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Dog vaccination in Ireland

AnimaPulse's reference scheme for Ireland: the age of the primary course, the booster rhythm and the rabies rule, vaccine by vaccine. For guidance only.

Ireland protocolIndicativePublished on Updated on

These schedules are indicative. A pet's protocol depends on its age, lifestyle, region and health: your vet always has the final say. Overview: Dog vaccination schedule · See also: Cat vaccination schedule

What vaccinations does a dog need in Ireland?

8 wks1st injection
12 wks2nd · protection acquired
VaccinePrimary courseFirst boosterThen
DHPthe dog's core shot: distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus — first booster at 1 year, then every 3 years8 weeks, 12 weeks1 year after the primary courseevery 3 years
Leptospirosisleptospirosis — ENDEMIC in Ireland, yearly booster: immunity is shorter than the DHP core8 weeks, 12 weeks1 year after the primary courseevery year
Kennel coughkennel cough — not routine, but required by most Irish boarding kennels12 weeks1 year after the primary courseevery year
Rabiesrabies — for travel only: Ireland is rabies-free, no requirement for a resident animal12 weeks1 year after the primary courseevery 3 years

AnimaPulse's Irish scheme says of the core shot: "the dog's core shot: distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus — first booster at 1 year, then every 3 years".

How common is leptospirosis in Irish dogs?

The Veterinary Ireland Journal (August 2019) calls leptospirosis endemic in Ireland and the UK, and adds that no large-scale surveillance studies had been undertaken in either country. It cites a University College Dublin study (Rojas et al., 2010) in which 7% of a subset of healthy-dog urine samples at the UCD Veterinary Hospital contained pathogenic leptospires. AnimaPulse's Irish scheme says: "leptospirosis — ENDEMIC in Ireland, yearly booster: immunity is shorter than the DHP core".

The same article says infection occurs through contact with urine-contaminated water on mucous membranes or broken skin, that rodents play a highly important role in maintaining and shedding the bacteria, and that vaccination is a cornerstone of preventing the disease in dogs and also of minimising the risk of urinary shedding of leptospires to humans. It stresses that leptospirosis vaccines are only protective against the serovars included in the formulation and those closely related to them: there is no cross-protection between serogroups. For its part, the Union Product Database lists Nobivac L4, an injectable dog vaccine, as authorised and available in Ireland, with four inactivated Leptospira strains as active substances: serovars Copenhageni, Portlandvere and Bratislava of Leptospira interrogans, and serovar Dadas of Leptospira kirschneri.

The WSAVA 2024 executive summary says that where canine leptospirosis is endemic, where the implicated serogroups are known and where suitable vaccines are available, vaccinating all dogs against it is highly recommended and the vaccines should be considered core.

Is a kennel cough vaccine needed in Ireland?

AnimaPulse's Irish scheme says: "kennel cough — not routine, but required by most Irish boarding kennels". The WSAVA 2024 executive summary describes vaccines against respiratory disease as non-core for pet dogs living in typical homes, and core for shelter-housed dogs.

The HPRA (the Irish medicines regulator) has a product page for Nobivac Respira Bb, a prescription-only injectable vaccine for dogs whose active substance is Bordetella bronchiseptica fimbriae, with licence number VPA10996/277/001. It shows the licence status as "Authorised" and a licence issued on 25/08/2020. Which kennel cough vaccine your dog is given, and when, is for your vet to say.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's guide to a dog owner's legal responsibilities (page last updated in January 2026) lists, under five headings: the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (appropriate care); the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015 (a microchipped dog registered on an approved database, a valid Certificate of Registration from the database operator, and owner and dog details kept up to date); the Control of Dogs Act 1986 (a dog licence, a collar or harness with your contact details, and keeping the dog under effectual control in public places); the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 (additional controls for the restricted breeds the guide names, and the rules on XL Bully dogs); and the Litter Pollution Act 1997 (picking up and binning dog poo in public places). Vaccination is not among the requirements it lists.

Does a dog in Ireland need a rabies vaccination?

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) (disease listing, page last modified in July 2023) gives Ireland's rabies status as "absent", with 1903 as the date of the last known case, and lists rabies as a notifiable disease, citing S.I. No. 130/2016 (the Notification and Control of Diseases affecting Terrestrial Animals (No. 2) Regulations 2016) as the legislation. It names dogs, foxes, raccoons and skunks as reservoir hosts of the virus. AnimaPulse's Irish scheme says: "rabies — for travel only: Ireland is rabies-free, no requirement for a resident animal".

The HPRA's product page for Versiguard Rabies, a rabies vaccine whose target species include dogs and cats, shows the licence status as "Authorised", gives Zoetis Belgium S.A. as licence holder and a licence issued on 13/11/2015. Which rabies vaccine your dog is given is for your vet to say.

How will I remember my dog's booster dates?

Enter the vaccine in AnimaPulse and the app works out the next due date from the date you entered, then reminds you seven days before and again the day before. The calendar it proposes follows the country where your dog lives, not the language of your phone.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can a puppy have its first vaccination in Ireland?

In AnimaPulse's reference scheme for Ireland the DHP vaccine is given at 8 and 12 weeks. Your vet decides the timing for your animal.

How often does a dog need boosters in Ireland?

In the scheme for Ireland, DHP has a first booster 1 year after the primary course, then boosters every 3 years. Leptospirosis: first booster 1 year after the primary course, then every year. Kennel cough: first booster 1 year after the primary course, then every year. Rabies (travel only): first booster 1 year after the primary course, then every 3 years. Your vet adapts the rhythm to your animal.

Does a dog in Ireland need a rabies vaccination?

AnimaPulse's reference scheme for Ireland says: "rabies — for travel only: Ireland is rabies-free, no requirement for a resident animal".

Sources — Ireland

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Page updated on 11 November 2026.