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Your Chihuahua's vaccine schedule

Enter the birth date and we build the puppy shot and deworming schedule with real dates: what's due, when, and what's next. Add it to your phone's calendar in one tap so you never miss one.

Not sure of the exact date (say, a rescue)? Use your best estimate: the vet refines it from the teeth.

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    For guidance only. Available vaccines and rabies rules vary by state and country, and your vet may adjust the plan to the puppy's health and local risk.

    Chihuahua puppy shot schedule

    The most common schedule, based on the WSAVA vaccination guidelines and the AKC's puppy shot guide.

    AgeVaccineProtects against
    6-8 weeksDHPPDistemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus
    9-11 weeksDHPP + leptospirosisThe above + lepto (Bordetella if boarding or grooming)
    12-14 weeksDHPP + lepto boosterSame
    16 weeksFinal DHPP + rabiesSame + rabies (age set by state law)
    6 monthsBoosterCovers puppies that didn't respond to the series
    YearlyLepto, checkup; rabies per lawCore shots every 3 years depending on the product

    Optional depending on region and lifestyle: Bordetella (kennel cough), Lyme disease and canine influenza.

    How often should you deworm a Chihuahua?

    • ·From 2 to 8 weeks: every 2 weeks. Nearly all puppies are born with roundworms passed from the mother.
    • ·From 2 to 6 months: monthly.
    • ·Adult: every 3 months, or monthly heartworm preventive that also covers intestinal worms, which is the norm in the US.
    • ·Fleas and ticks: per the product, usually monthly. In a 5-pound dog, the dose is everything: never split a large-dog product.

    When can he go outside?

    A week after the final puppy shot, around 17 to 18 weeks. Parvovirus lives in soil for months, and in a 1.3-pound Chihuahua it's often fatal.

    But waiting indoors is the other mistake: the socialization window closes at 14 weeks. Carry him out in your arms or a carrier from day one, off the ground. Everything about that stage is in our Chihuahua puppy care guide.

    Vaccines in such a small dog

    Vaccine doses aren't scaled by weight: a Chihuahua gets the same as a German Shepherd. That's why toy breeds have somewhat more mild reactions, such as a lump at the injection site, lethargy or a little fever that day.

    • ·Ask whether to space vaccines out instead of giving several on the same day.
    • ·Feed him before the visit: a fasting, stressed puppy can become hypoglycemic.
    • ·Emergency if in the following hours you see facial or muzzle swelling, vomiting, hives or trouble breathing.

    Frequently asked questions

    When does a Chihuahua puppy get its first shots?+
    Between 6 and 8 weeks old, with a DHPP vaccine (distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus). It's repeated every 3 to 4 weeks, and the last dose of the series must be at 16 weeks or later.
    How many shots does a Chihuahua puppy need?+
    Usually three or four DHPP doses between 6 and 16 weeks, rabies, and a booster at 6 months or 1 year. Leptospirosis, Bordetella and Lyme are added depending on where you live and your dog's lifestyle.
    When can a Chihuahua puppy go outside?+
    A week after the final puppy shot, around 17 to 18 weeks. Before that he can go out in your arms or a carrier, off the ground, to socialize: those weeks matter and shouldn't be spent shut indoors.
    Are vaccines harder on such a small dog?+
    Vaccine doses aren't scaled by weight, so a Chihuahua gets the same dose as a big dog, and toy breeds have somewhat more mild reactions: swelling, lethargy or fever that day. Many vets space out vaccines rather than giving several at once. Facial swelling, vomiting or trouble breathing in the following hours is an emergency.
    How often should I deworm a Chihuahua?+
    Every 2 weeks from 2 to 8 weeks old, monthly until 6 months, then every 3 months. In the US most dogs are on a monthly heartworm preventive that also covers common intestinal worms. Flea and tick products are usually monthly.
    What if a vaccine was late?+
    There's no need to start over unless a lot of time has passed: give the missing dose as soon as possible and continue the series. Meanwhile, no ground outside and no contact with unknown dogs.

    More puppy tools

    How big he'll get, and how old he is in human years.

    Weight calculator → Age calculator