How Much Do First Vaccinations Cost For Puppies

Why Does My Puppy Need To Have Vaccinations

When puppies are first born, they completely rely on the antibodies provided in their mothers milk. This will protect them against any harmful microorganisms.

However, this protection fades over time, meaning the puppy will become vulnerable to catching infectious diseases. The right vaccinations at the right age will help prevent your puppy from developing any of these diseases or infections.

Which Dog Vaccines Are Essential

When you discuss shots for puppies with a vet, you’ll learn about many different vaccines, some of which are important and essential, while others are optional. Also, talk to the vet about your cost concerns, because some may work within your budget.

The below diseases are what most puppies are usually vaccinated for:

• Bordetella Bronchiseptica
• Rabies

What If I Want To Take My Puppy Abroad

If youre planning a trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland and are taking your pup with you, your puppy will also need a rabies jab, perhaps costing in the region of £30 £40. Your pup will need to be at least 12 weeks old and already be microchipped .

The rabies jab is a requirement of getting an animal health certificate which allows you to take your pet to an EU country or Northern Ireland and bring it home again. Note that since Brexit, pet passports are no longer valid.

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Average Puppy Vaccination Cost

Below is our price guide for puppy vaccinations in the UK.

We last updated these figures in Autumn 2019 and theyre sourced from 12 veterinary practices in various locations in the United Kingdom:

Dont forget that the prices above are an average cost, how much youll pay will depend on your location.

Neutering, worming and flea treatment costs are not included above.

Is The Kennel Cough Included In The Vaccine

In most cases no. The Kennel Cough vaccine is not a primary vaccine so is only administered when needed, for example just prior to the dog staying in a kennel. It can be included with the primary vaccines if the dog will be spending a lot of time with other dogs and you dont know their vaccination status.

Coronavirus is an illness that can cause great distress to any pet dog but while an immunisation is available, it isnt considered a core vaccine.

You should ask your vet about Coronavirus and whether they feel it should be included in your puppys vaccination schedule.

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Average Dog Vaccination Costs

• Dog vaccination costs can vary considerably, however the following prices are indicative: C3 vaccination costs around $100 to $150, C5 is around S100 to $150 and C7 is approximately $200 . Prices can vary greatly between locations, so always check with your local clinic for specific charges.
• Find out from your pet insurance provider if they cover some of the costs of your dogs vaccinations. Bow Wow Meow can help you with the Routine Care cover to cover some of these costs. .
• Parvovirus is a potentially life threatening illness. If your dog needs to be hospitalised and treated for Parvo virus, costs can easily exceed thousands of dollars. Getting your puppy vaccinated will not just save money, it could also save your pups life.

Laurens Labrador Moose Needed Surgery For A Luxating Patella

Lauren Longo spent a lot of time researching insurance and is so glad she went with Bow Wow Meow. She has two dogs, including Moose, who is a therapy dog, and looking after his health is very important to the family. Lauren wants to give a big thanks to Bow Wow Meow for helping them to give Moose the operations he has needed, including for when he swallowed a sock, and for Luxating Patella surgery, where they were reimbursed $2,929 out of the total of $3,600 for the surgery.

Lauren Longo spent a lot of time researching insurance and is so glad she went with Bow Wow Meow. She has two dogs, including Moose, who is a therapy dog, and looking after his health is very important to the family. Lauren wants to give a big thanks to Bow Wow Meow for helping them to give Moose the operations he has needed, including for when he swallowed a sock, and for Luxating Patella surgery, where they were reimbursed $2,929 out of the total of $3,600 for the surgery.

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Jumpstart Your Puppys Immune System

In their first year of life, puppies will need to visit their veterinarian numerous times to get vaccinated for and become immunized against potentially fatal, yet preventable infectious diseases. The worst of these are Distemper and Parvo.

The timing and interval between booster vaccinations is critical to ensure your puppy is protected, as their mothers antibodies can interfere with a vaccinations ability to mount your puppys own immune response. Thus, puppies need a series of vaccinations to allow their immune system to break through waning maternal antibody.

Are Puppy Vaccines Expensive

Vaccinations will be a regular expense, particularly in the early stages of a dog’s life. How much vaccinations cost will depend on where you live. Generally, vets in urban areas and large cities charge more than a small town or rural country veterinarian.

It’s best to call around to check on price differences in your area. When choosing a vet, also consider that you want them to be located close enough to where you live so that they are available in case of an emergency. This means that you may need to pick a slightly more expensive vet clinic because it’s only ten minutes away.

Puppy vaccinations cost more during the dog’s first year before they reach adulthood. Puppy shot costs will then start going down as the dog ages.

Here are some things to consider when you’re pondering on puppy vaccine costs:

The core vaccines often include the DHLPP . The average costs is around $75 to $100. Note that as a puppy, this multivalent vaccine is given 3 times at ages 6, 12, and 16 weeks old.

Your puppy will need a rabies vaccine yearly. This vaccine costs between $15 and $20.

If you acquired your puppy from a shelter, vaccines may have been included in the costs of the adoption and shots are up-to-date to the age when you received him.

You can lower the costs of a puppy shot schedule by going to clinics or even local shelters who may offer community programs. Some may offer low-cost or even free vaccinations to those who request it in the area.

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Lower Costs For Puppy Vaccines

If you are looking to get the lowest costs for puppy vaccinations, ask around at several vet clinics for quotes. You are very likely to find discounts at animal shelters that will administer the vaccines for free or for a sum of up to $20. If you adopt a pet from a shelter, he will be most likely vaccinated, so you won’t have to worry about the vaccination.

Another option to reduce the costs of puppy vaccinations is to order the core vaccines online and administer them yourself. However, if you don’t know how to give injections, it’s better if you leave the task to a professional.

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 dogsbut 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.

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Vaccination Risks And Should You Do It

Generally, studies show and most vets consider vaccinations to be safe for healthy dogs, and the basic core vaccines protect against far more serious diseases compared to side effects of vaccines. In short, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.

Moreover, vaccines not only protect your dog, but also the community: they prevent the spread of viruses from your pet to other pets and, in zoonotic cases, even humans.

A good vet will walk you through potential risks and side effects of canine vaccines before injecting your puppy. Post-vaccination, if you notice any change in your dog or at the site of the vaccine, contact your veterinarian immediately.

There are ways that you can reduce the risks of your dog having a negative reaction to a vaccine. This will depend on each individual situation, so discuss it with your vet. Sticking to a proper puppy shot schedule will further reduce the risks.

Vaccination Myths Vs Reality

Myth: Once Ive had my puppy injected, theyre immune for life.

Reality: Unfortunately, this isnt true. Its important to have your dog vaccinated every year to maintain his or her immunity against these diseases. While some of these vaccinations last for more than a year, dogs need to be boosted against at least one of the most serious diseases every year.

Myth: My puppy is confined to the house and garden, so they wont have contact with disease.

Reality: Many of the diseases we vaccinate against arent spread directly from pet to pet, meaning your puppy could still catch an illness from something as simple as venturing outside. For example, canine parvovirus can be caught off pavements or in parks, while canine leptospirosis is contracted by drinking from ponds or puddles which rats may have contaminated.

Myth: The vaccinations will make my puppy feel poorly.

Reality: These days, this is extremely unlikely. Most vaccines are a modified form of the disease that they protect from. The most your puppy may feel is a little sleepy for a short period of time, but these symptoms will soon pass.

Myth: Pets are given boosters too often.

Reality: Vets will never prescribe vaccinations unnecessarily. Instead, we always determine the correct intervals between vaccines according to your pets age, their potential exposure to diseases, and the brand of vaccine .

Myth: I missed giving my pet a booster last year, but I can just give them one this year instead.

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When Does My Puppy Need To Have Their Vaccinations

Puppy vaccinations are most effective when they are given at fixed dates with boosters. Your puppy will usually begin a vaccination programme at around six to eight weeks of age.

A regular vaccination schedule will likely consist of the following:

• 7 to 9 weeks: distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus, although this may start earlier if the puppy is in an infected environment.
• 11 to 13 weeks: booster for 3 previous vaccinations + rabies and leptospirosis.
• 15 to 17 weeks: rabies and leptospirosis boosters.
• 15 months: boosters for all vaccines above.

How Often Will My Adult Dog Need Booster Vaccinations

After your puppys initial vaccination course is complete, he or she will need a follow up injection every year. Which vaccines are given will depend on your dogs general health and the prevalence of disease in the area you live. For instance, the leptospirosis vaccine needs to be given every year but parvovirus and distemper may only be needed every three years. Your vet should provide you with a vaccination record card so that you know when your dog is due to have his or her boosters.

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Puppy Shots & How They Work

As with human vaccines, dog vaccinations are designed to prevent your dog from becoming sick. Vaccinations provide limited or permanent immunity from infectious and deadly diseases that can affect your dogs quality of life, and your human familys health as well.

Vaccines are effective because they contain infectious agents designed to mimic microorganisms that cause diseases. Once injected into the body, the agent stimulates the dogs immune system. The puppys body sees the agent as a threat, attacks it, and then remembers it so it can fight the disease off in the future if exposed to it.

It can take around seven days for a puppys body to respond to a vaccine and develop immunity, and it is best to have your dog vaccinated when she is healthy. A sick puppys immune system is compromised and less effective in developing immunity to microorganisms. Vaccines are not cures for diseases, but a means to prevent them.

Once you have your puppy vaccinated, you will need to keep her vaccinations updated. That way, your puppy will remain healthy as she grows and develops into an adult. As such, you should take your puppy to a veterinarian for a yearly checkup and to begin and then retain a vaccination program. The types and number of vaccinations your dog will receive depend on the puppys age, habits, environment, medical background, and lifestyle.

What Should My Puppy Be Vaccinated Against

The mandatory vaccinations include:

• Distemper: This can take several forms, which often makes diagnosis difficult. In general it can cause high temperature, respiratory problems , digestive problems , ocular, cutaneous or nervous problems, and may often be fatal.
• Canine hepatitis: The symptoms range from slight fever and congestion of the mucosa membrane to vomiting, jaundice, stomach enlargement, depression, reduction of white blood cells, pain in the liver and severe hepititis.
• Canine parvovirus disease: Parvovirus is highly contagious and attacks the gastrointestinal system, creates loss of appetite, vomiting, fever and often severe, bloody diarrhoea. Extreme dehydration can come on rapidly and can be fatal within 48 – 72 hours.
• Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease which comes from bacteria transmitted by rodent urine, and can be transmitted to humans and certain animals. For dogs, symptoms include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, severe weakness and lethargy, stiffness, jaundice, muscle pain, infertility and kidney failure .

The recommended vaccinations include:

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Factors That Influence The Costs Of Vaccines

You may find that the costs of the vaccines for a puppy vary from $20 to $150 or even higher. The costs may depend on several factors such as:

• Location the costs can vary in the country but may also differ within your city
• The clinic where the shots are administered, and whether you administer the shots at home or at a shelter
• What other vaccines are recommended for your pet, according to your geographical location or according to what diseases the dog may be exposed to

Vaccinations For Adult Dogs: Boosters And Titers

There is a difference of opinion about having your adult dog vaccinated every year. Some vets believe too many vaccinations in adult dogs pose health risks. But others disagree, saying that yearly vaccinations will prevent dangerous diseases such as distemper. Talk with your vet to determine what kind of vaccination protocol works for you and your dog.

Many dog owners opt for titer tests before they administer annual vaccinations. Titer tests measure a dogs immunity levels, and this can determine which, if any, vaccinations are necessary. One key exception to this is rabies: a titer test is not an option when it comes to the rabies vaccine. This vaccination is required by law across the United States. Your vet can tell you the schedule for your particular state.

And its all worth it. For your effort and care your puppy will lavish you with lifelong love in return. This critical first year of her life is a fun and exciting time for both of you. As she grows physically, the wonderful bond between you will grow, too.

Dont miss crucial information when it comes to raising your puppy get personalized training, nutritional, veterinary, and everyday advice sent straight to your inbox. , a weekly email newsletter with customized content based on your puppys breed and age.

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What Does A Natural / Holistic Approach To Dog Vaccinations Look Like

What Are The Potential Adverse Effects Of Dog Vaccination Or Over Vaccination

Vaccines can cause adverse reactions in dogs from hair loss, lethargy, allergies, to seizures and chronic issues in some cases.

Here is the direct quote on adverse reactions from Dr. Schultzs website

While there may be immediate hypersensitivity reactions, other acute events tend to occur 24-72 hours afterwards, or up to 45 days later in the case of delayed reactions.

Documented reactions include:

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Will Pet Insurance Cover Puppy And Dog Vaccinations

Yes. Pet insurance can help pay some of the vaccination costs if you take out a policy with routine care cover. A policy can cover you for:

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are included under routine care cover which can also help pay for desexing, dental care and teeth cleaning. Routine care is an optional add on with most pet insurance policies. Some insurers will pay up to 100% of your pet’s routine care costs up to the benefit limit listed in your policy. Others will set a benefit limit for each individual treatment so you’ll likely still have some out-of-pocket costs.

Accidents

All pet insurance policies cover you for accidents. They can insurer your puppy from 8 weeks old and pay for between 80% and 100% of vet bills caused by accidents including car accidents, dog attacks or snake bites.

Illnesses

A pet insurance policy can also pay for vet bills if your puppy or dog gets sick. They can pay you up to $25,000 a year for potentially very expensive surgeries including cancer treatment or cruciate ligament surgery. They can also help pay the bill if your pet has diabetes or an ear or eye condition and more.