Pet Vaccination Schedule for India (Dogs & Cats): The Complete Guide

India carries a heavy burden of preventable animal diseases — rabies above all, but also parvovirus, distemper and leptospirosis, which spikes with the monsoon. Vaccination is the single most cost-effective thing you can do to protect your pet, your family and your community.

"In India, the rabies vaccine isn't optional — it's a legal and public-health duty. Everything else on the schedule protects your pet from diseases we still see every week." — Dr. Sarah Chen, DVM

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rules and most municipal by-laws, anti-rabies vaccination is mandatory for pet dogs and cats, and proof is required for licensing, boarding, travel and apartment registrations. Beyond the law, vaccination prevents diseases that are common, contagious and often fatal — parvovirus alone kills a large share of unvaccinated puppies it infects.

This guide gives you the India-specific schedule for dogs and cats. Always confirm the exact plan with your own vet — you can find and book a verified vet near you who will tailor timing to your pet, region and lifestyle.

Vaccines are grouped into core (recommended for every pet) and non-core (based on lifestyle and risk).

Dogs

• Core: Rabies; and the combination shot covering Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza (often labelled DHPPi or DHPPiL).
• Non-core (common in India): Leptospirosis (very important in monsoon regions — often bundled as the "L" in DHPPiL), Canine Coronavirus, and Kennel Cough (Bordetella) for dogs that board or socialise.

Cats

• Core: Rabies; and the combination shot covering Feline Panleukopenia, Herpesvirus and Calicivirus (FVRCP, the "cat flu + feline distemper" vaccine).
• Non-core: Feline Leukaemia (FeLV) for cats with outdoor access or multi-cat homes.

Your vet decides the non-core list based on where you live and how your pet lives. For the cat-specific detail, our cat vaccination schedule guide goes deeper, and the preventative care schedule for dogs covers the wider wellness calendar.

Puppies and kittens get a series of shots because maternal antibodies fade gradually and can block a single early dose. A typical India schedule looks like this:

Puppies

• 6–8 weeks: First DHPPi (± Corona)
• 10–12 weeks: Second DHPPi + Leptospirosis
• 14–16 weeks: Third DHPPi + Leptospirosis
• 12–16 weeks (or as local law requires): Anti-rabies
• Kennel cough: as advised if boarding/socialising

Kittens

• 6–8 weeks: First FVRCP
• 10–12 weeks: Second FVRCP
• 14–16 weeks: Third FVRCP (+ FeLV if at risk)
• 12–16 weeks: Anti-rabies

Keep your puppy or kitten away from unvaccinated animals and high-risk public areas until about a week after the final core dose. Deworming runs alongside this schedule — typically every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age, then monthly to six months. Miss a dose by more than a week or two? Don't panic, but book a catch-up promptly; your vet may restart or extend the series.

Immunity isn't permanent. Adult pets need boosters to stay protected:

• Rabies: annually (some vaccines are licensed for three years, but annual is the common practice in India and is often required for licensing/boarding).
• DHPPi / FVRCP: a booster one year after the puppy/kitten series, then every 1–3 years as your vet advises.
• Leptospirosis & Kennel Cough: annually, as these give shorter protection and matter most in high-risk settings.

The easiest way to never miss a booster is to log every shot with its due date and set a reminder. The PetON app stores your pet's vaccination record and nudges you before each one is due — and keeps the certificate handy for travel, boarding or society registration. An up-to-date record is also what an animal hospital will ask for in an emergency.

A few things matter more in the Indian context:

• Rabies is non-negotiable. India accounts for a large share of the world's human rabies deaths, most from dog bites. Vaccinating your pet protects them and everyone around them, and is legally required.
• Monsoon = leptospirosis season. The bacteria spread through water and rodent urine and can infect humans too. If you're in a flood-prone or high-rainfall area, don't skip the "L".
• Tick-borne diseases (like ehrlichiosis and babesiosis) aren't prevented by vaccines — they need year-round tick control, which pairs with the parasite-prevention plan.
• Typical costs (India): anti-rabies is usually the most affordable shot (often ₹300–₹600); combination vaccines like DHPPi/FVRCP commonly run ₹600–₹1,500 per dose depending on brand and city. Your vet's consultation fee is shown up front on PetCare.AI so you can plan the series.

Prices and exact schedules vary by state, brand and clinic — treat these as ballpark figures and confirm locally.

Vaccines are among the safest, most tested tools in veterinary medicine, but it helps to know what's normal and what isn't. For a day or two after a shot, mild tiredness, reduced appetite, a low fever or a small tender lump at the injection site are common and settle on their own. Let your pet rest, offer water and food, and avoid strenuous activity for the day.

Rare but serious reactions need a vet immediately: facial or muzzle swelling, hives, persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, or difficulty breathing within minutes to hours of the shot. If you see any of these, treat it as an emergency. Unsure whether what you're seeing is normal soreness or a real reaction? A quick check with Rio will help you decide whether to watch or to go in.

A few persistent myths worth clearing up for Indian pet owners:

• "Indoor cats don't need vaccines." False — rabies is legally required regardless, and airborne/contact viruses can still reach an indoor cat via people, other pets or a brief escape.
• "One puppy shot is enough." No — the series exists because a single early dose is often blocked by maternal antibodies. Skipping doses leaves a dangerous gap.
• "Desi/street-adopted dogs are naturally immune." No — they face the same diseases and need the same schedule; they've simply survived exposure so far.
• "Vaccines cause the disease." No — modern core vaccines can't give your pet the illness they protect against.

When in doubt, your vet is the authority for your specific pet — but never let a myth be the reason a shot gets skipped.

Vaccines should be given by a registered veterinarian who checks your pet is healthy first, records the batch number, and gives you a signed certificate. To get started:

• Find a verified vet near you on PetCare.AI, compare fees and hours, and book online.
• Not sure if your pet is well enough for a shot today, or noticing a reaction afterwards? Ask Rio for a quick, free symptom check before you decide.
• Log each vaccine and its next-due date in the PetON app so you never miss a booster.

Mild soreness, tiredness or a small lump at the injection site for a day or two is normal. Seek a vet promptly if you see facial swelling, hives, repeated vomiting or difficulty breathing — these can signal a rare allergic reaction. Staying on schedule is one of the simplest, highest-impact things you'll ever do for your pet's health.