Our general dog vaccination guide covers the full picture across a dog’s whole life — this one is narrower on purpose: just the first six months, week by week, including the piece most vaccination charts leave out entirely — how deworming needs to be coordinated alongside the shots, not treated as a separate errand.
Quick disclaimer: I’m a pet parent and content researcher, not a veterinarian. Use this as a week-by-week reference to understand the logic — your vet will confirm the exact schedule for your specific puppy.
Why deworming and vaccination are linked, not separate
This is the part new puppy owners most often miss: intestinal parasites can suppress a puppy’s immune response, which means vaccinating a heavily parasitized puppy may not build the protection it’s supposed to. The common guidance, reflected across Indian veterinary sources, is to deworm about 7–10 days before a vaccination rather than on the same day or after.
The full week-by-week timeline
| Age | What typically happens |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | First deworming dose (often done by the breeder or shelter before you even bring the puppy home) |
| Every 2 weeks until 12 weeks | Continued deworming doses |
| 6–8 weeks | 1st combination vaccine (DHPPi / “7-in-1”) |
| 10–12 weeks | 2nd combination dose + 1st Leptospirosis (if not already included) |
| 12–14 weeks | Deworming continues; some clinics give an additional booster here |
| 14–16 weeks | 3rd combination dose + Anti-Rabies vaccine |
| Monthly from 3–6 months | Deworming shifts from every 2 weeks to monthly |
| ~1 year | Annual booster round (combination + rabies) |
| Adult, ongoing | Deworming every 3 months; vaccine boosters per your vet’s schedule |
This lines up with the timelines described by Petsworld’s practical guide to Indian vaccination and deworming and similar Indian veterinary references — small variations of a week or two between clinics are normal.
Why the first 16 weeks matter so much
This window is when a puppy is most vulnerable — maternal antibodies (protection passed from the mother) are fading, but the puppy’s own immunity from vaccination hasn’t fully kicked in yet. That’s exactly why the combination vaccine is given in a series of three doses rather than one shot — each dose is timed to catch the puppy as maternal protection wanes, rather than assuming one dose covers the whole gap.
Practical tips for this first stretch
- Keep a simple written log (a notebook, a note on your phone) of every dose and date — you’ll be asked for this at daycare, grooming, and by any new vet
- Avoid dog parks and unknown dogs until the combination series is complete, since this is the highest-risk window for parvovirus specifically
- Don’t skip a deworming dose just because the puppy “seems fine” — worms are extremely common in puppies and often don’t cause obvious symptoms early on
- If you’re unsure whether a previous breeder/shelter dose counts, bring any paperwork you have to your first vet visit rather than assuming and restarting from scratch
For the full adult-life picture — annual boosters, what different vaccine brands mean, and a general cost outlook — see our broader dog vaccination schedule and cost guide for India.
Frequently asked questions
What if I got my puppy after some of these doses were already missed?
Tell your vet exactly what you know about the puppy’s age and history — they can assess where to pick up the schedule rather than assuming a full restart is needed.
Can I deworm and vaccinate on the same visit to save trips?
It’s generally better to space them by about a week, per the guidance above, rather than combining them in a single visit — ask your vet how they’d like to sequence it for your specific puppy.
My puppy seems totally healthy — does deworming really matter that early?
Yes — intestinal parasites are extremely common in young puppies and often don’t show obvious symptoms until the parasite load is significant, which is exactly why deworming is scheduled proactively rather than only after symptoms appear.
Is the schedule different for small versus large breed puppies?
The vaccine and deworming timeline itself is largely the same across breeds — what differs more is dosing (based on weight), which is entirely your vet’s call, not something to estimate yourself.
