Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Some vaccines are recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle, while others are determined by your dog's individual risk and how much contact they have with other animals.
- Puppies need a more intensive vaccine schedule in their first year to build full protection, with most vaccines shifting to yearly or every-three-year boosters in adulthood.
- Your dog's complete vaccination record is stored in the Modern Animal app, making it easy to stay on schedule and share proof of vaccination when needed.
If you've just brought home a puppy or adopted a dog and aren't sure where to start with vaccines, you're not alone. The schedule can feel overwhelming at first, but it follows a clear logic — and once you understand what each vaccine does and why timing matters, it's a lot easier to stay on top of.
Here's a full breakdown of the vaccines Modern Animal recommends for dogs and when they're given.
Core Vaccines Every Dog Needs
Some vaccines are recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle. These protect against diseases serious enough that the risk of skipping them outweighs any other consideration.
DA2PP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
DA2PP is the foundation of your dog's vaccine schedule. It protects against distemper and parvovirus, two of the most serious and contagious diseases dogs can contract, along with adenovirus and parainfluenza.
Puppies receive DA2PP three to four times during their first year, spaced several weeks apart. After a booster at the one-year mark, it becomes an every-three-year vaccine for adult dogs.
Rabies
Rabies vaccination is required by law in most areas and is one of the few vaccines that isn't a matter of individual choice. It protects against a disease that is fatal in both animals and people.
Most dogs receive the rabies vaccine yearly, with a three-year formulation available once a dog has an established vaccination history. Your vet will let you know which schedule applies to your dog.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease transmitted through the urine of infected wildlife or other dogs. It's a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be passed from dogs to people, which is why our vets recommend it for all dogs regardless of lifestyle.
The leptospirosis vaccine requires two doses three to four weeks apart when given for the first time, followed by yearly boosters.
Lifestyle Vaccines: Based on Your Dog's Risk
Lifestyle vaccines are recommended based on your dog's individual situation — specifically how much contact they have with other dogs and where they spend time. Your vet will help you decide which of these make sense for your dog.
Bordetella
Bordetella is one of the main bacterial causes of kennel cough. It's recommended for dogs that spend time around other dogs — at dog parks, boarding facilities, grooming salons, or doggy daycare.
Unlike most vaccines, the Bordetella vaccine is given orally rather than by injection. It's typically boostered once a year.
Canine Influenza
Canine influenza is a respiratory infection that spreads easily between dogs. Like Bordetella, it's a lifestyle vaccine recommended for dogs with regular exposure to other animals. It often starts mildly, which means dogs can become seriously ill before owners realize something is wrong.
The canine influenza vaccine requires an initial two-dose series followed by yearly boosters.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is transmitted through tick bites and is most prevalent in the northeast and northern Midwest. At Modern Animal, where most clinics are located in California, Texas, and Colorado, it's less commonly recommended — but for dogs that travel to high-prevalence areas or spend significant time in wooded or grassy environments, it's worth discussing.
The Lyme vaccine requires an initial two-dose series followed by yearly boosters. Tick prevention is also an important part of a complete Lyme protection strategy.
How the Schedule Changes as Your Dog Ages
Puppies
Puppies need a more intensive schedule in their first year because maternal antibodies from their mother can interfere with vaccine effectiveness early in life. Multiple doses spaced several weeks apart are necessary to build full protection as those antibodies fade. Your vet will map out the full puppy series at your first visit.
Adult Dogs
Once the initial series is complete, most vaccines settle into a yearly or every-three-year rhythm. DA2PP moves to every three years. Rabies may move to every three years depending on the formulation. Lifestyle vaccines like Bordetella and canine influenza are typically boostered annually.
Senior Dogs
Vaccine needs don't go away as dogs age, but the conversation may shift slightly. Senior dogs seeing the vet every six months have more frequent opportunities to review their vaccination status and adjust the schedule based on their current health.
Keeping Track of Your Dog's Vaccines
Your dog's complete vaccination record is stored in the Modern Animal app. You can check what they're current on, get notified when something is coming due, and download and share their record with boarding facilities, groomers, or dog parks that require proof of vaccination.
If a question about your dog's vaccine schedule comes up between visits, Modern Animal All Access and Essential members can reach our team anytime through 24/7 Virtual Care.
What Does a Dog's Vaccine Schedule Cost?
Vaccine costs at Modern Animal vary depending on where you live and which vaccines your dog needs at a given visit. The overall cost of a vaccine appointment can also be influenced by your dog's age, health history, and what else is recommended at that visit.
For All Access members, routine wellness exams are included at no additional charge, making it easier to stay consistent with annual vaccine visits. For a full breakdown of what's included at each membership tier and individual vaccine pricing, visit modernanimal.com/pricing.
Build a Vaccine Plan with Your Vet
No two dogs have exactly the same vaccine needs. Your vet will take your dog's age, lifestyle, and health history into account and build a schedule that makes sense for them specifically. If your dog is due for a visit or you want to review where they stand on vaccines, book an appointment through the Modern Animal app.
