Pet vaccine schedule for dogs and cats: what's due when

“When’s Bruno due for his shots again?” is one of those questions you re-Google every year. Here’s the rundown — and at the end, how to skip the looking-up entirely.

One note: this article isn’t a substitute for your vet’s advice. The exact schedule depends on your pet’s age, health, and lifestyle — your vet decides.

Dog: the main vaccines

• Distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus, parainfluenza (DHPP) — the core combination: a puppy series, then boosters (depending on the component, every one to three years).
• Rabies — required by law across most of the US and needed for travel elsewhere; boosted every one to three years depending on the vaccine.
• Leptospirosis and kennel cough (Bordetella) — lifestyle vaccines, sensible with lots of dog contact, boarding, or daycare.

Cat: the main vaccines

• Feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia (FVRCP) — the core combination: a kitten series, then regular boosters.
• Rabies — required in many areas and for travel.
• Feline leukemia (FeLV) — recommended for cats that go outside, after a prior test.

Why “everything once a year” is too rough

Modern guidance splits things by component: some boosters are annual, others every three years. That’s exactly why one fixed yearly catch-all often doesn’t fit — and a schedule per pet beats a rule of thumb.

Don’t keep the schedule in your head

Instead of recalculating every year, log the vaccines once and let the app hold the due date. How that works is in the digital vaccination record — reminder before the next appointment included. With several animals, the multi-pet rhythm is where it really pays off.

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