keeping your dog's vaccination schedule up to date is key to protecting their health. Here we tell you which vaccines are necessary and when to give them.

This is general information: for any health concerns, consult your veterinarian.

Types of dog vaccines according to WSAVA and Spanish guidelines

The vaccination schedule must always be evaluated, adapted, and prescribed by a veterinarian based on the animal's health status, age, lifestyle, and geographical area.

WSAVA guidelines and clinical practice in Spain divide vaccines into two main groups: essential (core) and optional (non-core).

• Essential vaccines: Those that all dogs worldwide must receive to ensure solid protection against serious, globally significant infectious diseases.
• Canine distemper: A potentially fatal multi-organ viral disease.
• Canine parvovirus: Causes severe hemorrhagic diarrhea, especially lethal in puppies.
• Canine infectious hepatitis or Canine adenovirus: Affects the liver, kidneys, and vascular system.
• Polyvalent vaccine: In Spain, these three are usually administered together, often incorporating antigens against leptospirosis and parainfluenza.

Optional vaccines for dogs

Optional vaccines are administered according to your dog's lifestyle, risk of exposure, and geographical location.

• Leptospirosis: Very relevant in dogs from rural areas, environments with rodents, or aquatic areas.
• Kennel cough: Recommended for dogs that go to kennels, busy parks, daycares, or training centers.
• Leishmaniasis: Very commonly advised in clinical practice throughout the Mediterranean basin and areas of Spain where the sandfly is present.

The rabies vaccine in Spain

The WSAVA considers rabies an essential vaccine in those geographical regions or countries where the law requires it or where the virus is present.

In Spain, there is no single state regulation, and the obligation falls on the autonomous communities.

It is mandatory in most autonomous communities. There are exceptions, such as Catalonia or Galicia, where it is voluntary except for travel. Since it changes from one community to another, ask your veterinarian about the rule in yours.

The frequency of rabies revaccination varies by region: it is annual in most communities like Andalusia, biennial in regions like Aragon, La Rioja, and Navarre, and subject to the manufacturer's technical specifications in Asturias, Valencian Community, Extremadura, and Basque Country.

Puppy dose ages and initial schedule

The initial vaccination series usually begins between 6 and 8 weeks of age for puppies, which is when immunity provided by maternal antibodies decreases.

For essential vaccines, a series of doses is administered at 2- to 4-week intervals. The key WSAVA guideline indicates that the initial series must include a dose administered at 16 weeks of age or later to ensure that residual maternal antibodies do not neutralize the vaccine.

The rabies vaccine for puppies is typically given for the first time from 3 months of age or 12 weeks.

Revaccinations and boosters in adult dogs

Once the puppy series and the 12-month booster (or at 6 months at the veterinarian's discretion) are correctly completed, the demonstrated duration of immunity allows for the essential vaccines to be boosted every 3 years, as recommended by WSAVA guidelines.

In contrast, optional and risk vaccines like leptospirosis, kennel cough, and leishmaniasis usually require an annual booster schedule, as their protective duration is shorter or the environmental risk is constant.

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