The Complete Pet Vaccination Schedule for India (2026): Dogs By Age

Last updated June 2026. This is general educational information, not a substitute for your veterinarian’s advice. Your vet may adjust this schedule based on your pet’s age, breed, health, and where you live.

India is one of the riskiest places in the world to own an unvaccinated pet. The country accounts for roughly 36% of the world’s rabies deaths, with an estimated 18,000–20,000 human deaths every year, and the Indian Council of Medical Research estimates around 9.1 million animal bites annually. Rabies has a near-100% fatality rate once symptoms appear — and it is completely preventable with a vaccine that costs a few hundred rupees.

This guide lays out the standard vaccination schedule Indian veterinarians follow, what each vaccine protects against, what it typically costs, and the India-specific risks — monsoon-borne leptospirosis, dense stray-dog populations, parvovirus in urban environments — that make this country a special case.

Quick answer: the puppy vaccination timeline

For most puppies, vets in India follow this core series:

AgeVaccineWhat it covers6 weeksFirst DHPPi (or “puppy DP”)Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza8–9 weeksDHPPiL boosterAbove + Leptospirosis10–12 weeksDHPPiL booster + first RabiesCore viruses + rabies14–16 weeksFinal DHPPiL + Rabies boosterCompletes the primary series~6–12 monthsDHPPiL boosterReinforces immunityAnnuallyDHPPiL + RabiesLifelong protection

The single most important dose is the one given at or after 16 weeks. Until then, antibodies passed from the mother can block the vaccine from “taking.” Vets repeat the shots every 2–4 weeks specifically to make sure at least one dose lands after those maternal antibodies fade.

The non-negotiable one: rabies. In most Indian states and municipalities, rabies vaccination for pet dogs is a legal requirement, not a choice. Beyond the law, it’s the one disease here with no cure once symptoms begin.

Why India is a special case

Pet vaccination advice written for the US or UK does not fully transfer to India. Three local realities change the calculation:

1. Stray-dog exposure is daily, not theoretical. India has tens of millions of free-roaming dogs. Even an apartment-only dog shares corridors, lift lobbies, and pavement with other animals. Rabies and parvovirus exposure isn’t limited to dogs who “go out a lot.”

2. The monsoon changes the risk profile. Leptospirosis — a bacterial disease spread through water contaminated by rodent and animal urine — spikes during and after the monsoon. This is why the “L” in DHPPiL matters more in India than in drier climates, and why your vet may emphasise leptospirosis boosters seasonally.

3. Parvovirus is endemic in dense urban environments. Parvo can kill a puppy in under 72 hours and survives in the environment for months. In Indian cities, the background exposure is high enough that a single missed early dose is a genuine risk, not a minor delay.

The core vaccines explained

DHPPi / DHPPiL (the “7-in-1” or “9-in-1”)

This combination shot is the backbone of canine vaccination. The letters stand for:

• D — Distemper: A viral disease attacking the respiratory, gut, and nervous systems. Often fatal; survivors can have permanent neurological damage.
• H — Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus): Affects the liver, kidneys, and eyes.
• P — Parvovirus: Causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea; lethal in puppies, and rampant in Indian urban environments.
• Pi — Parainfluenza: A contributor to “kennel cough.”
• L — Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease (added in the DHPPiL / 9-in-1 versions) that is also transmissible to humans, and a real monsoon-season concern in India.

Rabies (Anti-Rabies Vaccine / ARV)

Given first around 10–12 weeks, boosted in the puppy series, then annually. Legally mandatory for pet dogs across most of India. There is no debate and no room for delay on this one.

Non-core (lifestyle-based) vaccines

Recommended depending on your pet’s exposure:

• Kennel cough (Bordetella): For dogs who board, visit daycare, parks, or grooming salons frequently.
• Canine coronavirus: Sometimes recommended in high-density or shelter environments.

What about cats?

Cats follow their own core schedule, typically starting at 6–8 weeks:

AgeVaccine6–8 weeksFirst FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)10–12 weeksFVRCP booster + first Rabies14–16 weeksFinal FVRCP + Rabies boosterAnnuallyFVRCP + Rabies

Feline panleukopenia (feline “parvo”) is just as deadly as the canine version, and indoor cats still need rabies protection — both for their safety and because rabies vaccination is widely mandated.

What does it cost in India?

Pricing varies by city and clinic, but typical ranges as of 2026:

• Rabies (per dose): around ₹350
• 9-in-1 (DHPPiL) per dose: roughly ₹700–₹1,000
• Full puppy primary series (all core doses): approximately ₹2,500–₹4,500

Against the cost of treating parvovirus or distemper — which runs into tens of thousands of rupees and often fails — vaccination is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy for your pet.

Adopted an older dog with no records?

Common in India, where many pets are rescues. The standard approach: start fresh. Your vet will usually give a core DHPPiL plus rabies, then a booster after 3–4 weeks, then move to the annual schedule. Don’t assume an unknown-history adult is protected — restart the core coverage.

What if you miss a dose?

• Puppies: A missed dose can leave a dangerous gap. Call your clinic to plan the next dose as soon as possible — don’t simply skip to the next scheduled date.
• Adults: A lapsed booster can usually be restored promptly. Contact your vet rather than waiting for the next “annual” date.

The rule across the board: never just let it slide. Call the clinic.

A simple system: stop tracking this on paper

The hardest part of vaccination isn’t the science — it’s remembering. A vaccine missed because it was forgotten protects no one. Keeping your pet’s vaccination record, due-dates, and reminders in one place (rather than a paper card that gets lost) is the difference between a schedule that exists and one that actually happens.

This is exactly the gap Petraah, India’s AI-powered pet care app, was built to close — a digital pet health record with vaccination tracking and reminders, so the next due date finds you instead of the other way around.

Sources & further reading

For pet parents who want to go deeper, these are authoritative references:

• World Health Organization (India) — Rabies: national burden and prevention guidance — who.int/india/health-topics/rabies
• WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines: the global veterinary standard for core vs. non-core vaccines — wsava.org
• National Rabies Control Programme (NCDC, India): the national elimination framework — ncdc.mohfw.gov.in

Have a specific question about your pet’s schedule? Always consult your veterinarian — this guide is a starting point, not a replacement for an exam. For vaccination tracking and reminders built for Indian pet parents, see Petraah.