Vaccination & worming planner
Puppy and kitten vaccinations run on a schedule that is easy to lose track of, and a missed booster can mean restarting the course. Enter a date of birth to see the typical timeline.
Print or note the dates once you have them, then check them against the standard schedule so nothing slips past the socialisation window. The schedule explained →
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Your pet's weight changes, and so does the right portion. Puppies grow, adults get neutered, seniors slow down. Press Ctrl + D — or ⌘ + D on a Mac — and re-run the numbers whenever something changes.
Why the timing matters
Puppies and kittens are born with antibodies passed from their mother. Those antibodies protect them for the first weeks of life — and while they are present, they also block a vaccine from working properly.
The problem is that nobody can tell exactly when maternal antibodies fade in an individual animal. It varies between litters and between siblings. That gap between protection wearing off and a vaccine being able to take is called the window of susceptibility, and it is when most preventable infections happen.
Why a series rather than one shot
The series exists to cover that uncertainty. By giving several doses at intervals, at least one is likely to land after maternal antibodies have dropped and before the animal is exposed. This is not about building immunity in layers — it is about making sure one dose lands in the right window.
This is why the final dose is the one that matters most. A puppy that has had two of three doses is not two-thirds protected. Vaccination is considered complete only after the last dose in the series, typically at sixteen weeks or later.
Before the series is finished
Full outdoor exposure should wait until the series is complete. But social development has its own timetable, and the socialisation window closes at around sixteen weeks — roughly when vaccination finishes.
Veterinary behaviour guidance is that the risk of under-socialisation outweighs the infection risk of controlled, careful exposure. Carrying a puppy, meeting vaccinated adult dogs in private gardens, and attending well-run puppy classes are all reasonable before the series ends. Public parks and unknown dogs are not.
Local requirements vary
Rabies vaccination is legally required in many jurisdictions and the required interval differs by country and region. Core vaccine schedules also vary somewhat between national guidelines. The dates here are a planning aid based on common schedules, not a substitute for your vet's protocol.
Common questions
Why does my puppy need several doses?
Maternal antibodies block vaccines from working, and nobody knows exactly when they fade in an individual animal. Several doses at intervals make it likely one lands in the right window.
Can my puppy go outside before the series is complete?
Not into public spaces where unknown dogs go. Controlled exposure — carrying, private gardens, vaccinated adult dogs, well-run puppy classes — is encouraged, because the socialisation window closes around sixteen weeks.
What happens if we miss a dose?
Contact your vet rather than restarting on your own. Depending on how much time has passed, the series may continue or need adjusting.
Are boosters needed every year?
Not for all vaccines. Modern guidance gives many core vaccines at three-year intervals after the first adult booster, while some non-core vaccines remain annual. Rabies intervals are set by law locally.
Is this schedule valid in my country?
Treat it as a planning aid. Core schedules are broadly similar internationally, but rabies requirements and some non-core vaccines differ by jurisdiction. Your vet's protocol takes precedence.