Puppy & Kitten Vaccine Schedule: What to Expect in the First Year

Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is exciting, and one of the most important steps you’ll take in their first year is keeping up with vaccinations. Young pets are born with some protection from their mother, but this immunity fades quickly, leaving them vulnerable to serious and sometimes life-threatening diseases. For puppies and kittens, vaccinations typically begin around 6-8 weeks of age and continue every 3-4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old. These early visits usually include core vaccines that protect against common, highly contagious illnesses, as well as a full physical exam to monitor growth, development, and overall health.

As your pet grows, the vaccine schedule becomes more tailored to their lifestyle, environment, and risk factors. Your veterinarian will discuss which non-core vaccines may be recommended based on things like exposure to other animals, boarding, grooming, or outdoor activity. In addition to vaccines, these early appointments are a great time to talk about parasite prevention, nutrition, behavior, and what’s normal (and not so normal) during puppyhood and kittenhood. By the end of the first year, most pets will transition to annual or extended-interval booster schedules to maintain long-term protection.

If you’ve recently welcomed a puppy or kitten, contact Pet Hospital of Redlands + Urgent Care for your pet’s first wellness visit and vaccination appointment. Visit our facility in Redlands, California, or call (909) 363-1617 today.