How Much Do Dog Vaccinations Cost? 2024 Dog & Puppy Vaccine Price Guide

Dog and puppy vaccination costs

Here’s what you can expect to pay for some of the most common dog and puppy vaccinations.

What vaccinations does my puppy need?

Puppies need several core vaccines to protect them from infectious illnesses. Your vet may also recommend some optional vaccines, especially if your pup attends a doggy daycare.

Let’s take a closer look at the vaccines your puppy needs.

Core puppy vaccines

Your puppy needs several core vaccines to protect it from serious illnesses.

These core vaccines include:

• Distemper: According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, this viral infection attacks the nervous, respiratory and digestive systems. Once a puppy has the virus, it can spread distemper by sneezing, coughing or using the same food and water bowls as other dogs. It’s also possible for a female dog to pass distemper to her puppies before they’re born, increasing the risk of serious complications. The distemper vaccine protects against this highly contagious infection.
• Parvovirus: Better known as parvo, this virus causes vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy and fever. The American Veterinary Medical Association says it is especially dangerous to puppies, but it also affects adult dogs. It typically spreads through dog-to-dog contact, but puppies can also contract it by coming into contact with contaminated feces. The parvo vaccine prevents puppies from getting this serious illness.
• Hepatitis: Puppies are also at risk for canine hepatitis, which causes fever, loss of appetite, nasal discharge, eye discharge and other symptoms. According to Merck Animal Health, the infection usually starts in the crypts of the tonsils, but it quickly spreads to the blood vessels, spleen, liver, kidneys and lungs.
• Rabies: This fatal disease affects a dog’s nervous system. According to the CDC, a dog with “dumb” rabies experiences difficulty swallowing, progressive paralysis and distortion of the face. “Furious” rabies causes extremely aggressive behavior. Dogs with this form may chew on rocks, eat garbage and develop insatiable appetites.
• Parainfluenza: This viral infection causes nasal discharge, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, coughing and lack of energy. It’s one of the most common causes of kennel cough, a condition that causes a puppy to cough forcefully. Merck Animal Health says any puppy can contract this illness, but parainfluenza is especially common in dogs that have frequent contact with other dogs.

The DHPP shot protects against distemper, canine hepatitis, and influenza at the same time. Your puppy will need a separate vaccine to prevent rabies.

Optional puppy vaccines

Your vet may recommend additional vaccines based on your puppy’s lifestyle.

The optional puppy vaccinations include:

• Leptospirosis: This bacterial infection spreads in several ways. Some dogs contract it when they come into contact with contaminated food, soil or bedding. Others develop it after eating infected animal carcasses or being bitten by infected animals. It’s also possible for the disease to spread via breeding or contact with infected urine. Leptospirosis causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, muscle tenderness and other symptoms. Severe cases may lead to kidney failure, liver failure or death.
• Bordetella: If your puppy spends time at doggy daycare, it may need the Bordetella shot, which provides protection against Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. This type of bacteria is a common cause of kennel cough, which spreads quickly in group settings. The Bordetella vaccination may help your puppy avoid watery nasal discharge, coughing and other kennel cough symptoms.

How often does my puppy need to be vaccinated?

Puppies have immature immune systems, so they need multiple vaccines during their first 18 months of life.

Speak with your veterinarian about following this recommended vaccination schedule in the table below.

What vaccinations does my dog need?

Not all vaccines provide lifelong protection, so adult dogs need boosters from time to time.

Fortunately, an adult dog doesn’t need as many vaccinations as a puppy. Over the course of your dog’s life, it will need DHPP boosters and rabies boosters, but it won’t need additional vaccines for Bordetella, leptospirosis or Lyme. If you have concerns about other illnesses, talk with your veterinarian.

How often does my dog need to be vaccinated?

Here’s a sample vaccination schedule for an adult dog.

Why do dogs need vaccinations?

The main reason to get vaccinations is to protect your dog against serious illness.

Having your dog vaccinated reduces the risk of death and prevents unnecessary suffering. You may also be required to get certain vaccinations if you plan to board your dog or send it to doggy daycare. This prevents the spread of serious infections in a group setting.

Are there any risks involved with vaccinating your dog?

Vaccines may cause mild side effects, such as:

• low-grade fever
• swelling at the injection site
• decreased appetite
• coughing
• sneezing
• runny nose.

You may also notice a lump at the injection site. In some dogs, these lumps last for several weeks. As long as the lump remains firm and goes away after 3 weeks, it shouldn’t be any cause for concern.

Although vaccination is an important part of caring for your dog, it’s possible for an animal to have an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in an injection. If you notice severe coughing, difficulty breathing, hives, facial swelling, or persistent diarrhea or vomiting, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.

Are dog vaccines required?

The rabies vaccine is the only one required by law.

All other vaccinations are optional. However, you may be required to get certain vaccines if you plan to board your dog, participate in dog shows or engage in other activities that will put your pup in close contact with other dogs.

Where can I take my dog to get vaccinated?

Most people take their dogs to licensed veterinarians for recommended and optional vaccines.

Another option is to go to a low-cost vaccination clinic or purchase the vaccinations and administer them yourself.

Going to a vet is easiest, as it gives you the opportunity to ask questions and get answers from a trained professional. A vet can also monitor your pet for any signs of an allergic reaction or other complications.

How to save on the cost of dog vaccinations

If you’re on a budget, there are a few ways to save on dog vaccines:

If you’re considering purchasing a pet insurance plan to help cover the cost of preventative care, we recommend checking out these guides to help you find the best policy to suit your needs.

• Best Pet Insurance
• Cheap Pet Insurance
• What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
• How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
• Is Pet Insurance Worth It?