Puppy and Kitten Vaccination Schedule in Calgary 2026: A Complete Guide From Our Vets
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is one of life’s best moments — and one of the most important things you’ll do in their first few months is get their vaccinations right. Done on schedule, vaccines protect your pet through the most vulnerable window of their life and set them up for years of good health at off-leash parks, daycares, boarding kennels and groomers across Calgary.
At Sanctuary Veterinary Hospital in Sage Hill, NW Calgary, new-pet visits are some of our favourite appointments. Here’s exactly what to expect — which vaccines your puppy or kitten needs, when they need them, and which optional vaccines make sense for your pet’s lifestyle in Alberta.
Why Puppies and Kittens Need a Series of Vaccines (Not Just One)
Newborn puppies and kittens receive temporary immunity from their mother’s milk. The catch: this maternal immunity fades unpredictably somewhere between 6 and 16 weeks of age — and while it’s present, it can also block vaccines from working fully. That’s why vets give a series of boosters every 3–4 weeks until about 16 weeks of age. It’s not over-vaccinating; it’s closing the gap so there’s no window where your pet is unprotected.
Missing or delaying boosters leaves that gap open. Parvovirus in particular remains a real threat to under-vaccinated puppies in Calgary, and it is expensive to treat and frequently fatal without intensive care.
Core vs. Lifestyle Vaccines: What’s the Difference?
Core vaccines are recommended for every dog and cat, regardless of lifestyle, because the diseases they prevent are widespread, severe, or transmissible to humans.
Lifestyle (non-core) vaccines are recommended based on your pet’s individual risk — where they go, who they meet, and what they do. A dog who hikes the foothills and stays at daycare has a very different risk profile from a cat who never leaves a Panorama Hills condo. This is exactly what we assess during your pet’s wellness exam.
Puppy Vaccination Schedule
| Age | Core Vaccines | Lifestyle Vaccines (risk-based) |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | DA2PP (distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus) — 1st dose | Bordetella (kennel cough) if early socialization or daycare planned |
| 10–12 weeks | DA2PP — 2nd dose | Leptospirosis 1st dose; Bordetella if not yet given |
| 14–16 weeks | DA2PP — final dose; Rabies | Leptospirosis 2nd dose; Lyme (for dogs hiking in tick areas) |
| 1 year later | DA2PP and Rabies boosters | Annual boosters for lifestyle vaccines as needed |
A note on leptospirosis: once considered rural, lepto is now seen in urban dogs across Alberta. It spreads through water and soil contaminated by wildlife urine — think puddles, storm ponds and river banks — and it can also infect people. If your dog walks the ravines, ponds and green spaces around Sage Hill, Nolan Hill or Evanston, ask us whether lepto protection makes sense.
Kitten Vaccination Schedule
| Age | Core Vaccines | Lifestyle Vaccines (risk-based) |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia) — 1st dose | — |
| 10–12 weeks | FVRCP — 2nd dose | FeLV (feline leukemia) — 1st dose |
| 14–16 weeks | FVRCP — final dose; Rabies | FeLV — 2nd dose |
| 1 year later | FVRCP and Rabies boosters | FeLV booster for cats with outdoor access |
Why FeLV for kittens? Feline leukemia virus is most dangerous to young cats, and many vets — including ours — consider the initial FeLV series effectively core for all kittens, even ones planned as indoor-only. Plenty of “indoor cats” later become balcony cats, escape artists, or gain a feline housemate. After the first year, we reassess based on your cat’s actual lifestyle.
Do Adult Dogs and Cats Still Need Vaccines?
Yes — but not necessarily every vaccine every year. After the one-year booster, many core vaccines (like DA2PP, FVRCP and rabies) move to a three-year schedule, while lifestyle vaccines like Bordetella and leptospirosis need annual boosters to stay effective. At your pet’s annual exam, we review their risk and only recommend what they genuinely need. For pets with health concerns, titer testing can sometimes be discussed as an alternative for certain vaccines.
Is Rabies Vaccination Required in Calgary?
Rabies exists in Alberta wildlife — primarily bats — and any pet that contacts a bat, even indoors, is at risk. Beyond the health risk, an up-to-date rabies vaccine protects you legally and practically: if an unvaccinated pet bites someone or is exposed to a suspect animal, the consequences can include lengthy quarantine. Rabies vaccination is also mandatory for travel across the U.S. border and required by virtually every boarding facility, groomer and daycare in Calgary. We strongly recommend it for every dog and cat.
Are Pet Vaccines Safe? What Side Effects Are Normal?
Vaccine reactions are uncommon and usually mild. For a day or so after vaccines, it’s normal to see:
- Mild sleepiness or reduced appetite
- Slight tenderness or a small, temporary bump at the injection site
- A mild, short-lived fever
Serious reactions are rare but need immediate attention. Call us right away — or come straight in during clinic hours — if you see facial swelling, hives, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, or difficulty breathing within hours of vaccination. Our team handles urgent cases during clinic hours at (403) 295-0305.
What Else Happens at Puppy and Kitten Visits?
Vaccine appointments are about much more than the injection. At each visit we also:
- Perform a nose-to-tail physical exam — growth, heart, teeth, joints, coat and more
- Set up deworming and parasite prevention, since nearly all puppies and kittens carry intestinal worms
- Discuss nutrition and feeding plans for healthy growth
- Talk through microchipping, and the right timing for spaying or neutering (typically around 6 months)
- Answer the long list of questions every new pet owner has — house training, biting, scratching, socialization. Bring them all.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can my puppy go to off-leash parks in Calgary?
Wait until 1–2 weeks after the final 16-week vaccines before visiting high-traffic areas like off-leash parks. Before then, socialize safely: puppy classes that require vaccination records, playdates with known vaccinated dogs, and carrying your puppy in public places.
My cat never goes outside. Does she really need vaccines?
Yes. Rabies-carrying bats can enter homes, panleukopenia virus is hardy enough to come in on shoes and clothing, and indoor cats can escape. Core vaccines (FVRCP and rabies) are recommended for indoor cats; after the kitten series, your vet can tailor the long-term schedule to her lifestyle.
What happens if we missed a booster or adopted an adult pet with unknown history?
Don’t worry — we see this all the time, especially with rescues. Depending on your pet’s age and how much time has passed, we’ll either resume the series or restart with two doses a few weeks apart. Bring any records you have to your first appointment.
How much do puppy or kitten vaccines cost in Calgary?
Cost depends on which core and lifestyle vaccines your pet needs, which we determine together at the first exam. Call us at (403) 295-0305 and our team will walk you through an estimate for your puppy or kitten’s full first-year plan.
Book Your Puppy or Kitten’s First Visit in NW Calgary
Whether you’ve just brought home a puppy in Nolan Hill, adopted a kitten in Evanston, or moved to Sage Hill with an adult pet whose vaccines need updating, our team would love to meet them. Sanctuary Veterinary Hospital provides complete vaccination care for dogs, cats and exotic pets across NW Calgary — Sage Hill, Nolan Hill, Evanston, Panorama Hills, Kincora, Country Hills and Sherwood.
Book today through our online appointment portal or call (403) 295-0305.