A puppy vaccination schedule starts at around 6 weeks of age, and the exact start depends on the mother's vaccination status. At 6 weeks your puppy receives the parvovirus vaccine on its own. From 8 to 16 weeks we give three core vaccine doses, spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart, with rabies given between 12 and 16 weeks. After the puppy series, your dog needs a booster once a year for life.
The most common mistake we see is skipping or delaying a dose. The puppy vaccination schedule only works if the full series is completed on time, so an early gap can leave your puppy exposed during the riskiest weeks of their life.
This guide gives you the full puppy vaccination schedule, the matching kitten timeline, and how deworming fits into the same visits. When you are ready, you can call the clinic to book.
Why Puppy Vaccines Matter, Especially in Lebanon
Vaccines protect your puppy against diseases that are still common here and can be fatal in young dogs. At our clinic we regularly see the diseases that core dog vaccines are designed to prevent: parvovirus, distemper, and infectious hepatitis (caused by canine adenovirus). We also include leptospirosis with the core vaccine, because we see it locally, and we treat rabies cases too.
Parvovirus is the one we worry about most in unvaccinated puppies. It attacks the gut, causes severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting, and a small puppy can crash within a day or two. Distemper and hepatitis are less common but just as serious.
Young puppies are the most vulnerable for a simple reason. The antibodies they get from their mother's milk fade over their first weeks of life, and there is a window where that protection has dropped but the puppy is not yet fully vaccinated. Good nutrition matters in those same weeks: the growth formulas we recommend at the first visit are in our Puppy Food collection. The puppy vaccination schedule is built to close that window.
In my experience, the difference is stark. An unvaccinated parvo puppy often needs several days of intensive hospital care, fluids around the clock, and still may not survive. A puppy who finished the schedule on time usually shrugs off the same exposure. That gap is exactly what these shots buy you.
These recommendations follow the global standards set by the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group, which most vets in Lebanon and worldwide use as their reference.
The Puppy Vaccination Schedule, Week by Week
Here is the core puppy vaccination schedule we follow at Healthy Pet Hospital. The start age depends on the mother's vaccination status, and your puppy's exact dates can shift slightly based on their age when you first bring them in, so treat this as the standard plan.
| Age | Vaccine | What it protects against |
|---|---|---|
| Around 6 weeks | Parvovirus vaccine only | Parvovirus |
| 8 to 16 weeks | Three core doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart | Distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis (adenovirus), leptospirosis |
| 12 to 16 weeks | Rabies | Rabies |
| Once a year, for life | Annual booster | Core diseases and rabies |
The puppy needs the core vaccine at least three times, and the final dose must land at or after 16 weeks of age. That last shot matters because, in some puppies, leftover antibodies from the mother can block an earlier dose from working fully.
What the core vaccine covers, in plain language
After the first parvovirus shot at around 6 weeks, the core vaccine given from 8 weeks combines protection against the main puppy killers in one injection: distemper, parvovirus, and infectious hepatitis. At our clinic we also include leptospirosis in the core because we see it here. Rabies is not part of the core shot, which is why it is given separately between 12 and 16 weeks.
Not all vaccines are equal
This matters more than most owners realize. Vaccine manufacturers do not all produce the same quality, and vaccines differ in which strains they cover. On top of that, a vaccine only works if it has been stored and handled correctly the whole way, in an unbroken cold chain. We regularly see puppies that were "vaccinated" with a lower-quality or poorly preserved product and still catch parvovirus. Where and how your puppy is vaccinated is as important as the schedule itself.
What happens at each visit
Each vaccine visit is a full check-up, not just a needle. We take our time. We weigh your puppy, check their eyes, ears, gums, and skin, listen to the heart and chest, and feel the belly, and we use the visit to answer your questions and give you practical tips. These unhurried exams are often how we catch small problems early, before they become big ones.
Kitten Vaccination Schedule
Kittens follow a very similar pattern, so the cat vaccination schedule is easy to remember if you already know the puppy one. Core kitten vaccines protect against feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus (rhinotracheitis), and calicivirus, plus rabies.
| Age | Vaccine | What it protects against |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 8 weeks | First core | Panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus |
| 10 to 12 weeks | Second core booster | Same diseases |
| 14 to 16 weeks | Final core booster | Same diseases, completing the series |
| 12 to 16 weeks | Rabies | Rabies |
| Once a year, for life | Annual booster | Core diseases and rabies |
Booster doses for kittens are given every 2 to 4 weeks until they are about 16 to 20 weeks old, which is the kitten shots timeline we use at the clinic.
Why indoor cats still need vaccines
A common question is whether an indoor cat really needs shots. The honest answer is yes, core vaccines are still recommended. Viruses like panleukopenia are tough and can be carried inside on your shoes or clothes, a single escape through an open door is enough, and a new cat or a vet stay can expose your cat too. Indoor life lowers the risk, it does not remove it.
Deworming and Vaccines: One Combined Schedule
Deworming and vaccination fit on the same calendar, not two separate ones. Puppies and kittens are usually dewormed several times in their first months, and those visits line up naturally with the vaccine appointments.
Combining them is easier on you and on your pet. Fewer trips, fewer stress points, and one clear plan to follow. We also check stool and weight at these same appointments, because intestinal worms are very common in young animals and can quietly hold back growth even when the puppy looks fine.
Adult Boosters: What Happens After the First Year
After the puppy or kitten series, your pet needs a booster around the one-year mark, then a core booster once a year for life. Annual boosters keep protection topped up, which is what we recommend and follow at the clinic.
The yearly visit is two things in one appointment. It is the booster when one is due, and it is a full wellness check where we weigh your pet, look them over head to tail, and talk through anything you have noticed at home. For most adult dogs and cats, that once-a-year visit is the backbone of preventive care. Flea, tick, and parasite protection belongs on this same routine.
You can read more about how core vaccines work in the VCA Hospitals guide to dog vaccines.
Questions Pet Owners Always Ask
When can my puppy go outside and meet other dogs?
Wait until about one to two weeks after the final dose of the puppy vaccination schedule, which usually means after 16 weeks of age. Before then, your puppy is not fully protected and busy public areas carry real risk. Quiet, controlled meetings with healthy, fully vaccinated dogs are safer in the meantime, so call us if you are unsure.
What side effects are normal after a vaccine?
Mild tiredness, a slightly reduced appetite, or a small tender lump at the injection site for a day or two are normal and pass on their own. What is not normal is repeated vomiting, facial swelling, hives, or trouble breathing. If you see any of those, call us right away on +961 3 517 831, the clinic answers emergencies by phone 24/7.
We missed a booster. Do we start over?
In most cases you do not have to start from zero. The usual approach is to give the missed dose as soon as possible and continue the series from there. If the gap was long, we may adjust the plan, so call us with your pet's dates and we will tell you exactly what is needed.
How much do puppy vaccines cost in Lebanon?
Costs depend on your pet's age, which vaccines are due, and whether deworming is combined into the same visit. Rather than guess, call us and we will walk you through the current schedule and pricing for your puppy or kitten.
Book Your Puppy or Kitten Vaccination Visit
The simplest way to get your puppy or kitten started is to call us. Tell us your pet's age and we will set up the right first visit and map out the full schedule for you.
For appointments and questions, call the clinic during opening hours on +961 9 548 115. For emergencies, we answer by phone 24/7 on +961 3 517 831.
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