Everyone wants to do the best for their pets. But budgets are tight when there’s a cost-of-living crisis. The Blue Cross reported that 20% of owners across the UK struggled to pay vet bills in the first three months of 2023. So it’s natural to question every expense. How do we prioritise spending? And is vaccinating your dog truly worth it? You might also have concerns about potential side effects. 

This guide from Joii aims to break down the costs, risks, and benefits of vaccinating your dog, and, crucially, what the price of not vaccinating could be.

Key diseases and importance

Vaccinations protect your dog against dangerous diseases. The core vaccines guard against Parvovirus, Distemper, and Infectious Canine Hepatitis. Leptospirosis is another important one, and Kennel Cough vaccination is often required for boarding kennels, but also highly recommended annually as a precaution.

Vaccination costs

How much does it cost?

• Puppy vaccination course: £60-85 (varies by location and specific vaccines)
• Yearly booster vaccinations: £45-60
• Kennel Cough vaccination (additional): £28-46

Side effects and costs of treatment

Side effects of vaccination

While vaccinations are overwhelmingly safe and effective, some side effects can occur. It’s important to weigh these against the risks of the diseases themselves.

Side effects include:

• Slight redness or swelling at the injection site: No cost or £28 (video consultation) to £40-60 (in-person consultation). 
• Lameness and joint swelling: £40-£60 (vet consultation) and £30-40 (medication)
• Anaphylaxis (serious allergic reaction): £60-£300 (consultation) and £200-£1000 (treatment)
• Autoimmune diseases (rare): £40-£60 (consultation), £100-£350 (blood tests), £200-£1500 (imaging), and additional treatment costs

Frequency of adverse reactions

• Slight redness or swelling: 1 in 300-400 vaccinations
• Serious reactions (anaphylaxis, autoimmune illnesses): Approximately 1 in 10,000 (0.001%) vaccinations in the UK

Who pays for treatment

Generally, owners are responsible for the costs of treating vaccine reactions. Manufacturers occasionally contribute if there’s a vaccine issue.

Vaccine effectiveness and failures

Vaccinations – do they always work?

The short answer is no. Vaccines are highly effective, but no medical intervention is 100% guaranteed. Parvovirus vaccination provides protection with proper administration, but failures can occur due to:

• Maternal antibody interference: Antibodies from mum’s milk interfere with the vaccine.
• “Poor responders”: dogs and puppies with weakened immune systems. This may be due to an inherited defect, more common in Rottweilers and Dobermans.
• Immunosuppressive medications: medicines like steroids, which prevent immunity developing.
• Vaccinating a dog that’s already ill.

Cost of vaccination – Is it really worth it?

The costs and risks (however small) may put you off vaccinating your perfectly healthy puppy or continuing boosters for your adult dog. And we’ve been vaccinating pets for decades, so how risky can it be now?

To truly understand the importance of vaccination, let’s look at Parvovirus, a highly contagious and deadly disease. 

• Parvovirus causes severe bloody vomiting and diarrhoea.
• 80% of untreated dogs or puppies will die as a result of the illness.
• 15-30% mortality rate even with treatment.
• Parvovirus cases have seen alarming increases in recent years.
• Dogs who do survive the initial illness can be left with long-term digestive and general health problems.

Financial cost of Parvovirus treatment

• Initial consultation: £40-£60 (standard) to £200-£300 (out-of-hours)
• Hospitalisation (5 days): £200-£700 per night
• Diagnostic tests: £100-£300
• Total treatment cost: £1200 to £4000+
• The immeasurable emotional cost of stress and worry.

Long-term complications of parvovirus

• Relapses
• Immune polyarthritis
• Sudden death (heart damage)
• Chronic digestive issues: Arising from damage to the gut lining 
• Destruction of the gut biome and Vitamin B deficiencies

Associated costs of long-term complications

Managing long-term complications in dogs after Parvovirus can be expensive, involving ongoing medical care, special diets, and frequent vet visits. These costs can accumulate significantly over the dog’s lifetime.

Key-points

• Chronic health and digestive issues may develop post-Parvovirus.
• Costs include diagnostics like fecal exams, blood tests, and biopsies.
• Treatments often require prescription diets (e.g., Hills i/d Low Fat).
• Supportive care may involve probiotics and Vitamin B12 injections.
• Regular vet visits and consultations add to long-term expenses.
  

Booster vaccinations – Does my dog really need them every year?

The answer to that is both no and very definitely YES, at the same time.

• Booster vaccinations for parvovirus, distemper and infectious canine hepatitis (core vaccines) are recommended every 3 years
• Leptospirosis vaccination is recommended every year
• Yearly health checks are essential for early detection of other health problems, to keep your dog in peak health

Conclusion

So what’s the real cost of vaccinating your dog?

Puppy vaccinations and your dog’s annual health checks are vital for your dog’s wellbeing.

Ultimately, it’s the price of:

• Peace of mind 
• Protecting your dog from suffering, life-threatening illness and death.
• Avoiding heartache, anxiety and significant financial burden.
• Being  a responsible and informed pet owner 

You can talk to a Joii vet 24/7 if you have any questions or concerns about vaccinating your dog