Dog Vaccination Schedule in Saudi Arabia: A Complete Guide

In Saudi Arabia, puppies should begin their core vaccination series at 6 to 8 weeks of age, receive boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks, and continue with adult boosters every 1 to 3 years. Rabies vaccination is essential and is also required for travel. Below is a practical schedule you can follow with your veterinarian.

Why vaccinations matter for dogs in Saudi Arabia

Vaccines protect your dog from serious, often fatal diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, and rabies. Puppies are born with temporary immunity from their mother's milk, but this fades within the first months of life, leaving a window where they are highly vulnerable. A properly timed series closes that window and builds long-term protection.

Core vs. lifestyle vaccines

Core vaccines are recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle, while lifestyle (non-core) vaccines depend on your dog's environment and exposure risk. Your veterinarian will tailor the plan to your dog.

Core vaccines

• Canine distemper virus
• Canine parvovirus
• Canine adenovirus (hepatitis)
• Rabies (also legally important and required for travel)

Lifestyle (non-core) vaccines

• Parainfluenza and Bordetella (kennel cough) for dogs that board, are groomed, or socialize with other dogs
• Leptospirosis where exposure risk exists, based on your vet's advice

Puppy vaccination schedule

The puppy series is a set of boosters spaced a few weeks apart, because a single dose is not enough while maternal antibodies are still fading. A typical schedule looks like this:

1. 16-8 weeks: First DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza)
2. 210-12 weeks: Second DHPP; add Bordetella if needed
3. 314-16 weeks: Third DHPP and rabies vaccine
4. 41 year later: DHPP and rabies boosters

Adult dog boosters

Adult dogs need periodic boosters to maintain immunity, typically every 1 to 3 years depending on the vaccine and your veterinarian's protocol. Rabies boosters must be kept current, especially if you plan to travel or export your dog. Keeping an accurate vaccination record makes future travel and boarding far easier.

The safest schedule is the one your veterinarian tailors to your dog's age, health, and lifestyle — not a fixed calendar copied from the internet.

At VetWay (فيت واي) in Riyadh, our team can vaccinate your dog at home, which keeps stress low for anxious puppies and lets us update your records on the spot. Home visits are especially helpful for multi-pet households and for owners with busy schedules.