Dog & Cat Vaccinations: What New Jersey Pet Owners Should Know

Vaccinations are an important part of preventive healthcare for dogs and cats. They help protect pets from infectious diseases that can cause serious illness, long-term health problems and, in some cases, death.

But pet vaccination isn't necessarily a one-size-fits-all program.

Some vaccines are considered core vaccines because they are recommended for nearly every pet. Others may be recommended based on your pet's age, lifestyle, travel habits and exposure to other animals. Where you live matters, too. Here in New Jersey, diseases carried by ticks and wildlife can influence the vaccines your veterinarian recommends.

Understanding what the different vaccines do—and why your veterinarian recommends them—can help you make informed decisions about your pet's preventive care.

How Do Vaccines Work?

Vaccines introduce the immune system to a harmless form, component or genetic representation of a disease-causing organism. This allows the immune system to learn how to recognize and respond to that disease without the pet having to suffer through the actual infection.

If the vaccinated pet is later exposed to the disease, its immune system is better prepared to respond.

No vaccine can guarantee that a pet will never become infected, but vaccination can greatly reduce the likelihood of disease and, in many cases, reduce the severity of illness if infection occurs.

Core vs. Lifestyle Vaccines

Veterinarians generally divide vaccines into two categories.

Core vaccines are recommended for essentially all pets because the diseases are widespread, particularly dangerous or pose a public-health concern.

Non-core or lifestyle vaccines are recommended when a pet's environment, geographic location or activities create a meaningful risk of exposure.

That distinction is important. A Labrador that hikes through wooded areas, swims in ponds and attends daycare may need a different vaccination plan than a dog that spends most of its time at home. An indoor-only cat may have different long-term needs than a cat that regularly goes outdoors.

Your veterinarian can help determine the appropriate vaccination plan for your individual pet.

Vaccinations for Dogs

Distemper, Adenovirus and Parvovirus

These vaccines are commonly combined into one injection often called DA2PP, DHPP or DAPP.

Canine Distemper

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect a dog's respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems.

Symptoms can include coughing, nasal discharge, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and other neurological problems. Severe cases can be fatal.

Canine Adenovirus

Vaccination protects against canine adenovirus type 1, which causes infectious canine hepatitis.

The disease can damage the liver and other organs and can become life-threatening.

Canine Parvovirus

Parvovirus—or simply "parvo"—is an extremely contagious virus that primarily attacks the gastrointestinal system.

Puppies are particularly vulnerable. Severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration can develop rapidly and may become life-threatening.

Because these diseases are widespread and potentially severe, vaccination against distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus is considered core protection for dogs.

Rabies

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that attacks the nervous system of mammals, including dogs, cats and people.

The virus is generally transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, most commonly through a bite.

Rabies is particularly important because it is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread from animals to humans.

Is Rabies Vaccination Required in New Jersey?

New Jersey requires dogs seven months of age or older to be licensed by the municipality in which they are kept. To obtain that license, owners generally must provide proof of a current rabies vaccination, subject to limited veterinary medical exemptions.

Rabies isn't just a vaccination issue—it is also an important public-health issue.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis, often shortened to lepto, is a bacterial disease that can cause serious kidney and liver damage and can be fatal.

Dogs can become exposed through water, soil or other environments contaminated with urine from infected wildlife or rodents.

That means exposure isn't limited to dogs living on farms or hiking deep in the woods. Wildlife and rodents can bring the bacteria into suburban and urban environments as well.

Leptospirosis is also zoonotic, so infected animals can potentially expose people.

The American Animal Hospital Association updated its canine vaccination guidelines in 2024 to classify leptospirosis vaccination as a core vaccine for dogs.

For dogs living in New Jersey, it is an important vaccine to discuss with your veterinarian.

Lyme Disease

New Jersey pet owners are very familiar with ticks, and Lyme disease is an important consideration for dogs in our area.

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted primarily by infected blacklegged ticks, commonly called deer ticks.

Dogs infected with Lyme disease may develop symptoms including:

• Fever

• Lethargy

• Swollen or painful joints

• Lameness

• Loss of appetite

In some cases, Lyme disease can contribute to serious kidney complications.

The Lyme vaccine is considered a lifestyle or risk-based vaccine rather than a universal core vaccine. However, because New Jersey is a Lyme-endemic area and dogs can encounter ticks in yards, parks, trails and wooded areas, it is worth discussing with your veterinarian.

Vaccination does not replace year-round tick prevention. The two approaches work together to reduce risk.

Bordetella

Bordetella bronchiseptica is one of the organisms associated with infectious respiratory disease in dogs, commonly referred to as "kennel cough."

The vaccine is frequently recommended for dogs that regularly interact with other dogs, including those that:

• Attend daycare

• Visit boarding facilities

• Go to grooming facilities

• Attend training classes

• Visit dog parks

• Participate in dog shows or other group activities

Many boarding and daycare facilities require Bordetella vaccination.

Canine Influenza

Canine influenza is a contagious respiratory disease caused by canine influenza viruses.

Dogs that frequently interact with other dogs—particularly at daycare, boarding facilities, shows or other group environments—may have greater exposure risk.

Your veterinarian can help determine whether canine influenza vaccination makes sense based on your dog's lifestyle and current disease activity.

A Typical Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Individual protocols can vary, but a typical schedule may look something like this:

6–8 weeks:
Begin the distemper/adenovirus/parvovirus combination vaccine series.

Every 2–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age:
Additional doses of the combination vaccine are given as the puppy grows.

Around 12 weeks or later:
The leptospirosis series may begin. The initial series generally requires two doses given several weeks apart.

Rabies:
Given according to the veterinarian's recommendation, vaccine labeling and applicable law.

Lifestyle vaccines:
Lyme, Bordetella and canine influenza may be added based on the puppy's environment and anticipated lifestyle.

After the puppy series, a booster is generally given for the distemper/adenovirus/parvovirus combination within a year. Subsequent boosters are typically given at three-year intervals.

Leptospirosis generally requires an annual booster after the initial series.

Lyme and canine influenza vaccines generally require an initial series followed by annual boosters when continued risk warrants vaccination. Bordetella booster timing can depend on the vaccine, exposure risk and requirements of boarding, daycare or other facilities.

Rabies booster timing depends on the vaccine used and applicable regulations.

Vaccinations for Cats

Cats need preventive vaccination too—even cats that live exclusively indoors.

Indoor cats can still potentially encounter infectious diseases through escaped outdoor trips, new animals entering the household, boarding, veterinary visits or wildlife such as bats entering the home.

FVRCP

The primary feline combination vaccine is commonly called FVRCP. It protects against three important diseases.

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis

Caused by feline herpesvirus-1, this is a highly contagious respiratory infection.

Symptoms can include sneezing, nasal discharge, eye inflammation and fever.

Feline Calicivirus

Calicivirus is another contagious feline respiratory disease.

Depending on the strain, infection can cause respiratory symptoms, oral ulcers, fever and other complications.

Feline Panleukopenia

Sometimes called feline distemper, panleukopenia is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease.

It is particularly dangerous to kittens and can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and suppression of the immune system.

FVRCP vaccination is considered core protection for cats.

Rabies for Cats

Cats can contract rabies just as dogs can, and exposure can occur even in indoor cats.

One often-overlooked risk is bats. A bat entering a home can potentially expose an indoor cat without the owner realizing that contact occurred.

New Jersey strongly recommends rabies vaccination for cats. Unlike dogs, New Jersey does not have a statewide cat-licensing requirement; however, many municipalities establish their own cat licensing and rabies requirements.

Cat owners should check the requirements of their municipality and discuss rabies vaccination with their veterinarian.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Feline leukemia virus can weaken a cat's immune system and contribute to anemia, cancers and other serious health problems.

It is primarily spread through close contact between cats, including saliva and other bodily fluids.

FeLV vaccination is considered a core vaccine for kittens and cats younger than one year under AAHA/AAFP vaccination guidelines.

For adult cats, the need for continued FeLV vaccination is based more heavily on exposure risk. Cats that go outdoors or have contact with cats of unknown FeLV status may benefit from continued vaccination.

Cats should generally be tested for FeLV before beginning vaccination.

A Typical Kitten Vaccination Schedule

A kitten's vaccination schedule commonly begins at approximately 6–8 weeks of age.

FVRCP vaccines are then generally repeated every 3–4 weeks until the kitten reaches approximately 16–20 weeks of age.

FeLV vaccination can begin as early as approximately eight weeks of age and initially requires two doses several weeks apart.

Rabies vaccination is administered according to vaccine labeling, veterinary recommendations and local requirements.

After completing the initial kitten series, additional boosters are required. For FVRCP, current feline vaccination guidelines allow longer intervals—commonly every three years—after the initial series and appropriate booster.

FeLV boosters depend on the cat's age and continuing exposure risk.

Rabies booster timing depends on the vaccine used and applicable requirements.

What About Adult Pets With an Unknown Vaccination History?

If you've adopted an adult dog or cat and don't have reliable vaccination records, don't assume it is too late to establish protection.

Veterinarians can create a catch-up vaccination schedule for adult pets with incomplete or unknown histories.

The number and timing of doses depend on the vaccine, the animal's age and previous vaccination history.

Does Every Pet Need Every Vaccine?

No.

The goal isn't necessarily to give every available vaccine to every pet. The goal is to provide appropriate protection based on disease risk.

Your veterinarian may consider:

• Your pet's age

• Medical history

• Indoor vs. outdoor lifestyle

• Contact with other animals

• Boarding and daycare

• Grooming

• Travel

• Hiking and outdoor activities

• Wildlife exposure

• Tick exposure

• Local disease prevalence

These factors can change throughout your pet's life, which is one reason vaccination needs should be reviewed regularly.

Vaccination Is Only One Part of Preventive Care

Vaccines provide powerful protection against many infectious diseases, but they don't replace other preventive measures.

For example, vaccinating a dog against Lyme disease doesn't mean tick prevention is no longer necessary. Likewise, vaccination against leptospirosis doesn't mean you should intentionally allow your dog to drink from stagnant water or areas heavily contaminated by wildlife.

Routine veterinary examinations, parasite prevention, good nutrition and appropriate vaccination all work together to help keep pets healthy.

The Bottom Line for New Jersey Pet Owners

For dogs, core protection generally includes distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, rabies and leptospirosis. In New Jersey, Lyme vaccination deserves particular consideration because of our region's tick exposure, while Bordetella and canine influenza may be appropriate for dogs that frequently socialize with other dogs.

For cats, FVRCP and rabies are important core vaccines, while FeLV is considered core for kittens and young cats and remains important for adult cats with ongoing exposure risk.

Most importantly, vaccination should be a conversation between you and your veterinarian. Your pet's age, health, lifestyle and environment all help determine which vaccines are appropriate and how frequently they should be given.

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This article is intended for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary care. Vaccination recommendations can change, and individual pets may require different schedules based on their health and risk factors. Always discuss your pet's vaccination plan with your veterinarian.