If you’re considering getting a puppy and have started researching the costs you’ll have to cover once they’re home, you’ll have already discovered that vet care is one of the highest expenses on your list. Of course, getting your puppy fully vaccinated is one of the first and most important treatments you’ll have to pay for. They’ll also require yearly booster shots to protect them from a variety of diseases for all their life.

The vaccinations protect your dog against diseases, some of them life-threatening, that your dog could easily catch from unvaccinated dogs.

There is a lot to budget for, so we’ve listed how much dog and puppy vaccinations cost in the UK to help you prepare. The average cost of the puppy vaccination package including two sets of injections is approximately £95 ranging from £56–£152. The prices will vary depending on your location and the vet clinic.

The Importance of Vaccinations

Around 25% of puppies in the UK haven’t been taken to the vet to receive their primary vaccinations¹. This not only puts their young lives at risk of contracting a deadly disease, but it also makes them dangerous to other dogs and humans as they may be carriers of transmissible diseases.

Although it isn’t illegal for your puppy or dog to remain unvaccinated in the UK, it is highly recommended and is a responsible step to take as a dog owner. If you prefer not to vaccinate your dog, apart from putting them at an unnecessary risk, you should keep them away from other dogs and areas where they may pick up diseases to protect them and other dogs.

Dog and puppy vaccinations extend your dog’s life by protecting them from diseases that could kill them and building their immunity towards them. They allow dogs to play and socialize together without the risk of transmission, and they save you money down the road, as paying for life-saving treatment is very expensive.

If you haven’t vaccinated your dog and want to take them with you when you travel abroad, they will be denied travel if their vaccinations aren’t up to date. The same is true with boarding kennels as they have a responsibility to keep all the dogs they house safe from diseases and cannot allow your unvaccinated dog in as they pose a threat.

Why Aren’t All Dogs Vaccinated?

You might be questioning why there’s a percentage of unvaccinated dogs if it’s so important for their well-being. There are several reasons for this, many of which have to do with the recent lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the lockdown, many pet owners couldn’t get an appointment with their vet to vaccinate their dogs or were put on a waiting list. Some vet practices weren’t even doing vaccinations during this time.

Many dog owners who haven’t had booster shots admit that life got in the way, and they forgot about their dogs’ appointments or didn’t have the time to take them to the vet. Others gave up on booster shots because they were an expense they could not afford.

Other owners are fearful of vaccines and believe that they’re unsafe. However, the vaccinations are given to keep your dog safe and have undergone strict safety testing before being marketed to the public. The vaccines remain under observation to ensure that they remain safe for dogs.

Some dogs might experience mild side effects that could leave them feeling a bit sick, but those symptoms shouldn’t last long. A few days of mild symptoms are a safer alternative to catching a disease that could be fatal.

What Do Primary Vaccinations Protect Puppies From?

The primary or core vaccinations your puppy will receive are given to protect them from the most common life-threatening diseases in the area where they live. In the UK these are parvovirus, leptospirosis, canine distemper, and infectious hepatitis.

Other vaccinations that your pup will need are bordetella and parainfluenza virus (kennel cough) and rabies vaccinations, but they’re not always included in the primary vaccinations your puppy will receive and will be paid for separately.

Your puppy can receive their first set of primary vaccinations as early as 8 weeks old and will be ready for their next set of vaccinations at around 10–12 weeks old.

How Much Do Dog & Puppy Vaccinations Cost?

The price and number of vaccinations your dog needs depends on your dog’s age, their vaccination status, your location and the vet clinic. Vet practices in more expansive areas, such as London, will charge more than vet practices in rural areas.

The average cost of primary vaccinations (two sets of injections) is £95, which is more expensive than booster vaccinations for older dogs, but it includes both sets of primary vaccinations. If you want your puppy to also receive kennel cough vaccinations, it’ll be around £135.

For booster vaccinations, the average price is around £65 without the kennel cough and £97 with it.

Primary and Booster Vaccination Prices from Lowest to Highest

How Often Should I Get My Dog or Puppy Vaccinated?

If you’ve taken your puppy to receive two sets of primary vaccinations, they will be protected from dangerous diseases until they are 12 months of age. After this period, you’ll need to make an appointment with your vet once again so that they can receive their first booster vaccinations.

Your dog will likely need follow-up vaccinations every year but may not need to receive all the same injections. What the vet gives them will depend on their particular lifestyle, area where they live, risk factors, and whether there has been an outbreak of a particular disease in your area. Some vaccinations only need to be given once every 3 years, while others are only effective for 12 months.

No one expects you to keep track of every vaccination your dog has received. To help remind you when your dog needs another booster vaccination, the vet will give you a card stating which vaccinations your dog has had, the date they received them, and when they need a booster. Most veterinary clinics also send reminders before they are due so that you don’t forget when they are in need of their next vaccine.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Dog and Puppy Vaccinations?

Although your dog will have to continue receiving vaccinations throughout their life, pet insurance generally doesn’t cover them because they fall under routine care. This means that you’ll need to fund the vaccinations yourself.

However, getting your dog vaccinated and staying up to date with their booster shots does affect your pet insurance policy costs, as owners with fully vaccinated dogs often get the reward of paying lower premiums.

If your dog hasn’t been vaccinated and becomes sick from a disease that could’ve been prevented had they been vaccinated, your pet insurance provider can refuse to pay for their care, and the large vet bills will become your responsibility.

Paying for Dog and Puppy Vaccinations on a Budget

Properly caring for a dog is a huge responsibility that comes with many expenses. However, keeping them healthy should be one of your top priorities. There are ways to give them the care they need and save money.

It’s essential to get quotes from various vet practices in your area, as dog and puppy vaccinations will vary in price between the practices. You can compare the prices and take your dog to the most affordable vet practice when you have several options. It is recommended to understand why prices vary from clinic to clinic, so remember to ask them what’s included in the package to make an informed decision.

Many vet practices offer discounts on kennel cough vaccinations when you get them done at the same time as the standard vaccinations. Always ask for it when your dog goes in to receive their other vaccinations to save money.

Do some research into Blue Cross, RSPCA, and PDSA. If you qualify, you might benefit from their low-cost dog vaccinations. You can also look into your vet’s pet health club and benefit from their discounts.

As important as keeping your dog up to date with their vaccinations is, it will also save you money. Forgetting to get your dog vaccinated may mean that you’ll have to restart their vaccinations and pay otherwise avoidable costs.

Conclusion

Getting your dog vaccinated could save their life and save you money. It allows them to play outside and be walked at dog parks instead of being isolated inside their home for their own safety. It allows them to socialize with other pets without the risk of getting sick or passing on a disease to them. Vaccinations are ongoing and can cost around £68 for the first two sets and around £47 for a booster shot, but there are ways to lower the costs. Keeping your dog healthy should be your highest priority.

Vaccinations are ongoing and can cost around £95 for the first two sets and around £65 for a booster shot, but there are ways to lower the costs. Keeping your dog free from preventable diseases should be your highest priority.

Featured Image Credit: Syda Productions, Shutterstock