Dog vaccinations explained: core vs non-core vaccines, worming, fleas and check-ups
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Routine vet care keeps a dog out of trouble rather than getting them out of it. Vaccination schedules, parasite control and check-ups vary by country, region and lifestyle, so this is a general explanation to help you understand the conversation with your own vet, not a schedule to follow.
Core and non-core vaccines
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) publishes international vaccination guidelines. It divides vaccines into:
- Core vaccines: recommended for every dog, everywhere, because the diseases are serious and widespread. For dogs these are canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus.
- Rabies is also core in any country where it is endemic, and is often legally required, including for travel, regardless of local risk.
- Non-core vaccines: recommended depending on where a dog lives and what it does. Examples include leptospirosis, kennel cough (Bordetella and parainfluenza) and, in some regions, Lyme disease.
WSAVA's latest guidance notes that leptospirosis vaccination should be treated as core in places where the disease is known to be common. In practice, many vets in the UK, much of Europe and other areas routinely recommend it, so expect it to be part of the conversation.
The puppy course
Puppies get some protection from their mother's antibodies, but those antibodies also interfere with vaccines. That is why puppies need a series of injections a few weeks apart rather than a single one. WSAVA's guidelines recommend the core course end at 16 weeks of age or later, with a booster afterwards, often around six months to a year later. Your vet will give you the exact dates.
Ask your vet when your puppy can safely meet other dogs and walk in public places; it is a balance between infection risk and the importance of early socialisation.
Adult boosters
After the puppy course and first booster, core vaccines generally give long-lasting immunity, and WSAVA suggests they need not be given more often than every three years in adult dogs. Some non-core vaccines, leptospirosis in particular, protect for a shorter time and are usually given every year. That is why the annual vet visit does not always mean every vaccine every year. Some vets offer antibody (titre) testing for certain core diseases as part of deciding when to revaccinate.
Worming
Puppies are commonly born with or soon pick up roundworms, so they are wormed frequently when young. Adults are treated on a schedule that depends on their lifestyle and local risks: dogs that scavenge, hunt, eat raw food or live with small children may need more frequent treatment. Lungworm is a concern in some regions, and heartworm, spread by mosquitoes, is a major issue in others. Not every wormer covers every worm, so ask what your dog's product does and does not cover.
Fleas and ticks
Fleas are easier to prevent than to clear, because most of an infestation lives in the home as eggs and larvae, not on the dog. Ticks can carry diseases that vary by region. Prevention comes as spot-ons, tablets and collars.
- Use only products made for dogs, at the right dose for their weight.
- Never use a dog flea product on a cat unless it is labelled safe for cats; some dog products contain permethrin, which can be fatal to cats.
- Remove ticks with a proper tick tool, twisting rather than pulling.
Routine check-ups
A yearly health check, often combined with boosters, lets a vet catch problems early: dental disease, weight gain, lumps, heart murmurs and joint stiffness. Older dogs often benefit from checks every six months. Bring questions, and mention any change in drinking, appetite, weight, energy or toilet habits.
Other routine care
- Microchipping is compulsory in some countries, including the UK; keep your contact details up to date.
- Neutering decisions vary by breed, size and individual dog; discuss timing with your vet.
- Pet insurance or a savings plan for emergencies is worth considering early.
Have questions about your dog's vaccinations or vet routine? Share them, or your own experience, in the comments.