# Puppy & kitten vaccination schedule builder

> Enter the species and current age in weeks, and tick the vaccines your pet has already had. The builder returns a chronological timeline of upcoming core vaccines plus CAPC deworming milestones. All numbers come from the 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines, the 2020 AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines, and the Companion Animal Parasite Council — see the sources section for the exact citations.

## Who stands behind this calculator

Written by [Patrick Li](/authors/patrick-li/). Editorially reviewed 2026-09-01 · Evidence checked 2026-09-01.

Evidence: Multiple sources agree · Evidence from this species.

No veterinarian has reviewed this page. It is educational guidance checked by the author against the cited sources — for health decisions, talk to your vet.

PetGuideCalc reserves its highest trust label for pages that a named veterinary professional has reviewed. This page does not carry that label.

The timeline reproduces the published AAHA, AAFP, and CAPC schedules as an educational reference. It does not examine your animal or set a protocol — maternal antibody status, health history, and local risk make the final schedule a veterinary decision.

Use the interactive builder on the page: https://petguidecalc.com/tools/vaccination-schedule/. Pick the species and current age in weeks, then tick the vaccines your pet has already had.

## How does the puppy / kitten vaccine timeline work?

For puppies, the 2022 AAHA core schedule is DHPP every 2–4 weeks from 6–8 weeks of age, with the FINAL DHPP dose given at or after 16 weeks of age — earlier doses can be blocked by maternal antibodies, so the series runs until the puppy is old enough for maternal antibodies to have cleared. Rabies is given as a single dose between 12 and 16 weeks, then boosted per local regulation. For kittens, the 2020 AAFP core schedule is FVRCP every 3–4 weeks from 6–8 weeks, with the final FVRCP dose at or after 16–20 weeks. FeLV is risk-based for adult cats but core for kittens (two doses 3–4 weeks apart from 8 weeks). Rabies follows local regulation. CAPC deworming starts at 2 weeks for puppies and 3 weeks for kittens, given monthly × 3, then quarterly for life.

## Core vaccine rules at a glance

### Dogs — 2022 AAHA core vaccines

| Vaccine | Covers | Start (weeks) | Interval (weeks) | Final dose ≥ | Series length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHPP (canine core) | Distemper · Hepatitis · Parvovirus · (+/- Parainfluenza) | 6–8 | 3 | 16 w | 4 doses | 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines |
| Rabies (canine core) | Rabies virus | 12–16 | single dose | 12 w | 1 dose | 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines |
| Puppy deworming (CAPC) | Roundworms and hookworms pass from the mother before and after birth; CAPC treats from 2 weeks, monthly × 3, then quarterly for life. | 2 | 4 (monthly) | — (quarterly thereafter) | 3 monthly doses | CAPC — canine deworming guideline |

### Cats — 2020 AAFP core vaccines

| Vaccine | Covers | Start (weeks) | Interval (weeks) | Final dose ≥ | Series length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FVRCP (feline core) | Feline herpesvirus · Calicivirus · Panleukopenia | 6–8 | 4 | 16 w | 4 doses | 2020 AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines |
| FeLV (feline risk-based) | Feline leukemia virus | 8 | 4 | 12 w | 2 doses | 2020 AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines |
| Rabies (feline core, local) | Rabies virus | 12–16 | single dose | 12 w | 1 dose | 2020 AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines (per local requirement) |
| Kitten deworming (CAPC) | CAPC treats kittens from 3 weeks, monthly × 3, then quarterly for life. Roundworms and hookworms are the same risk as puppies. | 3 | 4 (monthly) | — (quarterly thereafter) | 3 monthly doses | CAPC — feline deworming guideline |

DHPP and FVRCP intervals are the midpoint of the published range (every 2–4w for DHPP, every 3–4w for FVRCP). Series length is chosen so the final dose lands at or beyond the AAHA / AAFP locked minimum age.

## Work example — dog, 10 weeks old

| Week | Dose | Covers | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
w2 | Deworm — Puppy deworming (CAPC) · dose 1 of 3 | CAPC — canine deworming guideline | Complete | 
w6 | Deworm — Puppy deworming (CAPC) · dose 2 of 3 | CAPC — canine deworming guideline | Complete | 
w8 | Vaccine — DHPP (canine core) | Distemper · Hepatitis · Parvovirus · (+/- Parainfluenza) | Complete | 
w10 | Deworm — Puppy deworming (CAPC) · dose 3 of 3 | CAPC — canine deworming guideline | Complete | Final monthly dose — switches to quarterly after this.
w11 | Vaccine — DHPP (canine core) | Distemper · Hepatitis · Parvovirus · (+/- Parainfluenza) | Due | 
w14 | Vaccine — DHPP (canine core) | Distemper · Hepatitis · Parvovirus · (+/- Parainfluenza) | Due | 
w16 | Vaccine — Rabies (canine core) | Rabies virus | Due | 
w17 | Vaccine — DHPP (canine core) | Distemper · Hepatitis · Parvovirus · (+/- Parainfluenza) | Due | Final dose — must be at ≥ 16 weeks.
w23 | Deworm — Puppy deworming (CAPC) · quarterly 1 | CAPC — canine deworming guideline | Due | Quarterly for life after the monthly phase.
w36 | Deworm — Puppy deworming (CAPC) · quarterly 2 | CAPC — canine deworming guideline | Due | Quarterly for life after the monthly phase.
w49 | Deworm — Puppy deworming (CAPC) · quarterly 3 | CAPC — canine deworming guideline | Due | Quarterly for life after the monthly phase.
w62 | Deworm — Puppy deworming (CAPC) · quarterly 4 | CAPC — canine deworming guideline | Due | Quarterly for life after the monthly phase.

Final DHPP dose must be given at ≥ 16 weeks of age — earlier doses can be blocked by maternal antibodies.

## Work example — cat, 12 weeks old (FVRCP dose 1 already given)

| Week | Dose | Covers | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
w3 | Deworm — Kitten deworming (CAPC) · dose 1 of 3 | CAPC — feline deworming guideline | Complete | 
w7 | Deworm — Kitten deworming (CAPC) · dose 2 of 3 | CAPC — feline deworming guideline | Complete | 
w8 | Vaccine — FVRCP (feline core) | Feline herpesvirus · Calicivirus · Panleukopenia | Complete | 
w8 | Vaccine — FeLV (feline risk-based) | Feline leukemia virus | Complete | 
w11 | Deworm — Kitten deworming (CAPC) · dose 3 of 3 | CAPC — feline deworming guideline | Complete | Final monthly dose — switches to quarterly after this.
w12 | Vaccine — FVRCP (feline core) | Feline herpesvirus · Calicivirus · Panleukopenia | Complete | 
w12 | Vaccine — FeLV (feline risk-based) | Feline leukemia virus | Complete | Final dose — must be at ≥ 12 weeks.
w16 | Vaccine — FVRCP (feline core) | Feline herpesvirus · Calicivirus · Panleukopenia | Complete | 
w16 | Vaccine — Rabies (feline core, local) | Rabies virus | Due | 
w20 | Vaccine — FVRCP (feline core) | Feline herpesvirus · Calicivirus · Panleukopenia | Complete | Already given — mark complete.
w24 | Deworm — Kitten deworming (CAPC) · quarterly 1 | CAPC — feline deworming guideline | Due | Quarterly for life after the monthly phase.
w37 | Deworm — Kitten deworming (CAPC) · quarterly 2 | CAPC — feline deworming guideline | Due | Quarterly for life after the monthly phase.
w50 | Deworm — Kitten deworming (CAPC) · quarterly 3 | CAPC — feline deworming guideline | Due | Quarterly for life after the monthly phase.
w63 | Deworm — Kitten deworming (CAPC) · quarterly 4 | CAPC — feline deworming guideline | Due | Quarterly for life after the monthly phase.

Final FVRCP dose must be given at ≥ 16–20 weeks of age — earlier doses can be blocked by maternal antibodies.

## How the timeline is built

The 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines anchor the dog schedule: DHPP from 6–8 weeks every 2–4 weeks, last dose at ≥ 16 weeks, plus a single rabies dose at 12–16 weeks.

The 2020 AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines anchor the cat schedule: FVRCP from 6–8 weeks every 3–4 weeks, last dose at ≥ 16–20 weeks, plus risk-based FeLV (core for kittens) and rabies per local regulation.

Deworming comes from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC): puppies from 2 weeks, kittens from 3 weeks, monthly × 3, then quarterly for life.

Marking a vaccine as already given keeps the row visible on the timeline but strips the `due` flag so you can see what is left to schedule. Marking a deworming dose already done suppresses doses in order — set "Deworming doses already completed" to the count you have on file.

Every milestone carries a source citation (AAHA / AAFP / CAPC). The 16-week final-dose rule for DHPP and the 16–20-week rule for FVRCP are explicit on the timeline — these are not optional.

## Vaccination FAQ

**Q: Why does the DHPP / FVRCP series keep going until 16 weeks (or older)?**

Maternal antibodies passed from the mother protect the puppy or kitten for the first few weeks, but they also neutralise vaccines. If a dose is given while maternal antibodies are still high, the puppy produces no immune response. The series runs every 2–4 weeks until the puppy / kitten is at least 16 weeks old because that is when maternal antibodies have reliably dropped low enough for the vaccine to take effect.

**Q: Why does the timeline say "Final DHPP dose at ≥ 16 weeks" instead of "three doses and done"?**

Because age matters more than shot count. A puppy who started at 6 weeks gets four doses (8w → 11w → 14w → 17w). A puppy who started at 8 weeks gets the same final dose at 17 weeks — but both pathways end with the final dose at ≥ 16 weeks, which is what 2022 AAHA requires.

**Q: My puppy already had the first DHPP and a rabies shot. What should I tick?**

Tick DHPP and Rabies (dog) in the "Vaccines already given" section. The builder keeps every DHPP dose on the timeline for reference but clears the "due" flag — and the next dose due (typically DHPP dose 2 or the rabies booster) stays highlighted.

**Q: When does a kitten get FeLV?**

Two doses 3–4 weeks apart starting as early as 8 weeks (the AAFP calls FeLV core for kittens). For adult cats, FeLV is risk-based — outdoor access, multi-cat households with an FeLV-positive cat, or live in a high-prevalence area. Indoor-only single-cat households may stop after the kitten series.

**Q: When does deworming switch from monthly to quarterly?**

After three monthly doses. CAPC starts deworming at 2 weeks for puppies (3 weeks for kittens), gives three monthly doses (at 2/6/10 weeks for puppies, 3/7/11 weeks for kittens), then quarterly for life. The timeline shows the monthly phase and the first four quarterly doses.

**Q: Is this tool a substitute for a vet visit?**

No. The timeline is built from published guidelines, but your prescribing veterinarian decides what to give, when, and at what brand-specific interval. Always confirm every milestone with your vet and the licensed product label before administering any vaccine or dewormer.

## Where to go next

- [Aquarium nitrogen cycle tracker](/aquarium/nitrogen-cycle/)
- [Hamster cage size calculator](/hamster/cage-size-calculator/)
- [Pet care tools hub](/tools/)

## Sources

The timeline numbers come from three veterinary references, cited on each milestone’s row and gathered here for full reading.

- [2013 update on current vaccination strategies in puppies and kittens](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2013.11.006) — Davis-Wurzler GM, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 2014.
- [2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines (Ellis et al., J Am Anim Hosp Assoc)](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canin-vaccination-guidelines/) — AAHA Canine Vaccination Task Force, American Animal Hospital Association, 2022. DHPP series: 6–8w start, every 2–4w, final dose at ≥ 16 weeks. Rabies: single dose 12–16 weeks, then per local regulation.
- [2020 AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines (Stone et al., J Feline Med Surg)](https://catvets.com/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines) — AAFP Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel, American Association of Feline Practitioners, 2020. FVRCP: 6–8w start, every 3–4w, final dose at ≥ 16–20 weeks. FeLV: two doses 3–4w apart starting at 8 weeks (core for kittens; risk-based for adults). Rabies per local regulation.
- [CAPC — General Guidelines for Deworming Puppies and Kittens](https://capcvet.org/guidelines/general-guidelines/) — Companion Animal Parasite Council, capcvet.org, 2024. Puppies: deworm from 2 weeks, monthly × 3, then quarterly for life. Kittens: deworm from 3 weeks, monthly × 3, then quarterly for life.

_Medical / educational reference, not veterinary advice. PetGuideCalc — https://petguidecalc.com_

> ⚠ Vaccination guidance: This tool assembles an educational vaccination and deworming schedule from published AAHA and AAFP guidelines — it is not prescribing or diagnostic advice. Confirm timing, vaccine selection, and adult boosters with your veterinarian, because risk-based choices depend on your pet’s lifestyle and local disease exposure.