Puppy vaccination schedule 2026: order, mandatory vaccines and costs

Last updated: 24 September 2026

Puppy vaccinations start at 6–8 weeks of age: the vaccine against parvovirus, distemper and infectious canine hepatitis is repeated every 3–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age, followed by a booster at 6 months. In Hungary, the law only requires rabies vaccination: a dog that has reached 3 months of age must be vaccinated within 30 days, and only microchipped dogs may be vaccinated. Rules differ from country to country, so check your local requirements with your vet.

In this guide we break the puppy vaccination schedule down week by week, explain which vaccines are mandatory and which are recommended, show what vaccinations typically cost in Hungary in 2026, and cover what to watch out for during the vaccination series, while your puppy is not yet fully protected.

Puppy vaccination calendar, week by week

The table below shows a typical vaccination schedule based on the 2024 international vaccination guidelines of the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) and Hungarian legislation. The exact protocol is always set by your vet, according to the instructions for the vaccine used and your puppy's risk. The legal requirements (rabies, microchip) reflect the rules in Hungary; other countries may have different ones.

It's worth writing the dates down in advance in a calendar or on your phone. During the puppy series, delays are not just inconvenient – they also increase the risk of infection.

Why does a puppy need several vaccinations?

In the first weeks, a puppy receives antibodies from its mother through the colostrum (the first milk). These protect it, but they also neutralise the vaccine: as long as the level of maternal antibodies is high, the vaccine cannot build up the puppy's own immunity. When this maternal protection wears off varies from puppy to puppy – which is why the vaccine is given every 3–4 weeks, so that one of the doses is sure to ‘hit’ once the maternal antibodies have run out.

This leads to the most important practical lesson: during the vaccination series, the puppy is not yet fully protected. This ‘window of vulnerability’ is the period in which parvovirus makes the most puppies ill.

Which diseases are puppies vaccinated against?

Vaccines are divided into two groups: core vaccines are recommended for every dog, while non-core vaccines depend on lifestyle and risk. According to the information sheet of the Small Animal Clinic at the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, vaccination against parvovirus, distemper and infectious hepatitis is recommended for every dog, and in certain cases vaccination against kennel cough, leptospirosis, Lyme disease and babesiosis as well.

Good to know: according to the WSAVA guidelines, vaccines against canine coronavirus and Giardia are not recommended for pet dogs. For these pathogens, hygiene and testing when symptoms appear are therefore the main tools. You can read more about canine coronavirus here and about Giardia here.

Mandatory rabies vaccination and microchip rules in Hungary

The rules below apply in Hungary. Other countries have their own requirements for rabies vaccination and microchipping, so check the local rules with your vet. According to Decree 164/2008 (XII. 20.) FVM on the detailed rules of rabies control:

• a dog that has reached three months of age must be vaccinated against rabies within 30 days;
• the second vaccination is due within 6 months of the first, and yearly thereafter;
• only dogs marked with an electronic transponder (microchip) may be vaccinated against rabies;
• a combined (multivalent) rabies vaccine may only be used in dogs that have already been vaccinated twice, so the first two vaccinations are given with a standalone rabies vaccine;
• the vaccination certificate (vaccination booklet) must be kept and shown on request.

And according to Government Decree 41/2010 (II. 26.) on keeping pets:

• dogs older than four months may only be kept if microchipped;
• a dog may only be sold or given away if it is microchipped – regardless of its age;
• puppies must be kept with their mother until 8 weeks of age.

In practice, this means the microchip must be implanted at the latest at the first rabies vaccination – but if you get your puppy from a breeder or a private person, it must already be microchipped when it is handed over. For cats, rabies vaccination is generally not mandatory in Hungary; the authorities can only order it in an unfavourable epidemiological situation.

How much does puppy vaccination cost in Hungary in 2026?

Prices vary considerably from practice to practice. We compiled the ranges below from three public Hungarian veterinary price lists valid in 2026 (sources at the end of the article), so they show typical prices in Hungary; costs in other countries may differ considerably. Some practices charge the examination fee separately.

A typical first year in total: 1 parvo vaccine, 3 combination vaccines, 2 rabies vaccines and the microchip come to roughly 64,000 – 101,000 HUF in Hungary. Including the 6-month combination booster, it is about 74,000 – 117,000 HUF. The exact amount depends on the practice and on how many vaccinations your vet recommends.

During the vaccination series: when can you take your puppy out?

The WSAVA guidelines explicitly emphasise that careful socialisation of the puppy can begin before the vaccination series is complete, since the first months of puppyhood are a sensitive period for socialisation. So the goal is not complete isolation, but reducing the risk:

• Your puppy can safely meet known, healthy, vaccinated dogs in a clean environment.
• Avoid dog parks, busy street corners frequented by dogs, shelters and any place where there may be faeces from unknown dogs – parvovirus remains infectious in the soil for months.
• Take your puppy to new places in your arms or in a carrier, so it can see and hear the world but not sniff the ground.
• Puppy classes are a good choice if the venue is clean and only vaccinated puppies are accepted.
• At home, take your shoes off at the door and wash your hands if you have been in contact with other dogs.

Your vet will tell you, after the final puppy vaccination, from when your puppy can go anywhere.

If your puppy falls ill during the vaccination series

In the ‘window of vulnerability’, sudden vomiting or diarrhoea is always suspicious. Parvovirus mainly affects unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated puppies between 6 weeks and 6 months of age, and can lead to severe dehydration within hours. In this case, call your vet – don't wait for it to pass on its own.

With a home stool test you can get an indication within a few minutes and tell your vet the result straight away:

• CPV Ag parvovirus rapid test – detects parvovirus from a stool sample.
• 4-in-1 rapid test – parvovirus, coronavirus, Giardia and distemper with one kit; distemper is tested from a separate discharge sample.
• CPV/CDV 2-in-1 rapid test – the two most dangerous puppy diseases, parvo and distemper, at once.

Important: after a parvo vaccine containing live, attenuated virus, the vaccine virus may also be detectable in the stool for a few days, so the test may be positive. If your puppy was vaccinated recently, be sure to tell your vet. The rapid test is a pre-screening tool and does not replace a veterinary examination. We've written about how reliable the result is here: How accurate is a home rapid test?

More on the symptoms: Dog vomiting – when is it an emergency?, Dog diarrhoea – a complete guide, Parvovirus in dogs and Distemper in dogs.

Post-vaccination reactions: what is normal and what isn't?

For 1–2 days after vaccination, the following can be normal:

• mild lethargy, more sleep;
• a slightly reduced appetite;
• tenderness or a small, soft swelling at the injection site.

Call your vet immediately if, after vaccination:

• your puppy's face, eyelids or muzzle swell up, or hives appear;
• it vomits, develops diarrhoea, has difficulty breathing or collapses;
• the swelling at the injection site grows, is warm or painful, or has not gone down even after weeks.

If your puppy has had a vaccination reaction before, tell your vet before the next vaccination.

Before buying a puppy: what to ask for about vaccinations

If you are buying or adopting a puppy, its vaccination history is just as important as the breed or the parents. It's worth checking the following:

• The puppy is at least 8 weeks old – under Hungarian law it may not be separated from its mother any younger (check the rules in your country).
• It is microchipped, and the chip number appears in its papers.
• A vaccination booklet containing the vaccine labels, dates, and the vet's stamp and signature.
• The dates of deworming treatments.
• The puppy is lively, its eyes and nose are clean, and it has no diarrhoea.

We've collected what to do in the first weeks after your puppy arrives – including screening tests and the first vet visit – in our puppy screening checklist. For breeders: Breeder responsibility: screening before the litter is handed over.

Frequently asked questions about puppy vaccination

At what age does a puppy get its first vaccination?

Core vaccinations usually start at 6–8 weeks of age. According to the international WSAVA guidelines, the core vaccination series is not started before 6 weeks of age and is repeated every 3–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age.

Is the combination vaccine mandatory?

In Hungary, the law only requires rabies vaccination. Vaccination against parvovirus, distemper and infectious hepatitis is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended for every dog, because these diseases are serious and often fatal. Requirements differ by country, so check with your vet.

When should a puppy get its rabies vaccination?

In Hungary, a dog that has reached three months of age must be vaccinated within 30 days. The second vaccination is due within 6 months of the first, and yearly thereafter. Only microchipped dogs may be vaccinated against rabies. Other countries may have different rules.

How much does puppy vaccination cost?

Based on public 2026 price lists, in Hungary a vaccination typically costs between about 7,000 and 16,000 HUF, and a microchip 10,000 – 13,500 HUF. A typical first year (parvo vaccine, 3 combination vaccines, 2 rabies vaccines, microchip) comes to roughly 64,000 – 101,000 HUF, depending on the practice.

When can you take your puppy out for walks?

Careful socialisation is recommended even during the vaccination series: with known, vaccinated dogs, in clean places. Avoid dog parks and places visited by unknown dogs until the final puppy vaccination; your vet will tell you exactly when your puppy can go anywhere.

What happens if a vaccination was missed or delayed?

Tell your vet as soon as possible. They will decide whether it is enough to continue the series or whether more doses are needed. Until then, take extra care to keep your puppy away from high-risk places.

Can a parvo test be positive after vaccination?

Yes. After a parvo vaccine containing live, attenuated virus, the vaccine virus may be detectable in the stool for a few days. If your puppy was vaccinated recently and the test is positive, be sure to tell your vet.

Summary

The puppy vaccination schedule starts at 6–8 weeks of age, is repeated every 3–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age, and ends with a booster at 6 months. In Hungary, rabies vaccination is mandatory: within 30 days after the puppy turns 3 months old, with a microchip (other countries have their own rules). During the vaccination series the puppy is not yet fully protected, so avoid high-risk places, and if it vomits or has diarrhoea, seek veterinary help immediately – and a home rapid test can tell you within minutes whether parvo is behind it.

Keep a parvo rapid test at home during the vaccination series →
Results from a stool sample in minutes – so you don't have to guess during the vulnerable weeks.

Sources

• Decree 164/2008 (XII. 20.) FVM on the detailed rules of rabies control (Hungarian National Legislation Database)
• Government Decree 41/2010 (II. 26.) on the keeping and trading of pets (Hungarian National Legislation Database)
• WSAVA: 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats and the accompanying canine vaccination table
• University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Small Animal Clinic: Vaccination information (in Hungarian)
• Price lists (Hungary, 2026): EB Szerviz, Centrum-Vet, Kincsem Állatkórház

Important: this article provides general information and does not replace veterinary advice. The vaccination protocol is always determined by your vet. MancsLab rapid tests are intended for pre-screening at home.