# Dog vaccinations: types, schedule and boosters

> Core dog vaccines protect against distemper, adenovirus hepatitis and parvovirus, plus rabies in endemic areas. Puppies start at 6–8 weeks.

Source: https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/dog-vaccinations/ · Updated 25 September 2026 · English · Bahasa Indonesia: https://panduanhewan.org/id/kesehatan-hewan/vaksin-anjing/
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**Review status:** Compiled from the listed veterinary and health organisations’ guidance; not yet reviewed by a veterinarian.

**Caution:** General information for owners, not a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian. If your animal seems very unwell, in pain, struggling to breathe or may have been poisoned, contact a vet immediately.

## Key points

- Every dog needs core vaccines against distemper (CDV), adenovirus (CAV) and parvovirus (CPV-2).
- In rabies-endemic areas, WSAVA treats rabies vaccine as core even where the law does not require it.
- Puppies start vaccination at 6–8 weeks, with repeats every 2–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks, then one more dose at about 6 months.
- After that, core vaccines are generally repeated no more often than every 3 years, while non-core vaccines are usually yearly.
- Kemenkes reports that about 98% of rabies cases in Indonesia are spread by dog bites, so vaccinating your dog also protects your family.

## When should you see a vet?

- Go to a vet immediately if a puppy or a dog with incomplete vaccinations is lethargic, will not eat, has a fever, is vomiting or has diarrhoea, especially bloody diarrhoea.
- Go to a vet immediately if, soon after a vaccination, your dog develops hives, a swollen face, difficulty breathing or collapses.
- Discharge from the eyes or nose, fever, breathing problems, diarrhoea, or muscle twitching and seizures in a dog whose vaccinations are incomplete or unknown.
- A dog that suddenly changes behaviour, becoming aggressive or withdrawn, drools excessively or has trouble swallowing: keep away and contact a vet and the local animal health office or puskeswan.
- Your dog has been bitten by another dog or a wild animal in a rabies-endemic area.
- Lethargy or loss of appetite after a vaccination that does not quickly improve.

## Which vaccines does every dog need?

Every dog worldwide needs the core vaccines that protect against distemper (CDV), infectious hepatitis caused by canine adenovirus (CAV) and parvovirus (CPV-2), according to the 2024 WSAVA guidelines. In rabies-endemic areas, rabies vaccine is also core, even where the law does not require it. Leptospirosis vaccine is core where canine leptospirosis is endemic, the bacterial types involved are known and suitable vaccines are available. Modern core vaccines use CAV-2, which gives strong cross-protection against CAV-1, the cause of hepatitis.

Non-core vaccines are given according to risk, for example when a dog often stays in kennels, goes to shows or lives with many dogs. Examples are parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines, which target two causes of the infectious respiratory disease often called kennel cough. Some vaccines matter only in certain regions, such as those against Lyme disease, canine influenza (currently licensed only in the USA) and leishmaniosis. WSAVA does not recommend canine enteric coronavirus or Giardia vaccines for pet dogs. Discuss your dog's needs with your vet.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf) · [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf) · [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet dogs (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dogs-Vaccination-Table.pdf)

## When should a puppy be vaccinated?

Puppies usually start core vaccinations at 6–8 weeks of age, with repeat doses every 2–4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old or older. Antibodies from the mother, taken in through colostrum, protect puppies in their first weeks but can also block the vaccine. These antibody levels vary between puppies, so vaccines are repeated to shorten the period when a puppy is unprotected. WSAVA does not advise vaccinating more often than every 2 weeks, and calls the dose given at 16 weeks or older the most important dose in the series.

After that, WSAVA advises revaccinating at 26 weeks (about 6 months) or older, rather than waiting until 12–16 months of age. This dose protects the small number of puppies whose maternal antibodies were still blocking the vaccine at 16 weeks. The total number of injections depends on the starting age and the gap between doses. For unvaccinated dogs over 16 weeks, a single dose of MLV or recombinant core vaccine will likely protect most dogs, although some manufacturers recommend two doses. Timing of the first rabies dose follows local regulations.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf) · [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf) · [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet dogs (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dogs-Vaccination-Table.pdf)

## How long do dog vaccines last, and when are boosters due?

After the 6-month dose, MLV core vaccines for dogs are generally repeated at 3 years of age, then no more often than every 3 years. WSAVA cites extensive evidence that modern core vaccines give immunity lasting many years, so they should not be given more often than necessary. As an alternative, your vet may offer a blood antibody test (serology) to judge whether a core booster is needed yet. For older dogs, WSAVA says revaccination every three years, or perhaps more often, can be considered.

Non-core vaccines, including leptospirosis, parainfluenza and Bordetella, are usually repeated every year because their immunity lasts about a year. Rabies vaccine is repeated at one year of age or one year after the first dose, then according to the protection period stated on the product, either 1 or 3 years, unless local regulations say otherwise. Exact schedules can differ between clinics. Write booster dates on the vaccination card, and keep up yearly health checks even when no vaccine is due.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf) · [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf) · [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet dogs (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dogs-Vaccination-Table.pdf)

## Why is rabies vaccination for dogs important in Indonesia?

Dogs are the main source of rabies in people, and WHO calls mass dog vaccination the most cost-effective way to prevent human rabies. Kemenkes reports that about 98% of rabies cases in Indonesia are spread by dog bites. According to a 2025 Kemenkes circular, 26 of 38 provinces are still rabies-endemic, and 185,359 bites by rabies-transmitting animals and 122 human deaths were reported in 2024. Because rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, prevention in dogs is vital.

The Ministry of Agriculture states that if more than 70% of the susceptible animal population is vaccinated, the spread of the virus can be suppressed or even stopped. Rabies vaccine is available through government programmes, vet clinics and private vets. In some areas, animal health centres (puskeswan) and local offices provide free rabies vaccination, for example in Buleleng Regency and Bali Province. Ask for a vaccination card every time your dog is vaccinated, keep it safe, and keep the vaccine up to date with boosters.

Evidence: [WHO — Rabies fact sheet](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies) · [Kemenkes — 8 dari 34 Provinsi di Indonesia Bebas Rabies (2020)](https://kemkes.go.id/id/8-34-provinsi-indonesia-bebas-rabies) · [Kemenkes — Surat Edaran HK.02.02/C/508/2025 tentang Kewaspadaan terhadap Kasus Rabies (PDF)](https://www.kemkes.go.id/app_asset/file_content_download/174239565067dad9023342a5.65970066.pdf) · [Ditjen PKH Kementan (BVet Subang) — Gencar Vaksinasi Hewan Tertular, Indonesia Siap Bebas Rabies di Tahun 2030](https://bvetsubang.ditjenpkh.pertanian.go.id/berita/gencar-vaksinasi-hewan-tertular-indonesia-siap-bebas-rabies-di-tahun-2030) · [Dinas Pertanian, Ketahanan Pangan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Buleleng — Pelayanan Vaksinasi Rabies di Puskeswan Buleleng](https://distankan.bulelengkab.go.id/informasi/detail/berita/36_pelayanan-vaksinasi-rabies-di-puskeswan-buleleng) · [Dinas Pertanian dan Ketahanan Pangan Provinsi Bali — Vaksinasi Rabies Massal 2025 pada Hewan Penular Rabies (HPR)](https://distanpangan.baliprov.go.id/vaksinasi-rabies-massal-2025-pada-hewan-penular-rabies-hpr/)

## Can a puppy go out before its vaccinations are complete?

Yes, with care: WSAVA supports early socialisation and says it can begin before the vaccination series is finished, as long as it happens under controlled conditions. Socialisation is important for healthy behavioural development. However, puppies with incomplete vaccinations should be kept away from outdoor places that may be contaminated, and should only meet healthy puppies or fully vaccinated adult dogs. According to WSAVA, research shows that the parvovirus risk for puppies attending well-run early socialisation classes is low.

This care matters because parvovirus spreads through contact with faeces containing the virus, or through contaminated objects and surroundings. According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, young dogs aged 6 weeks to 6 months that are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated are the most susceptible. Early signs can include lethargy, loss of appetite and fever, followed by vomiting and diarrhoea that is often bloody. Distemper spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from infected dogs and can affect the airways, the gut and the nervous system.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf) · [MSD Veterinary Manual — Canine parvovirus](https://www.msdvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-stomach-and-intestines-in-small-animals/canine-parvovirus) · [MSD Veterinary Manual — Canine distemper](https://www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/canine-distemper/canine-distemper)

## What are the side effects of dog vaccines?

Most dogs have only mild reactions, such as pain or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, reduced appetite, fever or occasional vomiting. More serious reactions, such as hives and anaphylaxis, are less common. In a Japanese study cited by WSAVA, most reactions appeared within 12 hours of vaccination, and every case of anaphylaxis began within 60 minutes. WSAVA also notes that small dogs receiving several vaccines at one visit are at higher risk of acute reactions.

At a vaccination visit, the vet should give your dog a full health check and discuss which vaccines suit its lifestyle. Tell your vet if your dog is unwell, pregnant or has reacted to a vaccine before. The vet will record the vaccine name, batch number, date and injection site in the medical record. Because severe reactions usually appear quickly, ask whether you should wait at the clinic for a short time after vaccination, and contact your vet promptly if anything worries you.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf) · [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf)

## Sources & references

1. [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf)
2. [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf)
3. [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet dogs (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dogs-Vaccination-Table.pdf)
4. [MSD Veterinary Manual — Canine parvovirus](https://www.msdvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-stomach-and-intestines-in-small-animals/canine-parvovirus)
5. [MSD Veterinary Manual — Canine distemper](https://www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/canine-distemper/canine-distemper)
6. [WHO — Rabies fact sheet](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies)
7. [Kemenkes — Surat Edaran HK.02.02/C/508/2025 tentang Kewaspadaan terhadap Kasus Rabies (PDF)](https://www.kemkes.go.id/app_asset/file_content_download/174239565067dad9023342a5.65970066.pdf)
8. [Kemenkes — 8 dari 34 Provinsi di Indonesia Bebas Rabies (2020)](https://kemkes.go.id/id/8-34-provinsi-indonesia-bebas-rabies)
9. [Ditjen PKH Kementan (BVet Subang) — Gencar Vaksinasi Hewan Tertular, Indonesia Siap Bebas Rabies di Tahun 2030](https://bvetsubang.ditjenpkh.pertanian.go.id/berita/gencar-vaksinasi-hewan-tertular-indonesia-siap-bebas-rabies-di-tahun-2030)
10. [Dinas Pertanian, Ketahanan Pangan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Buleleng — Pelayanan Vaksinasi Rabies di Puskeswan Buleleng](https://distankan.bulelengkab.go.id/informasi/detail/berita/36_pelayanan-vaksinasi-rabies-di-puskeswan-buleleng)
11. [Dinas Pertanian dan Ketahanan Pangan Provinsi Bali — Vaksinasi Rabies Massal 2025 pada Hewan Penular Rabies (HPR)](https://distanpangan.baliprov.go.id/vaksinasi-rabies-massal-2025-pada-hewan-penular-rabies-hpr/)
12. [MSD Veterinary Manual — Rabies in animals](https://www.msdvetmanual.com/nervous-system/rabies/rabies-in-animals)

## Keep exploring

- [Rabies in dogs and cats: signs and prevention](https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/rabies-in-dogs-and-cats/)
- [Neutering cats and dogs: benefits, timing and aftercare](https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/neutering-cats-and-dogs/)
- [Choosing a vet and vet clinic in Indonesia](https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/choosing-a-vet-in-indonesia/)
- [Canine parvovirus: signs, spread and prevention](https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/canine-parvovirus/)
- [Domestic dog](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/dog/)

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Cite: PanduanHewan. (2026). Dog vaccinations: types, schedule and boosters. PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/dog-vaccinations/