Dog vaccination in the United Kingdom
AnimaPulse's reference scheme for the United Kingdom: the age of the primary course, the booster rhythm and the rabies rule, vaccine by vaccine. For guidance only.
United Kingdom 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 in the United Kingdom
What vaccinations does a dog need in the United Kingdom?
| Vaccine | Primary course | First booster | Then |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHPthe core dog combo: distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus — first booster at 1 year, then every 3 years | 8 weeks, 11 weeks | 1 year after the primary course | every 3 years |
| Leptospirosisbacteria spread by rodent urine and standing water — yearly booster | 8 weeks, 12 weeks | 1 year after the primary course | every year |
| Kennel coughinfectious cough (Bordetella) for sociable dogs: kennels, daycare, shows — yearly booster | 12 weeks | 1 year after the primary course | every year |
| Rabiesnot routine in the UK — travel only | 12 weeks | 1 year after the primary course | every 3 years |
In AnimaPulse's UK scheme, DHP is the core dog combo: distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus — first booster at 1 year, then every 3 years.
The BSAVA vaccination statement (May 2026) lists distemper, adenovirus (infectious canine hepatitis), parvovirus and leptospirosis as the core vaccines for dogs in the UK, and the kennel cough vaccine as non-core, to be considered before kennelling or other situations where dogs mix. PDSA (page published in April 2022) likewise says all dogs in the UK should be vaccinated against parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis and infectious hepatitis. NOAH (page reviewed in May 2019, referring to a 2015 position paper of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate) is narrower: it calls distemper, parvovirus and adenovirus the core vaccines for UK dogs and leptospirosis a non-core vaccine for dogs at risk because of where they live or what they do. So "core" does not mean exactly the same thing in every UK source: your vet decides what your dog needs.
For boosters, BSAVA's statement (May 2026) says the vaccine's data sheet (Summary of Product Characteristics) is followed, while allowing a risk-based interpretation informed by broader guidelines. The rhythm that applies to your dog is the one your vet sets from that data sheet.
What should a UK dog owner know about leptospirosis?
It is a bacterial disease spread mainly by rats and other rodents through their urine. NOAH (reviewed in May 2019) says the bacteria survive well in damp environments such as waterways and ditches, that canine cases are identified throughout the UK and that dogs of all ages are susceptible. PDSA (April 2022) adds that it damages vital organs such as the liver and kidneys, and that in humans it is known as Weil's disease.
On the vaccine itself, BSAVA (May 2026) notes that leptospirosis vaccines are multivalent: preparations are available containing different Leptospira strains. AnimaPulse's UK scheme gives leptospirosis its own line in the table: "bacteria spread by rodent urine and standing water — yearly booster".
Does my dog need a kennel cough vaccine for boarding, daycare or a dog walker?
AnimaPulse's UK scheme says: "infectious cough (Bordetella) for sociable dogs: kennels, daycare, shows — yearly booster". PDSA (April 2022) recommends the vaccine if your dog mixes with a lot of other dogs or has a health condition that could make kennel cough more serious, and says it is usually a requirement if your dog spends time in kennels or doggy day care, has a dog walker, or attends dog events and shows. NOAH (reviewed in May 2019) describes it as a vaccine for dogs at significant risk of respiratory infection from mixing with other dogs, for example at boarding kennels, with dog sitters or with dog walkers.
For the legal requirements that apply to boarding establishments, BSAVA's statement (May 2026) points to the licensing authorities: in England the Local Authority, under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018; in Wales and Scotland the Local Authority, under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963; in Northern Ireland the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
Can a titre test replace a booster for my dog?
Not for leptospirosis, and PDSA (April 2022) says titre testing is not a permanent alternative to boosters because a dog's immunity will run out eventually. A titre test is a blood test that checks the immunity a dog still has from earlier vaccines. PDSA says tests are available for parvovirus, infectious hepatitis and distemper, and that none is available for leptospirosis; BSAVA likewise says antibody tests are not possible as alternatives for all of the core vaccinations, most importantly Leptospira. NOAH (reviewed in May 2019) adds that rabies immunity can also be predicted reliably from a blood test, and that regular vaccination is still usually recommended against diseases that cannot be assessed this way, such as leptospirosis and sometimes kennel cough.
PDSA points out that a titre result shows the level of protection at the time of the blood test and does not guarantee protection afterwards. If the result shows remaining protection, an owner may decide with the vet to leave those vaccines out of that year's schedule.
What if my dog's vaccinations are incomplete or overdue?
PDSA's advice (April 2022) for a puppy or dog that is unvaccinated, or has only had part of the primary course, is to carry it rather than let it walk on the ground in public places, to keep it away from unvaccinated dogs from outside the household and not to bring new or unknown dogs into the home. The garden is fine as long as no unvaccinated dogs have visited recently and it is secure from foxes.
For a dog that has missed a booster, PDSA advises keeping it away from other dogs, avoiding areas where many dogs have been, and avoiding places with a high leptospirosis risk, that is where farm animals and rats live: farm fields, ponds, stagnant water and rivers.
Does a dog in the United Kingdom need a rabies vaccination?
AnimaPulse's reference scheme for the United Kingdom says: "not routine in the UK — travel only".
On rabies, BSAVA's statement (May 2026) calls vaccination a legal requirement for dogs travelling abroad or returning to the UK, and PDSA (April 2022) says it is necessary for dogs that travel in and out of the UK. That matches the "travel only" line in the table.
PDSA adds, in its April 2022 page, that there is no legal requirement to give a dog vaccines in the UK; the exception is rabies, a legal requirement if the dog travels in and out of the UK.
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 the United Kingdom?
In AnimaPulse's reference scheme for the United Kingdom the DHP vaccine is given at 8 and 11 weeks. Your vet decides the timing for your animal.
How often does a dog need boosters in the United Kingdom?
In the scheme for the United Kingdom, 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 the United Kingdom need a rabies vaccination?
AnimaPulse's reference scheme for the United Kingdom says: "not routine in the UK — travel only".
Sources — United Kingdom
- WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines 2024 (WSAVA — Vaccination Guidelines, WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines, executive summary (PDF))
- PDSA — Dog/Cat vaccines (public-facing schedules) (PDSA — Dog Vaccines)
- BSAVA/NOAH practice: triennial DHP after the first booster, annual leptospirosis (BSAVA — Vaccination Statement (May 2026), NOAH — Dog Vaccinations)
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Page updated on 11 November 2026.