What is the DHPP vaccine for dogs?

DHPP stands for distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parainfluenza, and parvovirus. It is the core combination vaccine for dogs and is given as a puppy series starting around 6–8 weeks, then boostered annually or every 3 years depending on the vaccine type.

Does my dog need bordetella if they don't go to daycare?

Bordetella (kennel cough) is most important for dogs that visit dog parks, groomers, boarding facilities, or spend time around other dogs. If your dog has minimal contact with other dogs, your vet may recommend it less frequently — but it's worth discussing at your dog's wellness exam.

What is leptospirosis and does my dog need that vaccine?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water or soil — often from wildlife urine. In Southern California, dogs that spend time in parks, near streams, or in areas with wildlife exposure may be at elevated risk. Your vet can help determine if the lepto vaccine is appropriate for your dog's lifestyle.

How often do dogs need vaccines in California?

Core vaccines like DHPP are given as a puppy series, then boostered at 1 year, then every 1–3 years depending on the specific vaccine. Rabies follows a similar schedule. Lifestyle vaccines like bordetella may be recommended annually or more often depending on your dog's exposure risk.

What Vaccines Does My Dog Need in California?

Q: Is the rabies vaccine required by law in California?

Yes. California law requires that dogs 3 months and older be vaccinated against rabies and licensed with their local municipality. The vaccine is typically given as a 1-year shot first, then a 3-year booster.

If you've recently gotten a dog or moved to California from another state, figuring out which vaccines your dog actually needs — versus which ones are optional — can be confusing. Different clinics recommend different things, and it's not always clear what's required by law versus what's simply good preventive medicine.

Here's a straightforward breakdown of dog vaccination requirements and recommendations in California, including what we typically discuss with our patients at South Pasadena Animal Hospital in Alhambra.

The Short Answer: Core vs. Lifestyle Vaccines

Dog vaccines fall into two categories:

Core vaccines — recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle, because the diseases they protect against are serious, widespread, or transmissible to humans.
Lifestyle (non-core) vaccines — recommended based on your dog's specific risk factors, such as where they live, where they spend time, and how much they interact with other animals.

Vaccine	Type	Protects Against
Rabies	Required by Law	Rabies virus — fatal and transmissible to humans
DHPP	Core	Distemper, Hepatitis (adenovirus), Parainfluenza, Parvovirus
Bordetella	Lifestyle	Kennel cough — for dogs exposed to other dogs
Leptospirosis	Lifestyle	Bacterial infection from contaminated water/wildlife

Rabies: California Law

California requires all dogs 3 months and older to be vaccinated against rabies and licensed with their local municipality. The first rabies vaccine is typically valid for 1 year. After that, your dog receives a 3-year booster. Some cities (including parts of Los Angeles County) have specific requirements — your vet can help you stay current and provide documentation for your local license.

Rabies is the one vaccine we don't treat as optional. It's legally required, it protects your dog from a fatal disease, and it protects your family and community as well.

DHPP: The Core Combination Vaccine

DHPP is the foundational combination vaccine for dogs. It protects against four diseases:

Distemper — a serious viral illness affecting the respiratory, GI, and nervous systems
Hepatitis (adenovirus) — can cause liver disease and respiratory illness
Parainfluenza — a respiratory virus that contributes to kennel cough
Parvovirus — a highly contagious and potentially fatal GI disease, especially dangerous in puppies

Puppies receive a series of DHPP shots starting around 6–8 weeks of age, typically given every 3–4 weeks until 16 weeks. After the puppy series, there's a booster at 1 year, then every 1–3 years depending on the vaccine formulation and your dog's health history.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough)

Bordetella is the primary bacterial cause of kennel cough — the contagious respiratory illness you might recognize by its distinctive honking cough. We recommend this vaccine for any dog that visits dog parks, attends daycare or boarding, goes to a groomer, or regularly interacts with unfamiliar dogs.

If your dog lives a relatively isolated life and rarely encounters other dogs, your vet may recommend a less frequent schedule. We discuss this individually based on your dog's routine.

Leptospirosis: Worth Discussing in Southern California

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection spread through the urine of infected wildlife — including rats, raccoons, and opossums, all of which are common in the SGV and greater LA area. Dogs can be exposed when they sniff, drink from, or wade through contaminated puddles, streams, or soil.

We see leptospirosis cases in the area, and it can cause serious kidney and liver damage. The vaccine is given as a 2-dose initial series, then annually. It's one of those vaccines worth having a specific conversation about — it's not right for every dog, but for dogs that spend time in parks, yards with wildlife access, or near water, it may be worth considering.

Building the Right Schedule for Your Dog

There's no single vaccine schedule that's right for every dog. A 6-month-old puppy in Alhambra who plays at Almansor Park three times a week has different needs than a 10-year-old indoor-only dog in a condo. Your dog's age, health history, lifestyle, and risk factors all factor in.

At SPAH, we go through your dog's vaccine history and lifestyle at each wellness exam and build a schedule that makes sense — not one that just maximizes the number of vaccines given on any particular visit.

If you'd like to get your dog's vaccinations current or have questions about what they're due for, book an appointment online or call us at (626) 441-1314. We're at 3116 W Main St in Alhambra, serving dogs throughout the San Gabriel Valley.