Guide · Dogs
Dog vaccination schedule and boosters
After the puppy course, adult dogs move onto a booster cycle. Some components are given every year, others every three — which is why the paperwork gets confusing. Here is how the adult schedule normally works in the UK.
Last reviewed: 27 August 2026
In short
Adult dogs in the UK typically have a yearly leptospirosis booster and a yearly health check, with distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus usually boosted every three years. Kennel cough, where needed, is normally annual. Your vet sets the exact cycle for the vaccine brand used.
The adult booster cycle
| Vaccine | Usual interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leptospirosis | Every 12 months | Immunity is short-lived, so it is boosted yearly |
| Distemper | Every 3 years | Given at the three-yearly booster visit |
| Infectious canine hepatitis | Every 3 years | Usually combined with distemper and parvo |
| Parvovirus | Every 3 years | Combined in the same injection |
| Kennel cough | Every 12 months | Non-core; often required by kennels and daycare |
| Rabies | Per product datasheet | Only needed for travel; check the exact validity |
This is why your dog still has an annual appointment even in a “three-year” year: the yearly components and the health check still happen.
If the booster has lapsed
Life happens and dates slip. What matters is not guessing. Your vet will look at the vaccine brand used, how overdue you are and your dog's risk, then either give a single restart dose or repeat the two-dose primary course. Booking sooner keeps it simpler and cheaper.
Proof people will ask you for
- Boarding kennels and catteries — before they confirm your booking
- Daycare and dog walkers — often at sign-up and again each year
- Groomers and training classes — commonly for kennel cough
- Insurers — when assessing claims for preventable illness
- A new vet practice — when transferring your dog's history
A simple system that works
Photograph each vaccination card page the day it is stamped, record the next due date, and set a reminder four weeks ahead so you can get an appointment before the date passes. Pawfile does exactly this: store the document, log the vaccination, and get the reminder before it lapses rather than after.
Free printable vaccination record card
Prefer pen and paper? Print this record card and keep it with your puppy's paperwork. Take it to every appointment so the dates, batch stickers and next-due dates are always in one place — even if the practice's card goes missing.
Dog vaccination record
Printable vaccination record · pawfile.dev
Pet name
Date of birth
Breed
Microchip no.
| Vaccine / treatment | Due around | Date given | Next due | Vet initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leptospirosis | Every 12 months | |||
| Distemper | Every 3 years | |||
| Infectious canine hepatitis | Every 3 years | |||
| Parvovirus | Every 3 years | |||
| Kennel cough | Every 12 months | |||
| Rabies (travel) | Per datasheet |
This card is a personal record only — it is not an official vaccination certificate. Your vet's signed record is the document kennels, insurers and border authorities accept. General guidance for UK dogs; your vet's schedule takes precedence.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Vaccination protocols vary by country, brand of vaccine and your pet's individual risk. Always follow the schedule your own vet recommends. Pawfile is an admin tool for keeping those records and reminders organised — it does not diagnose or treat.
Common questions
- How often do dogs need booster vaccinations?
- In the UK the leptospirosis component is usually boosted every year, while distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus are commonly given every three years. Your vet still sees your dog annually to check health and give the yearly components.
- What if my dog's boosters have lapsed?
- Speak to your vet. Depending on how long it has been and which vaccine was used, your dog may need a single restart dose or a full two-dose primary course again.
- Do kennels require a kennel cough vaccine?
- Most UK boarding kennels and daycares do, and many ask for it to have been given at least a couple of weeks before the stay. Check the individual facility's policy well ahead of booking.
- Does pet insurance require up-to-date vaccinations?
- Many policies include a condition that vaccinations are kept current, and claims for a disease your dog could have been vaccinated against may be refused. Read your policy wording and keep proof of dates.
Never miss a booster again
Store your pet's vaccination card, set renewal reminders and keep every vet document in one place. Free for your first pet.