How Much Are Dog Shots?

How much are vaccines for dogs?

The cost of vaccines for dogs ranges from $27 to $96 per vaccine, according to Care Credit, a financing service often used for veterinary expenses. Prices vary according to the specific vaccine — a rabies vaccine typically costs less than a Lyme vaccine, for example — as well as the veterinary practice you choose.

As veterinary care gets more expensive each year, preventive health services turn evermore crucial. Vaccines help your dog stay healthy, decreasing vet bill costs and lowering your chances of having to make an expensive emergency vet visit.

“Vaccines play a critical role in protecting dogs from highly contagious and often life-threatening diseases,” says Dr. Zac Pilossof, consulting veterinarian at Healthy Paws pet insurance. “Especially in puppies, vaccines help stimulate their developing immune systems to build protection early on.”

Read on for a cost breakdown of adult dog vaccines as well as a puppy's first-year vaccination schedule.

Cost of core vaccines

Essential vaccines, such as the rabies vaccine and the DA2PPv vaccine, are considered core vaccines. These are typically applied on a yearly basis.

Cost of non-core vaccines

Non-core, or lifestyle vaccines, are administered based on your pet's health, lifestyle and age. For instance, your vet may recommend the Lyme vaccine if your dog lives in a tick-prone area, or the Bordetella vaccine if your dog frequently socializes with other dogs at parks or boarding facilities.

How much do puppy shots cost?

The cost of puppy shots starts at $20 and goes up depending on the type of vaccine, where you live and whether you go to a private veterinary practice, low-cost clinic or Humane Society.

Puppies need four shots by the time they’re about four months old: one DA2PP (for canine distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza) at six to eight weeks old, a second DA2PP at 10 to 12 weeks and a third DA2PP at 14 to 16 weeks, plus one rabies vaccine. The DA2PP vaccine is also known as the DHPP, DAPP and 5-in-1 vaccine.

Your veterinary clinic may offer discounted pricing on puppy shots when you purchase vaccination packages. Some clinics also offer a free wellness exam, deworming and heartworm tests.

Note that you may also be required to pay for a routine fecal exam to test for parasites and a biohazard disposal fee, typically less than $5 per vaccine.

Cost of puppy shots

What dog vaccines are required?

Dr. Julie Hunt, veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance, says that there is one legally required canine vaccine: the rabies vaccine.

All dogs 12 weeks of age or older are required to get the rabies vaccine. Dr. Hunt adds that veterinarians recommend vaccinating most dogs, at least 6-8 weeks of age, for distemper virus, adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza virus. These vaccines are packaged together in a combination vaccine called the DA2PP vaccine, to be administered in a single injection.

Ohio and Hawaii are the only two states that do not legally require residents to vaccinate pets against rabies. Additionally, imported dogs are exempt from mandatory rabies immunization in Georgia, and in Texas, police service animals aren’t required to be vaccinated against rabies.

Medical exemptions for rabies immunization are allowed in the following states:

• Alabama
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

Where can I get my dog vaccinated?

You can get your dog vaccinated at a veterinary office. However, if you want to save money on pet costs, look for free or low-cost pet vaccines through the following:

• State and city-run animal shelters - You may be able to find vaccinations and other preventative care at lower prices in local shelters.
• Nonprofit organizations - Animal advocacy organizations like the Humane Society often organize free vaccination events or offer discounted pricing on vaccines.
• Veterinary medicine colleges - Look to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for a list of veterinary colleges with low-cost clinics.
• Mobile vet clinics - Veterinary “hospitals on wheels” operate out of vans, bringing often low-cost basic medical care and spay and neuter services directly to you.
• Charity programs - For example, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation offers grants to pet owners in need of financial assistance.

Does pet insurance cover vaccines?

Pet insurance policies do not cover vaccines. However, most pet insurance companies offer supplemental wellness plans (also called routine care packages or add-ons) that include vaccines, spay/neuter surgery and other preventative pet care. These include Pumpkin, Figo, Pets Best, Nationwide, Lemonade, AKC, ASPCA, Wagmo, Fetch, MetLife and ManyPets

Summary of Money’s How Much Do Dog Vaccinations Cost?

While dog vaccination costs vary depending on the vaccine and the provider, the average cost per shot is between $20 and $60. Puppy vaccination costs are slightly higher because they require a series of vaccinations and boosters during the first year, starting at six to eight weeks of age.

Once your dog completes its first-year vaccination schedule, they will need yearly core vaccinations, which include the DA2PPv vaccine and the rabies vaccine, on top of any non-core vaccinations that your veterinarian recommends.

You can find free and low-cost vaccinations through animal advocacy organizations, mobile pet clinics, local shelters and low-cost vaccination clinics. Some pet insurance companies also offer wellness riders that cover vaccines and other preventative care.