Bordetella Vaccine for Dogs

If your puppy is headed to daycare, boarding, a grooming appointment, or a puppy class, chances are you'll need proof of a bordetella vaccine first. Unlike the DHPP combination, bordetella is a lifestyle vaccine — recommended based on where your dog spends time, not required for every puppy. Once you know your puppy's birth date, the puppy vaccine schedule calculator will slot it in alongside the core shots.

This page is for general education only, based on published AAHA canine vaccine guidelines, and isn't a substitute for personalized veterinary advice. Bordetella dosing and boosters vary by vaccine formulation and your dog's lifestyle — always confirm with your veterinarian or boarding/daycare facility.

What Is the Bordetella Vaccine?

It's also commonly called the “kennel cough vaccine,” since Bordetella bronchiseptica is the main bacterium behind that condition. It comes in three forms: an injectable shot, an intranasal spray (drops in the nose), and an oral version — your vet will pick based on your puppy's age and how quickly protection is needed.

What is the bordetella vaccine?

Bordetella is the vaccine against kennel cough — a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads easily wherever dogs gather closely, like daycare, boarding kennels, grooming salons, and dog parks. It's not one of the four core DHPP diseases, but most boarding and daycare facilities require it before they'll accept a dog.

How Often Do Dogs Need the Bordetella Vaccine?

This is the question people search for most, and the honest answer is “it depends on the formulation and your dog's risk” more than any core vaccine does.

How long does the bordetella vaccine last?

Typically 6 to 12 months, depending on the vaccine formulation your vet uses (injectable, intranasal, or oral) and your dog's exposure risk. This is shorter than the DHPP/rabies core-vaccine intervals, which is why many boarding facilities ask for proof of a bordetella booster within the last 6 or 12 months specifically, not just "up to date."

How many bordetella shots does a puppy need?

It depends on the formulation: intranasal and oral versions are often a single dose that can be given as early as 8 weeks, while the injectable version usually requires two doses a few weeks apart for full protection. Ask your vet which type they use and follow their specific dosing schedule.

When Do Puppies Get the Bordetella Vaccine?

When do puppies get the bordetella vaccine?

Bordetella isn't part of the core puppy series, so timing depends on your puppy's lifestyle — vets typically recommend it before a puppy's first exposure to daycare, boarding, group classes, or grooming, which can be as early as 8 weeks for the intranasal/oral formulations.

For the full puppy vaccine timeline beyond bordetella — including DHPP, rabies, and leptospirosis — see the puppy vaccine schedule calculator.