The Puppy and Kitten Vaccination Schedule, Explained Simply

Newborn puppies and kittens get some disease protection from their mother's milk in the first weeks of life, but that protection fades gradually and unpredictably between 6 and 16 weeks of age — which is exactly why vaccines are given as a series of boosters rather than a single shot.

Puppy Schedule (Approximate)

• 6–8 weeks: First combination vaccine (distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus)
• 10–12 weeks: Second combination booster
• 14–16 weeks: Third combination booster, plus rabies vaccine
• 12 months: First annual booster, then per your vet's recommended schedule

Kitten Schedule (Approximate)

• 6–8 weeks: First combination vaccine (feline distemper/panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus)
• 10–12 weeks: Second combination booster
• 14–16 weeks: Third combination booster, plus rabies vaccine
• 12 months: First annual booster, then per your vet's recommended schedule

Exact timing varies by vaccine brand, local disease risk, and your pet's health — this is a general guide, not a substitute for your vet's specific recommendation.

Why Skipping a Booster Is Riskier Than It Sounds

Each booster in the series isn't "topping up" the last one — early doses can be partially neutralized by the maternal antibodies still in the puppy or kitten's system, so the series is designed to keep catching them as that protection fades at different rates in different animals. Skipping or delaying a dose can leave a real gap during exactly the weeks when a young animal is most exposed to other pets.

A Note on Rabies

Rabies is fatal and transmissible to humans, which is why it's treated as a non-negotiable core vaccine everywhere, including Bangladesh. Keep the vaccination certificate — many boarding facilities, groomers, and international pet travel processes will ask for it.