Whether you have a new puppy to care for or another older dog that needs repeated shots, pet vaccinations are one of the most important things to keep in mind as an owner. Vaccinations are the key to preventing a wide range of health problems, diseases and other potentially harmful or even deadly conditions that may arise in your pet. Most vets will recommend beginning the set of vaccinations for your puppy when he is just a few weeks old. These continue throughout the rest of his life; there are some vaccinations that must be renewed periodically in order to continue to be effective. Here are some of the costs associated with these vaccinations.
Vaccination Overview
Vaccinations are commonly given against several different diseases. These include distemper, parvo, rabies and more. The exact schedule of vaccinations that you'll need for your pet will be dependent upon a number of factors, including where you live, your pet's exposure to other animals and much more. For instance, parvo is a highly contagious disease that can be deadly to most puppies. However, if your pet will not come into contact with other dogs, the parvo vaccine may not be worthwhile; parvo vaccinations can lead to allergic reactions and a number of other health problems in and of themselves.
Thus, the best way to begin to plan for the costs of pet vaccinations is to do some research into which types of vaccinations will be necessary for your pet based on his age, breed, gender and where you live, as well as other factors.
Vaccination Costs
Most vaccinations themselves will cost around $20 each. This is the cost per round of vaccination; if your pet requires additional booster shots, these will add on to the total costs. There will also likely be some vet costs that are associated with the vaccination procedure. Many vets will use the vaccination time to conduct a general physical of your pet in order to determine his overall health status. Regardless, you'll likely pay between $20 and $50 for the vet's time in order to get the vaccinations for your pet. If there is any post-vaccine care that is necessary, you'll also have to pay for that.
The costs associated with vaccinations may depend upon where you are. If you're in a large urban area with lots of vet offices, you'll likely pay less than if the vet that you visit is the only one in the entire nearby area.
If you want to get the best deal on your pet's vaccination costs, you should plan to ask around. Consult with different vet offices so that you can get the best deal possible for your dog's vaccinations. Ask vets and other dog owners in your area for additional recommendations and advice on where and how to get the vaccinations for your pet that he needs.