What vaccines should puppies and kittens never skip?

Essential Vaccines for Puppies and Kittens

All puppies and kittens should receive core vaccines against rabies, with dogs additionally requiring distemper, parvovirus, and leptospirosis vaccines, while cats need panleukopenia, herpesvirus, and calicivirus vaccines. 1, 2

Core Vaccines That Should Never Be Skipped

For Both Puppies and Kittens:

• Rabies: Required by law in most areas and essential for preventing this fatal zoonotic disease
  • Must be administered by or under direct supervision of a veterinarian 1, 3
  • First vaccination at 3 months of age
  • Booster required 1 year after initial vaccination regardless of vaccine type 3
  • Subsequent boosters follow either 1-year or 3-year schedule depending on vaccine used 3

For Puppies:

• Distemper: Highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease
  • Administer at 8,12, and 16 weeks of age 2
• Parvovirus: Causes severe, often fatal gastrointestinal disease
  • Administer at 8,12, and 16 weeks of age 2
• Leptospirosis: Bacterial infection that can cause kidney and liver damage
  • Tetravalent vaccines highly recommended
  • Administer at 8 and 12 weeks of age 2

For Kittens:

• Panleukopenia (feline distemper): Highly contagious and often fatal
  • Administer at 8,12, and 16 weeks of age 2, 4
• Feline Herpesvirus: Causes upper respiratory infections
  • Administer at 8,12, and 16 weeks of age 2, 4
• Feline Calicivirus: Causes respiratory disease and oral ulcers
  • Administer at 8,12, and 16 weeks of age 2, 4

Vaccination Schedule and Timing

Initial Vaccination Series:

• Multiple vaccinations are necessary during the first months of life to overcome maternal antibody interference 2
• Animals are considered immunized 28 days after initial vaccination 3
• Complete basic immunization with booster at 15 months of age 2

Booster Vaccinations:

• First booster required 1 year after initial vaccination for all core vaccines 3
• For rabies, subsequent boosters follow either 1-year or 3-year schedule depending on vaccine used 3
• For canine and feline core vaccines (except rabies), boosters may be given every 3 years after the first annual booster 4, 5

Important Considerations

Maternal Antibody Interference:

• Maternal antibodies can interfere with vaccination success, especially with live vaccines 2
• The higher the maternal antibody levels, the longer they may prevent successful immunization
• This is why multiple vaccinations are given during the first months of life 2

Vaccination Administration:

• Rabies vaccines must be administered by or under direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian 1, 3
• The veterinarian signing the rabies certificate must ensure proper administration 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

1. Vaccinating too early: A single vaccination before 12-16 weeks may not provide protection due to maternal antibody interference 6
2. Missing booster vaccinations: The first-year booster is critical for establishing long-term immunity 3
3. Relying on antibody titers instead of vaccination: Evidence of circulating antibodies should not substitute for proper vaccination 1, 3
4. Skipping core vaccines: More animals need to be vaccinated to increase herd immunity 6

Non-Core Vaccines to Consider Based on Risk

These vaccines may be recommended depending on lifestyle and exposure risk:

For Dogs:

• Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (kennel cough)
• Lyme disease (in endemic areas)
• Canine herpesvirus
• Leishmaniasis (in endemic areas) 2

For Cats:

• Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) - especially for outdoor cats
• Bordetella
• Chlamydia 2, 4

By following these vaccination guidelines, you'll provide your puppy or kitten with essential protection against the most serious and life-threatening infectious diseases.