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Average Cost of Puppy and Dog Vaccinations 2024
Vaccinations are critical to keeping your dog healthy. But how much are puppy and dog vaccinations? We've surveyed vets around the UK to determine the average cost of puppy and dog vaccinations, so you have an idea of how much you'll need to pay.
- How Much are Dog Vaccinations?
- Where Can I Find Low Cost Dog Vaccinations?
- Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccinations for Dogs?
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Average Dog Vaccinations Cost
Our analysis of UK vaccination quotes showed that initial vaccinations for a puppy cost more than follow-up annual boosters for older dogs—but this makes sense because the puppy vaccinations involve two sets of injections. Beware that prices can vary by more than 2X from one vet to another, so if you're price sensitive then you may want to get quotes from a few vets in your area before you book.
Cost of Puppy Vaccinations
The average cost of a puppy vaccination course in the UK is £70.4, but typically ranges from £50 up to £85. In some cases, the price includes additional value such as flea, tick and wormer treatments.
The cost to vaccinate a puppy has risen noticeably and now costs around £15 more than a few years ago!
A puppy vaccination course involves two sets of injections and protects against parvovirus, canine distemper, leptospirosis and infectious canine hepatitis. Puppies can start their vaccinations from 8 weeks old, and they'll need a second set of injections 2-4 weeks after their first set.
| How Much are Puppy Vaccinations? | |
|---|---|
| Low Price | £50 |
| High Price | £85 |
| Average Price | £70.4 |
Cost of Dog Vaccinations
The average cost of an annual dog booster vaccination is £50.7 in the UK (up from £38.50 a few years ago), with prices ranging from £42 up to £60 in our study. If your dog boards or is very social, your vet might recommend the kennel cough vaccine which costs around £35.9—however, vets typically offer a discount for getting the kennel cough vaccine at the same time as the booster, bringing the average kennel cough vaccine cost down to £23.
A dog booster is typically cheaper than a puppy course, since a booster involves only one set of injections and may be composed of a smaller number of vaccines—some vaccines last for three years so only some elements need to be given to your dog annually, reducing the cost. According to the PDSA, boosters for distemper, parvovirus and canine hepatitis are needed every 3 years, and a booster for leptospirosis is needed every year.
| How Much are Dog Vaccinations? | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booster | £42 | £60 | £50.7 |
| Kennel Cough | £23.2 | £43.5 | £35.9 |
| Booster & Kennel Cough | £68 | £97.5 | £82.9 |
| Rabies | £46 | £78 | £63.2 |
The rabies vaccine, necessary if you're travelling abroad with your dog, costs around £63.2 on average in the UK. Prices in our study ranged from £46 up to £78, so comparing prices before you book can save you up to £32. Top tip: be sure your dog is microchipped before getting the rabies vaccine or it might not count!
POLL: How Much Should Dog Vaccinations Cost?
Vaccinations cost dog owners a significant chunk of money each year, but keep your dog from contracting illnesses such as distemper, parvovirus, canine hepatitis and leptospirosis. How much do you think your dog's annual booster shot should cost you?
Low Cost Dog Vaccinations
There are a few ways to save money on dog vaccinations in the UK:
- Compare prices at local vets before you book an appointment, because some vets charge twice the price of other vets.
- If your dog needs a kennel cough vaccine, getting the injection at the same time as the annual booster will usually save you money.
- Use a local pet charity, if you meet the eligibility criteria
- Look into your vet's pet health club, which can secure you a discount around 10% on vaccinations.
Low-Cost Dog Vaccinations from Pet Charities
For those who meet certain means-tested benefits eligibility criteria, low cost dog vaccinations may be available from the Blue Cross, RSPCA and PDSA charities. (To find out if you might be eligible and if you fall into a catchment area of a charity hospital or clinic, click on the links.)
For example, the Blue Cross in Victoria charges £15 for each of the two initial vaccinations and £18 for follow-up annual boosters. Their locations are listed here. To qualify you must be in a catchment area and be receiving one of the follow:
- Pension credit (not the standard state retirement pension)
- Housing benefit
- Income support
- Working tax credit
- Council tax benefit (not 25 per cent single person discount)
- Income based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income based employment and support allowance
- Universal credit
- Child Tax Credit
The RSPCA eligibility specifies that to qualify for reduced cost vaccinations you must receive one of the following: Income Support (IS), Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Pension Credit (NOT state pension) or a Standard Allowance Universal Credit (only the parts related to IC, JSA, ESA, but not Working Tax Credit, Child tax Credit or any other components).
Also, if you live in the north of England you might find slightly cheaper dog vaccinations prices from the Animal Trust than a private vet. The Animal Trust has clinics in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Shropshire and Yorkshire.
Pet Health Club
To help pet owners spread out the costs of preventative care and lock in discounts, some vets offer membership to a Pet Health Club. A pet health club membership typically includes the cost of standard vaccines and annual boosters.
Membership to a Pet Health Club is paid on a monthly basis and not only covers vaccines but, in most cases, includes microchipping plus discounts of 10% to 20% on other preventative pet health care such as neutering. Large vet groups including Medivet, CVS UK and Companion Care/Vets4Pets offer pet care health packages, so you might find one in your area. The average price is around £17 a month, but can vary by location and size of dog (some vets charge more for larger dogs).
| Average Monthly Cost of Pet Health Club for Dogs | |
|---|---|
| Low price | £12.2 |
| High price | £24.7 |
| Average price | £16.7 |
Is it worth joining your vet's pet health club? It depends on the monthly cost of your plan and how much you would normally pay each year for preventative treatments. Below is a quick break-even analysis for a sample medium-sized dog to help you decide. In this example, the pet owner would save £31 per year on vaccinations, wormer and flea/tick treatment by signing up to their vet's pet health club compared to buying these separately:
| How you Might Save with a Vet Pet Health Club | ||
|---|---|---|
| Annual booster | £50 | |
| Flea/tick & worm treatment | £156 | |
| Mid-year healthcheck | £25 | |
| Annual costs | £231 | |
| Annual Pet Club cost | £200 | |
| Potential Annual Savings | £31 | |
Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccinations for Dogs?
Pet insurance doesn't cover vaccinations for puppies or dogs. Pet insurance doesn't help you pay for preventative care, but is instead meant to protect against the financial repercussions of unexpected injuries and illnesses.
Alternatively, you may get some help sharing the financial burden of vaccinations, or at least spreading out the costs throughout the year, by joining your vet's Pet Health Club. Whether or not this is cost effective for you will depend on your specific circumstances and your typical spending on preventative vet care.
If you also have a cat, you can read about the average cost of cat vaccinations here.
Best pet insurance deals for your pet
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