🐾 Bringing Home a New Puppy?
Congratulations! 🎉
One of the most important things you can do for your new puppy is make sure they receive their vaccinations at the correct age.
Vaccination helps protect dogs from serious diseases such as:
🦠 Parvovirus
🧠 Canine Distemper
🫁 Canine Adenovirus
🐀 Leptospirosis
⚠️ Rabies
💚 Vihaan Vet Tip
Every puppy is different. The exact vaccination schedule may change depending on age, previous vaccines, health, lifestyle and exposure risk.
🌈 Puppy Vaccination Timeline
🍼 6–8 Weeks
💉 First Core Puppy Vaccine
Protection usually begins against:
- Distemper
- Adenovirus
- Parvovirus
✅ Your veterinarian will examine the puppy before vaccination.
🐕 9–12 Weeks
💉 Second Core Vaccination
Depending on the vaccine and your puppy's risk, Leptospirosis vaccination may also be started.
❤️ 12 Weeks Onward
🛡️ Rabies Vaccination
Rabies vaccination is extremely important in India.
Rabies is:
⚠️ Fatal once clinical signs develop
🐕 Transmitted through infected animals
👨👩👧👦 A risk to both animals and humans
💉 Preventable through vaccination
The first rabies vaccine is commonly administered from approximately 12 weeks of age, depending on the vaccine used.
🐾 12–16 Weeks
💉 Additional Core Booster
This dose strengthens your puppy's developing immunity.
⭐ 16 Weeks or Older
✅ Final Puppy Core Vaccination
This is an especially important vaccination stage.
Maternal antibodies can interfere with vaccines during early puppyhood, which is why several vaccine doses are required.
The final routine puppy core vaccination should generally be given at 16 weeks of age or older.
📋 Easy Puppy Vaccination Chart
| 🐶 Puppy Age | 💉 Vaccination |
|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | First Core Vaccine |
| 9–12 weeks | Second Core Vaccine |
| 12 weeks+ | Rabies Vaccine |
| 12–16 weeks | Core Booster |
| 16 weeks+ | Final Puppy Core Dose |
| Around 6 months | Veterinary Review / Booster if indicated |
| Adult Dog | Booster schedule according to vaccine & risk |
💜 What Does DHPP / DHPPi Mean?
You may see terms such as DHPP, DHPPi or DHPPI written on your dog's vaccination record.
🟣 D — Distemper
A serious viral disease that can affect the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems.
🔵 H / A — Hepatitis / Adenovirus
Helps protect against infectious canine hepatitis.
🟢 P — Parvovirus
A highly contagious disease that can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.
🟠 Pi — Parainfluenza
One of the infectious agents associated with canine respiratory disease.
❤️ Rabies Vaccine for Dogs in India
Rabies Vaccination Is Essential
Even an indoor dog should receive rabies vaccination.
Accidental exposure can occur through:
🐕 Other dogs
🐈 Cats
🐒 Wildlife
🦇 Other mammals
📌 Keep Your Rabies Vaccination Record Safe
You may need it for:
✈️ Pet travel
🏨 Boarding
✂️ Grooming
🐾 Daycare
📄 Government documentation
🏥 Veterinary records
💧 Leptospirosis Vaccination
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can affect both dogs and people.
Dogs can potentially be exposed through:
🌧️ Standing rainwater
🐀 Rodent-contaminated environments
💦 Contaminated water
🌿 Outdoor areas
🏞️ Muddy environments
Depending on the dog's risk and vaccine used, a veterinarian may recommend a primary vaccination series followed by boosters.
🚫 Can My Puppy Go Outside Before Finishing Vaccination?
Your puppy needs both disease protection and healthy socialisation.
❌ Avoid
🚫 Areas heavily visited by unknown dogs
🚫 Dog faeces
🚫 Sick or unvaccinated dogs
🚫 High-risk contaminated areas
✅ Safer Options
🏡 Controlled home socialisation
🐕 Meeting healthy vaccinated dogs
🚗 Short car trips
🤗 Positive handling
🌎 Carefully controlled exposure to new environments
🤒 Can a Sick Puppy Be Vaccinated?
Tell your veterinarian before vaccination if your puppy has:
🌡️ Fever
🤮 Vomiting
💩 Diarrhoea
😴 Significant weakness
🍽️ Poor appetite
😷 Severe coughing
💊 Current medication
⚠️ Previous vaccine reaction
The veterinarian will decide whether vaccination should proceed or be postponed.
💉 What Happens After Vaccination?
Some pets may temporarily experience:
😴 Mild sleepiness
🍽️ Slight decrease in appetite
💉 Mild injection-site discomfort
These are usually short-lived.
🚨 Contact Your Veterinarian Promptly If You Notice
❗ Facial swelling
❗ Difficulty breathing
❗ Collapse
❗ Persistent vomiting
❗ Severe weakness
❗ A significant or worsening reaction
⏰ Missed Your Dog's Booster?
Don't Panic!
A missed booster does not automatically mean the entire vaccination series must be restarted.
Bring your dog's vaccination card to Vihaan Pet Clinic.
Our veterinary team can check:
✅ Previous vaccines
✅ Dates
✅ Current age
✅ Lifestyle
✅ Exposure risk
and prepare an appropriate catch-up schedule.
🐕 Adopted a Dog With No Vaccination Record?
No vaccination card?
We can still help. 💙
Adult dogs with an unknown vaccination history can receive an individualized catch-up vaccination plan after veterinary assessment.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 When should puppy vaccination start?
Core puppy vaccination commonly begins around 6–8 weeks of age.
💉 How many vaccines does my puppy need?
There isn't one fixed number for every puppy.
The important goal is to continue the puppy core vaccination series until a final dose at 16 weeks of age or older.
❤️ When should the first rabies vaccine be given?
Many canine rabies vaccines can be given from approximately 12 weeks of age, depending on the vaccine manufacturer's instructions.
🏠 Does an indoor dog need rabies vaccination?
Yes.
Indoor dogs can still accidentally escape or encounter other animals.
💊 Can vaccination and deworming be done together?
It may be possible in many healthy dogs, but your veterinarian should decide after assessing the pet.
🛁 Can I bathe my puppy after vaccination?
Bathing does not remove vaccine protection.
However, because some puppies may feel tired following vaccination, unnecessary stress immediately afterward is best avoided.
💚 Why Choose Vihaan Pet Clinic?
At Vihaan Pet Clinic, vaccination isn't simply an injection.
We review your pet's:
🐶 Age
📋 Vaccination history
🩺 Current health
🏡 Lifestyle
✈️ Travel requirements
🐾 Exposure risks
and prepare an appropriate preventive healthcare plan.
🐾 Is Your Puppy Due for Vaccination?
💉 Book Your Vaccination Appointment Today
🏥 VIHAAN PET CLINIC
📍 Shop No. 2, 3 & 4
Kanam Residency 1
Kudasan, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
📞 Call: 7777992575
❤️ Because prevention is always better than treatment.
VIHAAN PET CLINIC — Caring for Pets. Supporting Pet Parents.
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer
This article provides general pet-health information and does not replace veterinary examination or professional advice. Vaccination schedules can vary depending on the pet's age, medical history, vaccine manufacturer, previous vaccination, local disease risk and lifestyle.