Puppy vaccine schedule in India: week by week
A puppy's first four months decide how well it is protected for life. Here is the week-by-week pattern most Indian clinics follow, what to do if a dose is missed and when a puppy can safely meet the world. Your veterinarian may change the plan for an individual puppy.
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Start free trialWeek-by-week puppy vaccine schedule
| Age | What usually happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | First core combination vaccine and a first deworming | Protection from the mother's milk starts to fade around now |
| 10–12 weeks | Second dose of the core combination | Builds immunity while maternal antibodies drop |
| 12 weeks | Rabies vaccine | Commonly given at about 3 months in India |
| 14–16 weeks | Final puppy dose of the core combination | Completes the series so the puppy is fully protected |
| 1 year | Boosters, then yearly or as advised | Keeps immunity up through adulthood |
Why a puppy needs several doses
A young puppy still carries antibodies from its mother, and these can block an early vaccine from working. Because nobody can tell exactly when they fade in each puppy, vets give a series of doses a few weeks apart so that at least one lands after the antibodies are gone.
What if a dose is missed or late?
Do not guess. Call the clinic, because the answer depends on the puppy's age and which dose was missed. Often the series is simply continued, but sometimes the vet restarts part of it. Clinics that send a reminder a week before each due date avoid most late doses.
When can a puppy go outside?
- Until the series is finished, avoid parks, streets and contact with unvaccinated dogs, because parvovirus and distemper spread easily.
- Quiet socialising at home with healthy, vaccinated dogs is usually fine.
- Ask your vet when the puppy can start walks, as the timing depends on the vaccines used and local disease risk.
First-visit checklist
- Bring any papers from the breeder or shelter, including earlier vaccines and deworming.
- Note the puppy's age, weight, diet and any loose stools or coughing.
- Ask for the next due date to be written down, and for a vaccination card or certificate.
- Ask about deworming and flea and tick control, which run alongside vaccines.
For clinics: one record, every dose
Record the vaccine, the date and the weight at each visit and set the next due date straight away. A puppy series has four or five dates close together, so a WhatsApp reminder before each one keeps owners on track. See the full dog vaccination chart for adult boosters.
This is general information for clinic staff and pet owners, not a substitute for your veterinarian's advice on an individual animal.
How FINTY helps
FINTY stores each vaccine on the pet's profile, calculates the next due date and sends WhatsApp reminders from the clinic's own number. 30-day free trial on paid plans, then ₹799 a month for the Vet Clinic plan.
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FINTY keeps owners, pets and vaccine history together, sends WhatsApp reminders, and bills a visit while deducting medicine stock. 30-day free trial, then ₹799 a month.
Start your clinic's free trialQuestions
What is the puppy vaccine schedule in India?
A common pattern is a first core combination vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks, a second at 10 to 12 weeks, rabies at about 12 weeks and a final combination dose at 14 to 16 weeks, then a booster at one year. Your vet will confirm the plan.
When can a puppy go for walks after vaccination?
Usually after the whole puppy series is complete, but ask your vet, who knows which vaccines were used and the disease risk in your area.
Can a puppy be vaccinated if it is already unwell?
Vets usually wait until the puppy is well, so have any illness checked first and let the vet decide on timing.
Does a puppy need deworming as well as vaccines?
Yes. Deworming is a separate treatment that often happens on the same visits, so ask your vet to plan both together.