Puppy Vaccination Schedule in the UAE: What, When, and Why

Vaccinating your puppy is the single most important thing you will do in their first year. It is also one of the most confusing. Different breeders give different advice. The internet contradicts itself. This guide gives you the facts, specific to the UAE, so you know exactly what your puppy needs and when.

Puppies are born with some immunity from their mother, passed through colostrum (first milk) in the first 24 hours of life. This maternal immunity wanes between 6 and 16 weeks of age. The vaccination schedule is designed to provide protection as maternal immunity fades, without interfering with it. This is why puppies need a series of vaccinations, not just one.

At 6 to 8 weeks, your puppy should receive their first combination vaccine (often called DHPP or 5-in-1). This protects against distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Parvovirus is particularly dangerous in the UAE and can survive in the environment for months. It causes severe vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, and is frequently fatal in unvaccinated puppies.

At 10 to 12 weeks, a second DHPP booster is given. This is also when leptospirosis vaccination is typically started in the UAE. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water and soil. With construction sites, standing water, and outdoor areas across Dubai, the risk is real.

At 14 to 16 weeks, the third DHPP booster and rabies vaccination are administered. Rabies vaccination is legally required in the UAE. Without a valid rabies certificate, you cannot register your pet with the municipality, obtain a pet passport, or travel with your animal. The vaccine is given as a single dose at 14 to 16 weeks, with boosters every one to three years depending on the vaccine used.

Kennel cough (Bordetella) vaccination is recommended if your puppy will attend daycare, boarding facilities, grooming salons, or dog parks. It can be given as an intranasal spray or injection from 8 weeks of age. Kennel cough is highly contagious and common in social settings.

Until your puppy has completed their full vaccination course (typically by 16 to 18 weeks), limit their exposure to unvaccinated dogs and contaminated environments. This does not mean complete isolation. Socialisation during this period is critical for behavioural development. Carry your puppy to safe environments, invite vaccinated dogs to your home, and attend puppy socialisation classes run by reputable trainers in controlled settings.

After the initial puppy series, a booster is given at 12 months of age. Following that, core vaccines are boosted every one to three years depending on the vaccine and your vet's recommendation. Your vet may recommend titre testing (blood tests to measure immunity levels) as an alternative to routine boosters for some vaccines.

Keep a record of all vaccinations. At Paws and Co, vaccination records are stored in your app and accessible anytime. If you are travelling with your pet, you will need proof of vaccination, particularly rabies, and this must be on an official certificate with your vet's stamp.

Vaccination is not just about your puppy. It protects every animal they come into contact with. Herd immunity works in animal populations just as it does in human ones. When vaccination rates drop, outbreaks follow. Parvovirus outbreaks still occur in the UAE, almost exclusively in unvaccinated populations.

This article is general guidance for pet parents in the UAE, not veterinary advice for your individual animal. Every pet is different. For a diagnosis, treatment, or any concern about your pet's health, speak to a qualified vet. If you think your pet needs urgent care, contact a vet straight away.