How Much Do Dog Vaccinations Cost?

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Dog vaccinations can cost you hundreds of dollars each year, depending on the vaccination and your dog’s risk of exposure, according to a Forbes Advisor analysis of vaccination costs.

For example, let’s say your dog is due for core vaccines such as rabies and distemper, but your vet also recommends a bordetella vaccine to help reduce the chances of catching kennel cough at doggy daycare. Those three vaccines would cost about $92. Your costs will vary depending on several factors, such as where you live and your veterinarian’s recommendations.

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Vaccination costs for dogs

Here’s a look at the cost of common vaccinations for dogs in different states.

State	Bordetella	DAPP	Bivalent influenza	Leptospirosis	Lyme disease	Rabies
California	$33.38	$39.02	$52.84	$23.89	$42.87	$27.73
Florida	$29.87	$34.92	$47.29	$21.38	$38.36	$24.82
Michigan	$29.83	$34.87	$47.22	$21.35	$38.31	$24.78
New York	$32.16	$37.59	$50.90	$23.01	$41.29	$26.71
North Carolina	$29.61	$34.62	$46.88	$21.19	$38.03	$24.60
Ohio	$29.83	$34.87	$47.22	$21.35	$38.31	$24.78
Texas	$30.13	$35.22	$47.69	$21.56	$38.68	$25.03
Average	$30.69	$35.87	$48.57	$21.96	$39.41	$25.49

Source: Banfield Pet Hospital

What Types of Vaccinations Does My Puppy Need?

Puppies typically require a series of vaccinations because their immune systems aren’t fully mature and they are at a higher risk for an infectious disease. The vaccination schedule for puppies is usually three to four weeks apart with the final vaccination administered around four months of age, but your veterinarian could alter the vaccination schedule based on your puppy’s risk factors.

Core puppy vaccinations include:

DHLPP vaccine. This vaccine is for distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvo. These diseases can affect your puppy’s intestines, kidneys, liver, respiratory system, joint pain, lethargy and be spread to humans.
Rabies vaccine. This vaccine protects against rabies, which is incurable, fatal and can be spread to humans. Here is a list of rabies vaccination requirements by state.

Optional vaccines your vet may recommend for your puppy include:

Bordetella vaccine. Bordetella is the primary cause of kennel cough and can cause severe fits of coughing, vomiting and whooping. In some cases, it can result in death. If you plan to board your pet or take it to daycare, this vaccine may be required.
Canine Influenza vaccine. This helps protect your puppy against canine influenza (parainfluenza or CAV-2), another form of kennel cough. However, it is not as common as bordetella. You should consider this vaccine if your pet lives in a communal space with other dogs.
Leptospirosis vaccine. This helps protect your puppy against the spread of leptospirosis, which causes illness including abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, severe weakness and lethargy, loss of appetite and vomiting. Leptospirosis is found in soil and water and can be transmitted to humans.
Lyme vaccine. This helps protect your puppy against Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease that can affect your puppy’s heart, kidney, joints and lead to neurological disorders.

Example of a puppy vaccination schedule

Here’s a look at a puppy’s vaccination schedule for the first year. Your puppy’s vaccination schedule will depend on your puppy’s risk factors and your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Puppy’s age	Recommended vaccines	Optional vaccines
6 to 8 weeks	Distemper, parvovirus	Bordetella
10 to 12 weeks	DHPP (distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus)	Bordetella, influenza, leptospirosis, lyme
16 to 18 weeks	DHPP, rabies	Bordetella, coronavirus, leptospirosis, lyme
12 to 16 months	DHPP, rabies	Bordetella, coronavirus, leptospirosis, lyme
Every 1 to 2 years	DHPP	Bordetella, coronavirus, leptospirosis, lyme
Every 1 to 3 years	Rabies (as required by law)	None

Source: American Kennel Club

Related: Puppy Vaccine Schedule

What Types of Vaccinations Does My Dog Need?

Once your dog reaches adult age, they typically only need certain vaccine boosters every one or two years. Here are some common vaccines your dog may need, depending on your veterinarian’s recommendations:

Bordetella
Canine influenza
DHPP
Leptospirosis
Lyme
Rabies (as required by law)

How Often Does My Dog Need to be Vaccinated?

Your dog’s vaccination schedule will depend on your dog’s individual risk, state laws for rabies vaccinations and recommendations from your veterinarian. Adult dogs typically get DHPP boosters every one to two years. Most states require subsequent rabies vaccinations every three years or in accordance with the label of the rabies vaccine that was administered.

Example of vaccination schedule for adult dogs

Here’s a look at common vaccinations and how often your dog may need to get vaccinated.

Vaccination	How often the vaccine is administered
Bordetella	Annually
Canine influenza	Annually
DHPP	Every 1 to 3 years
Lyme	Annually after initial series of two boosters
Rabies	Every 3 years or in accordance with the label of the rabies vaccine that was administered

Are Vaccinations Required for a Dog?

Most states require dogs to get the rabies vaccine. However, rules around the administration of the vaccine may vary. For example, California requires the rabies vaccine once your dog is three months of age, but Texas requires the rabies vaccine once the dog is four months of age.

Vaccination requirements aside, there are other reasons why vaccinating your dog is a good idea, including:

Preventing your dog from catching certain illnesses
Avoiding costly treatment for diseases that are preventable with a vaccine
Preventing the spread of disease among animals or to humans

Where Do I Take My Dog To Get Vaccinations?

You can typically bring your dog to your veterinarian for their vaccinations. If you cannot afford the cost of vaccinations for your dog, ask your veterinarian if they offer any discounts or can set up a payment plan.

You may be able to find lower-cost alternatives for vaccinations for your dog. The Humane Society of the United States has provided a list of organizations and resources for pet owners in most states.

Some options to consider include:

Accredited veterinary medicine colleges

Pet parents with limited resources might be able to receive vaccinations at veterinary colleges that offer low-cost clinics. Here is a list of schools and programs accredited in the fields of veterinary medicine by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.

Animal shelters

Some government-sponsored animal shelters may offer vaccines at a lower cost than your veterinarian.

For example, in Florida, Miami-Dade Animal Services offers rabies vaccines for dogs for $15.

Mobile vet clinics

Some private businesses may offer pop-up vet care clinics at local retail pet stores or locations around your community.

For example, Pet IQ has partnered with Meijer and Walmart and offers pop-up community clinics at retail stores nationwide.

Nonprofit organizations

Local animal advocacy organizations may offer free or low-cost vaccines.

For example, in California, the San Francisco SPCA offers reduced-cost walk-in preventative care for services such as vaccinations.

How Does Pet Insurance Help Pay for Vaccines?

Even the best pet insurance plans typically don’t cover the cost of vaccinations. But some pet insurance companies offer an optional wellness plan, which helps cover the cost of vaccinations as well as other expenses, such as annual wellness exams, and flea, tick and heartworm prevention.

For example, the Wellness Rewards plan from Embrace pet insurance reimburses pet owners the cost of preventive care and vaccinations, up to the reimbursement amount that you select.