ASK A VET™
Puppy & Kitten Vaccination, Worming & Flea Calendar
Set up a new puppy or kitten from their birth date — or an adult pet already on maintenance — and get a plan that keeps reminding you forever: vaccines, worming, flea and tick, and lifelong boosters, synced to your phone. You can even snap a photo of each vaccine label for your records.
1 Your pet
Please read. This tool builds a suggested schedule from widely used vaccination, worming and flea protocols for the region and products you pick. It is general guidance for pet owners, not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always check the product label and confirm the final plan with your own veterinarian.
Puppy and kitten vaccination, worming and flea control, explained
The first six months of a puppy or kitten's life carry more preventive care than any other stretch they will live through. Three jobs drive almost all of it: building vaccine immunity as the protection they were born with fades, clearing the intestinal worms that nearly every young animal carries, and keeping fleas and ticks off them. Get the timing right and you close the windows where a puppy can catch parvovirus, a kitten can catch panleukopenia, or a paralysis tick can kill in a day. This tool turns your pet's birth date into real dates for each of those jobs, lets you switch on the vaccines your vet recommends, and schedules your actual flea and wormer brand at the correct interval.
Quick answer
Core vaccines start at 6 to 8 weeks, with a second dose around 12 weeks and a final dose at 16 weeks or older, then a booster at 6 to 12 months. Intestinal worming runs every 2 weeks from 2 to 12 weeks, then monthly to 6 months, then every 3 months for life. Flea and tick prevention starts around 7 to 8 weeks and repeats on your product's interval. On top of the core course, your pet may need non-core vaccines such as rabies, leptospirosis, kennel cough, canine influenza, Lyme, FeLV or chlamydia depending on where you live and how they live.
Puppy and kitten vaccination schedule by age
This is the typical timeline the tool builds from a birth date. Your vet may vary it by a week or two, and non-core vaccines are added where you live and how your pet lives.
| Age | Vaccination | Worming & parasites |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | 1st core vaccine (dog DHP / C3 / DAPP; cat FVRCP / F3) | Worming (fortnightly from ~2 weeks); first flea/tick product from ~7–8 weeks |
| 10–12 weeks | 2nd core vaccine; ± leptospirosis, kennel cough, other non-core | Worming; start heartworm prevention where relevant |
| 14–16 weeks | Final core vaccine (must be at 16 weeks+); ± rabies where legal (US/CA/HK/UAE/ZA/IN) | Worming; microchip if not already done |
| ~5 months | Hong Kong: rabies + dog licence at 5 months | Discuss desexing timing |
| 6 months | Some protocols: first booster (WSAVA) | Worming moves to every 3 months |
| 12 months | First adult booster; rabies booster ~1 year after the primary dose | Annual health check; annual heartworm test (dogs) |
| Adult, ongoing | Core booster every 1 or 3 years (by product); leptospirosis, kennel cough & other non-core every year | Worming every 3 months; flea/tick on your product's interval |
Vaccination schedules by country
Puppy & kitten vaccination schedule in Australia
Australian puppies get a C3 (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus) at 6–8, 12 and 16 weeks, or a C5 which adds kennel cough for dogs that board, go to daycare or puppy school. Kittens get an F3 (panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus), with F4 adding chlamydia and FeLV offered for outdoor cats. Australia is rabies-free, so rabies is only needed for export. Leptospirosis is risk-based and more important in parts of Queensland and urban north-east areas.
Puppy & kitten vaccination schedule in the UK
UK puppies get DHP plus leptospirosis (L4), usually starting at 8 weeks with a second dose at 10–12 weeks, and many vets now add a 16-week dose. Kittens get RCP, with FeLV for outdoor cats. Rabies is only for pet travel. Kennel cough is commonly required by boarding kennels.
Puppy & kitten vaccination schedule in the US
US puppies get DAPP at 6–8, 10–12 and 14–16 weeks, plus rabies (legally required in most states, from 12–16 weeks, boosted at 1 year then every 1–3 years) and leptospirosis, now considered core for most dogs. Non-core options include canine influenza and Lyme disease. Kittens get FVRCP plus rabies, and FeLV is recommended for all kittens.
When can my puppy go outside after vaccinations?
This is one of the most searched puppy questions, and the answer is a balance. On the infection side, most vets advise keeping a puppy off the ground in public places and away from unknown dogs until about one to two weeks after the final puppy vaccine, which usually means around 16 to 18 weeks of age, when immunity is reliable. On the behaviour side, the socialisation window closes at roughly 16 weeks, and a puppy that misses positive experiences in that window is far more likely to grow into a fearful or reactive adult. The resolution most behaviour and veterinary bodies land on is to socialise safely and early: carry your puppy in your arms in busy places, invite fully vaccinated, healthy adult dogs to your home or garden, and attend a well-run puppy class that requires vaccination, rather than waiting in isolation until the course is finished. Always confirm the timing for your area with your own vet, since local disease risk changes the advice.
Core versus non-core vaccines
Every dog and cat, anywhere in the world, needs the core vaccines: for dogs that is distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis and parvovirus (the "DHP", sold as C3 in Australia, DAPP in the US, a 5-in-1 in Hong Kong); for cats it is panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus (the "FVRCP" or F3). These protect against diseases that are common, severe and often fatal. Non-core vaccines are chosen based on geography and lifestyle. This tool switches them on and off so the calendar matches your pet's real risk rather than a one-size-fits-all list.
The non-core vaccines this tool covers
- Rabies — legally required in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, the UAE, South Africa and India, and needed for pet travel out of Australia, the UK, New Zealand and the EU. Usually given from 12 weeks, boosted at 1 year, then every 1 to 3 years. Hong Kong ties it to dog licensing from 5 months of age.
- Leptospirosis — a bacterial infection spread in rat urine and water, and one that can infect people. Now considered core for most dogs in the US and Canada, standard practice in the UK (the "L4"), and risk-based elsewhere. A two-dose puppy course that needs yearly boosting.
- Kennel cough (Bordetella + parainfluenza) — the "C5" component in Australia. Usually required before boarding, daycare or puppy school.
- Canine influenza — mainly a US concern, for dogs that mix at daycare, boarding or shows.
- Lyme disease — for dogs in tick-endemic areas of the US, Canada and parts of Europe.
- Feline leukaemia (FeLV) — recommended for all kittens and essential for cats with any outdoor access; a two-dose course after a FeLV test.
- Chlamydia and cat Bordetella — for multi-cat households, catteries and shelters.
Worming: pick your product, get the right interval
Roundworm larvae pass to puppies and kittens before birth and in the milk, so most are born already infected. That is why worming is aggressive early: every two weeks to twelve weeks, then monthly to six months, then every three months for life. What changes after that is your product. A dedicated all-wormer like Drontal, Cazitel, Endogard, Popantel or Milbemax is given every three months for maintenance and covers tapeworm, including hydatid. Some monthly combination products such as Advocate cover intestinal worms but not tapeworm, so you add a tapeworm wormer alongside them. Panacur (fenbendazole) is a multi-day course, not a single dose, and is commonly under-dosed. And a very common mistake: Frontline is a flea product and does not treat intestinal worms at all. Select your actual brand in the tool and it schedules the correct interval and flags any gap in cover.
Fleas, ticks and the one warning that matters most
Flea and tick products divide into monthly chews and spot-ons (NexGard, Simparica, Credelio, Frontline, Advantage, Advocate, Revolution), three-monthly options (Bravecto), and long-acting collars (Seresto, eight months). The tool schedules whichever you pick. Two safety points are built in. First, the isoxazoline class (Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica, Credelio, Revolution Plus) carries a regulator warning about rare neurological effects such as tremors and seizures, so use them with care in a pet with a seizure history. Second, and most important: dog flea products containing permethrin, such as K9 Advantix, Vectra 3D and Permoxin, are highly toxic and can be fatal to cats, even from contact with a treated dog. Never put a dog product on a cat, and keep treated dogs away from cats until dry. The tool only offers species-appropriate products and shows this warning on every cat profile.
The extras worth putting in the calendar
Beyond vaccines and parasites, the first-year milestones toggle adds the jobs owners forget: microchipping (a legal requirement in many places, and tied to licensing in Hong Kong), the first vet health check at homecoming, the socialisation window that closes around 16 weeks and shapes a puppy or kitten's whole temperament, the desexing conversation around 4 to 6 months, the booster, an annual health check, and a heartworm test where relevant. You can also add a titre-test reminder if you prefer to check immunity by blood test rather than boost on a fixed schedule.
Already have an adult dog or cat?
This tool is not just for new puppies and kittens. Switch Life stage to Adult pet and it builds a lifelong maintenance plan instead of a first-year course. Enter your pet's last core vaccination date and, if relevant, their last rabies date, and it works out when the next boosters are due and then repeats them automatically forever — core boosters on your one or three year cycle, rabies on its cycle, the yearly non-core boosters, and worming and flea or tick prevention on your product's interval starting today. Leave a date blank and that item is simply treated as due now, ready for you to move to the real date. It means an adult rescue, a dog you've had for years, or a cat you just want to get organised can all be set up in under a minute.
Keep a photo record of every vaccine
The single most useful thing you can do at a vaccination visit is photograph the label. Every vaccine has a batch or serial number and an expiry, and the certificate records the date and product. If there is ever a reaction, a recall, a boarding or travel requirement, or a change of vet, that information matters and is easily lost. Use the records section to snap the vaccine sticker or certificate straight from your phone, add the product, date and batch number, and save or print a tidy record sheet. For permanent storage that follows your pet everywhere, keep them in your pet's profile in the ASK A VET™ app.
Adult boosters: 1-year versus 3-year vaccines
Once the puppy or kitten course and the first adult booster are done, how often your pet needs boosting depends on the exact vaccine your vet uses, which is why this tool asks. The modern core viral vaccines (distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus in dogs; panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus in cats) are often licensed to last three years, so many pets move to a triennial core booster after their first-year shot. Some products are licensed for only one year, in which case the core booster stays annual. Set the duration here to match what your clinic gives and the calendar projects the right adult booster dates.
Rabies works the same way: after the primary dose there is a booster about one year later, and then it repeats every one or three years depending on the product and, importantly, on local law, which sometimes mandates a shorter interval than the vaccine allows. The tool schedules that one-year rabies booster and then the ongoing cycle you choose, with reminders.
One thing that does not change: leptospirosis, kennel cough, canine influenza and Lyme are short-duration vaccines that need a booster every single year, no matter what your core interval is. If you have those switched on, the calendar adds a yearly booster reminder for them.
Moving the dates and syncing your calendar
The dates are built from ideal ages counted forward from the birth date. Real life rarely lands on them, so drag any event to the day you can actually get an appointment, or change its date in the list. A few days either side of a vaccine makes no meaningful difference; the one rule worth protecting is keeping that final puppy or kitten dose at 16 weeks or older. When it looks right, use the Apple, Google or Outlook / Microsoft button to sync everything to your calendar in one go, each as an all-day event with a reminder and your vet's details attached.
The important part for the years ahead: the repeating reminders are true recurring events. Worming, flea and tick doses, and the ongoing boosters, are exported as calendar events that repeat on their own schedule — worming every three months, flea monthly, core boosters every one or three years, and so on. That means you import once and your calendar keeps reminding you for the life of your pet, instead of the reminders running out after a year. You can still adjust or delete any of them in your own calendar later.
Frequently asked questions
When do puppies and kittens need their vaccinations? The core course starts at 6 to 8 weeks, with a second dose around 12 weeks and a final dose at 16 weeks or older, then a booster at 6 to 12 months. The final dose must be at 16 weeks or later because maternal antibodies can block vaccines given earlier.
What is the puppy vaccination schedule? A typical puppy schedule is a first vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks, a second at about 12 weeks, and a final dose at 16 weeks or older, then a booster at 6 to 12 months and adult boosters every 1 to 3 years. In Australia this is sold as C3 or C5, in the US as DAPP, and in the UK as DHP plus leptospirosis. Worming runs every 2 weeks to 12 weeks, then monthly to 6 months, then every 3 months.
When can my puppy go outside after vaccinations? Most vets advise waiting until about one to two weeks after the final puppy vaccine, which lands at roughly 16 to 18 weeks of age, before letting a puppy walk in public areas or meet unknown dogs. Because the socialisation window is closing at the same time, safe socialisation with vaccinated dogs, in your own garden, and carried in your arms is encouraged earlier. Confirm timing with your vet.
How often should I worm and flea my puppy or kitten? Intestinal worming runs every two weeks from about two weeks to twelve weeks, then monthly to six months, then every three months for life. Flea and tick prevention usually starts around seven to eight weeks and repeats on the interval of the product you use, monthly for most chews and spot-ons, every three months for Bravecto, or every eight months for a Seresto collar.
How often should I worm an adult dog or cat? Adult dogs and cats are usually wormed for intestinal worms every three months, or monthly if you use a monthly all-in-one product that includes a wormer. In tapeworm or hydatid areas, and for hunting or raw-fed pets, more frequent tapeworm treatment may be advised.
How often do adult dogs and cats need booster vaccinations? After the puppy or kitten course and the first adult booster, the core viral vaccine is boosted every one or three years depending on the exact product your vet uses, so ask which they give. Rabies has a booster about one year after the primary dose, then every one or three years by product and local law. Leptospirosis, kennel cough, canine influenza and Lyme need a booster every year regardless.
Is a 1-year or a 3-year vaccine better? Modern core viral vaccines are often licensed for three years, so many pets move to a triennial booster after their first-year shot, which means fewer injections. Some products are licensed for one year only. Neither is safer than the other; what matters is matching the booster interval to the exact product your vet uses, and remembering that non-core vaccines like leptospirosis still need boosting every year, and that an annual health check is valuable regardless.
Which non-core vaccines might my pet need? It depends on where you live and your pet's lifestyle. Common extras are rabies (legally required in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, UAE, South Africa and India, and needed for travel from Australia, the UK, NZ and the EU), leptospirosis, kennel cough (Bordetella), canine influenza, Lyme disease for dogs, and feline leukaemia (FeLV) and chlamydia for cats.
Why can't cats use some dog flea products? Dog flea products that contain permethrin or concentrated pyrethroids, such as K9 Advantix, Vectra 3D and Permoxin, are highly toxic and can be fatal to cats, even from contact with a treated dog. Never use a dog product on a cat, and keep treated dogs away from cats until dry. Always use a product labelled for the correct species.
Do indoor cats need vaccinations? Yes. Core cat vaccines protect against viruses that can arrive on your clothing or shoes, or during a stay at a boarding cattery, so indoor cats still need the core course. Feline leukaemia is the vaccine mainly reserved for cats with outdoor access.
How do I add the schedule to my phone calendar? Use the Apple, Google or Outlook button to import every event at once. The repeating reminders, worming, flea and boosters, are exported as true recurring calendar events, so you import once and your calendar keeps reminding you for the life of your pet. You can also save or share your plan with the "Save / copy my plan link" button, which reopens the exact plan on any device.
Want it all in one place? The ASK A VET™ app stores your pet's profile, vaccination history, worming and flea records and reminders, keeps this plan updating automatically, and connects you to a certified vet when something does not look right. This calendar is one piece of keeping your animals healthy and on track.
Reviewed by Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc (University of Sydney), emergency and general-practice veterinarian and founder of ASK A VET™. Last reviewed August 2026. Built on the WSAVA 2024, AAHA and AAFP vaccination guidelines. This is general owner guidance, not a substitute for veterinary advice — always confirm the plan with your own vet.