Puppy Vaccine Schedule: Which Shots Your Puppy Needs and What They Cost

Bringing home a puppy is exciting, and it comes with a lot of questions. Which shots does my puppy need? How many visits will it take? How much will it all cost? This guide walks you through a typical puppy vaccine schedule, explains what each vaccine protects against, and shares the real prices at Happy Paws & Claws in Englewood, Ohio, so you can plan your puppy's first few months.

Quick answer: Most puppies start vaccines at 6 to 8 weeks old and get a booster every 3 to 4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old. Rabies is given around 12 to 16 weeks. At our clinic, a first puppy visit is $65, a vaccine booster visit is $32, and the core DAPP vaccine is $46.73.

Why Puppies Need a Series of Shots

Puppies get some early protection from their mother's milk. That protection fades over the first few months, but while it is still there it can block a vaccine from working. Nobody can tell exactly when it wears off for each puppy. That is why puppies get a series of boosters a few weeks apart instead of one shot. The series makes sure your puppy is protected once the mother's antibodies are gone.

It also means a puppy is not fully protected until the series is finished. Until then, it is best to avoid places where lots of unknown dogs go, like dog parks and pet store floors.

A Typical Puppy Vaccine Schedule

Every puppy is different, and our veterinarian will tailor the plan to your puppy's age, health and lifestyle. As a general guide:

• 6 to 8 weeks: First DAPP vaccine and a full nose-to-tail exam. We talk about deworming, parasite prevention, diet, house training and when to plan a spay or neuter.
• 9 to 12 weeks: DAPP booster. Lifestyle vaccines may start now, such as Bordetella, leptospirosis, Lyme or canine influenza, depending on your puppy's risk.
• 12 to 16 weeks: DAPP booster and rabies vaccine. Second doses of any two-dose lifestyle vaccines are given 2 to 4 weeks after the first.
• About 16 weeks: Final DAPP booster in the puppy series.
• About 1 year later: Boosters for DAPP and rabies. After that, many vaccines move to a longer schedule.

This follows the general approach in the AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, which recommend at least three doses of the core vaccine 2 to 4 weeks apart, a booster within a year, and then boosters every few years for core vaccines.

If you adopt a puppy who is already older than 16 weeks, or you do not know their vaccine history, do not worry. We will build a catch-up plan.

Core Vaccines Every Puppy Needs

DAPP is the main puppy vaccine. It protects against:

• Distemper, a serious virus that can affect the lungs, gut and brain
• Adenovirus, which causes infectious hepatitis
• Parvovirus, a very contagious virus that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and can be deadly for young puppies
• Parainfluenza, one of the causes of kennel cough

Rabies is the other core vaccine. Rabies is fatal and can spread to people. In Ohio, rabies vaccination for dogs is backed by state law and local health districts, so every dog should stay current.

Lifestyle Vaccines

Some vaccines depend on where your puppy goes and what they do. Our team will help you decide which ones make sense:

• Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease spread through the urine of wildlife like raccoons and deer, often in puddles and standing water. National guidelines now recommend it for most dogs, and we offer it combined with DAPP.
• Bordetella (kennel cough), for puppies who will go to boarding, daycare, grooming or training classes.
• Lyme, for dogs who spend time in wooded or grassy areas where ticks live.
• Canine influenza, for dogs in close contact with lots of other dogs.

How Much Do Puppy Shots Cost?

These are the current prices at Happy Paws & Claws:

• First puppy visit (exam): $65
• Vaccine booster visit: $32
• DAPP: $46.73
• DAPP with leptospirosis: $46.73
• Rabies: $47.48
• Bordetella: $30.84
• Canine influenza: $57.74
• Lyme: $78.74
• Heartworm and tick testing (Lyme, Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis): $62.83

Your total depends on how old your puppy is at the first visit and which lifestyle vaccines they need. A puppy who starts at 8 weeks will usually have more visits than one who starts at 12 weeks. We are happy to give you an estimate for your puppy's whole series before you start. See all current prices on our pricing page.

Are Vaccines Safe for Puppies?

Vaccines are one of the safest and most important things you can do for your puppy. Most puppies feel completely normal afterward. Some are a little sleepy or sore for a day.

Call us right away if your puppy has facial swelling, hives, vomiting, diarrhea or trouble breathing after a vaccine. These reactions are uncommon, but they need prompt care. If your puppy has reacted before, tell us so we can plan ahead.

More Than Shots: What Else Happens at Puppy Visits

Each puppy visit is also a check-up. We use those visits to:

• Watch your puppy's growth and weight
• Check for parasites and plan deworming, flea, tick and heartworm prevention
• Talk about food and how much to feed, with help from our pet nutrition team
• Answer questions about chewing, biting, crate training and house training
• Plan a microchip and the right time to spay or neuter. Our dog spay and neuter cost guide explains timing and prices.

Tips for Your Puppy's Vaccine Visits

• Bring any records from the breeder, shelter or rescue
• Bring a fresh stool sample if you can
• Bring small treats to make the visit a happy one
• Write down your questions ahead of time
• Keep your puppy on a leash or in a carrier in the lobby

Schedule Your Puppy's First Visit

Happy Paws & Claws is a full-service veterinary clinic at 55 Hillside Ct., Englewood, OH 45322, caring for puppies and dogs from Englewood, Clayton, Vandalia, Huber Heights, Dayton and nearby towns. To start your puppy's vaccine series, call 937-595-0660 or request an appointment. You can also learn more about pet vaccinations at our clinic and wellness exams.

This article is general information and is not a substitute for an exam. Your veterinarian will recommend the right vaccine schedule for your puppy.