Health and vet care
Puppy vaccinations in Canada: core shots and rabies
The Canadian planner shows an eight-, twelve- and sixteen-week viral example and a separate three-to-four-calendar-month rabies window. These dates support a discussion with your vet; they do not establish the legal deadline in every province or territory.
Which dates does the example calculate?
The date rule is birth date plus the number of weeks multiplied by seven. A birth date of 3 August 2026 gives the example dates below. Enter the date from the birth or adoption record and count only documented core viral visits.
These are planned dates, not confirmation that a vaccine was given or protection has developed. Some puppies need different intervals or a later final dose. Share the actual record with your vet.
Which Canadian rules need checking locally?
CVMA's position supports individual protocols, licensed instructions and jurisdiction-specific rabies requirements. Its kennel code includes puppy viral and rabies timing, but a kennel example is not a national legal timetable for every household.
For the fixed birth date below, the three-to-four-calendar-month rabies window is 3 November to 3 December 2026. It is not the US week-based window. Rabies boosters are counted from the actual rabies vaccination; the displayed viral booster is a different reminder. Discuss separate leptospirosis care and whether an earlier viral review is appropriate.
Sources: Canadian Veterinary Medical Association vaccination position statement, August 2024 (opens in a new tab)CVMA Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations, third edition 2018 (opens in a new tab)WSAVA vaccination guidelines, 2024 (opens in a new tab)
What if doses are late or the record is unclear?
Do not invent an earlier visit to make the calendar look complete. The tool can remove earlier viral checkpoints when doses are entered, but that does not validate every medical history or create a catch-up prescription.
A past date is a prompt to contact the practice. The calculator does not move every remaining event to today, certify immunity or decide which course should restart.
How can you take the plan to the practice?
Save keeps a copy on this device. Share link places the entered settings in the link, so anyone receiving it can read them. Print card and the calendar download carry the calculated dates; neither books an appointment.
Worked example
Birth ; no core viral doses given
- 8-week viral example
- 12-week viral example
- 16-week viral example
- First viral booster planning date
These are tool-checked planning dates. The actual clinical course and any earlier review require confirmation.
Use the country edition matching where the puppy receives care. Confirm booster timing, additional courses and any legal requirement before acting on a reminder.
Try it with your own details
Use the Puppy vaccination schedule to build your own result.
For general information only, not professional advice. Check the official sources below. Use your own judgement and speak to your vet before you act.
Common questions
More answers on this topic.
Are these the only possible puppy dates?
No. They are the planner's dated example; individual protocols can need different timing or a later final dose.
Does entering doses confirm protection?
No. The count changes the displayed viral checkpoints, not the puppy's medical record or immunity.
Is rabies timed from the last viral dose?
No. Rabies has its own licensed and local requirements, with boosters related to the actual rabies dose.
Does a calendar download book the visit?
No. It creates reminder events only; contact the practice to agree appointments.
Sources and checked dates
Each note explains what its source supports. Open the link to read the guidance yourself.
Individual veterinary protocols, Canadian licensed instructions and jurisdiction-specific rabies law govern care. This position statement does not supply numeric puppy ages.
Section 3.1.4, printed pages 32 and 33: puppy viral intervals, risk-dependent final age, one-year viral booster and rabies at 3 to 4 months. Kennel-specific guidance, subject to vet advice and provincial law. It does not date leptospirosis courses.
Table 1, page 12: viral timing and separate leptospirosis course. Page 14: antibody testing after the final puppy viral dose or vaccination at about 26 weeks; a positive protection result can avoid that vaccination.