Vaccinating your puppy or kitten on schedule is one of the most important things you'll do in their first few months of life. It's also one of the areas where new pet owners have the most questions — when exactly does each shot happen, what's actually in it, and why does timing seem to matter so much?
Here's a complete, practical breakdown of what to expect at every stage, so you can walk into each appointment knowing exactly what's happening and why.
Puppy Vaccination Schedule
Kitten Vaccination Schedule
Core vs. Non-Core Vaccines — What's the Difference?
Core vaccines are recommended for every single puppy and kitten, regardless of lifestyle, because they protect against serious, widespread diseases that any pet could realistically be exposed to. These form the backbone of the schedules above.
Non-core vaccines depend on your pet's specific lifestyle and risk exposure, rather than being universally required:
Your vet will typically ask about your pet's expected lifestyle at the first appointment, so these can be factored into the plan from the start rather than added on later as an afterthought.
Why Timing Matters So Much
Puppies and kittens are born with maternal antibodies, sometimes called maternally-derived antibodies (MDAs), inherited from their mother's milk in the first days of life. These antibodies gradually fade over the following weeks, which creates a tricky window — a period where the maternal protection is wearing off but the pet's own immune response to vaccination hasn't fully kicked in yet.
This is exactly why the vaccination series is spread across multiple doses a few weeks apart, rather than given as a single shot. Each dose helps close that vulnerability window a little further, until full protection is established.
Delaying a scheduled booster can sometimes mean your vet recommends restarting part of the series, since too long a gap can affect how well the immune response builds. As a general rule of thumb, if a delay is genuinely unavoidable, arriving a few days late is preferable to arriving early.
Rabies Vaccination Is a Legal Requirement
Under UAE law, rabies vaccination is mandatory for all dogs and cats, with no exceptions for indoor-only lifestyles. This is typically administered alongside other core vaccines from around 14-16 weeks onward, once the puppy or kitten is old enough for it to be both safe and effective.
Planning to Travel or Board Your Pet?
If boarding, daycare, or international travel is on the horizon, it's worth asking about Kennel Cough or FeLV vaccination well in advance. Many facilities and airlines require documented proof before accepting your pet, and these vaccines need time to become fully effective — so this isn't something to arrange the week before you travel.
Book Your Puppy or Kitten's Vaccination
At Vets Fur Pets, we create a personalized vaccination plan based on your pet's exact age, breed, and expected lifestyle, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all schedule. Book your puppy or kitten's first vaccination at our Al Barsha or Al Barari clinic by calling +971 4 330 4408 or WhatsApp +971 55 140 4100.
A quick walkthrough of when your puppy or kitten needs each vaccine, from the first DHPP/FVRCP dose to the required Rabies shot, plus why timing between doses matters for building full immunity.
Recent News
Enquiry Form
