Study reveals cost of pet vaccinations depending on your postcode

From food to toys to healthcare, getting a new pet is a significant financial commitment but often overlooked is the standard costs of vaccinating your furry friends and the availability of vets and pet care providers in your area.

Research conducted by Bought By Many reveals the average national cost of annual vaccinations for your cats or dogs, the cost of primary vaccination courses for your kittens or puppies, as well as which counties charge their pet owners the most, on average, for these treatments.

The study found that the average cost for puppy vaccination in Britain is £68 and the average cost for cat vaccination without FeLV is £58 and £73 with FeLV. Berkshire is the most expensive county to vaccinate your dog with an average cost of £64.09 and Surrey is the most expensive county to vaccinate your cat with a pricey average cost of £62.99.

According to figures, Derbyshire ranks as the cheapest county to have both your dog and cat vaccinated with an affordable average cost of £29.67 for both. Whereas London has the worst access to vets in Britain with 1,294 cat and dog owners per vet, compared with, Carlisle which has 4 cat and dog owners per vet.

The most and least expensive counties for annual dog and cat booster vaccinations

According to a survey of 165 vets, the most expensive county in Britain to get an annual booster vaccination for your dog is Berkshire, where the average cost is £64.09. The research found that in Britain, the average cost of the primary puppy vaccination package (including both sets of injections) is £68 and a booster for dogs is £47.

The most expensive place to get an annual booster vaccination for a cat is Surrey, where the average cost is £62.99 among the vets that we surveyed, with Derbyshire ranking as the cheapest with an average cost of £29.67 for a cat’s annual booster.

Which towns and cities have the best access to vets for cat and dog owners?

Bought By Many analysed the locations of more than 521,000 cat and dog-owning households in Britain to reveal which towns and cities have the best and worst access to veterinary clinics. The research revealed showed that London has the worst access to vets in Britain with 1,294 cat and dog owners per vet and Carlisle has the best access with only 4 cat and dog owners per vet. 

Four reasons why you should get your cat or dog vaccinated

These are the top reasons to get your pet vaccinated and keep up with their boosters.

1. For their own health

The main reason you should vaccinate your pets is that it gives them a lot of protection against common and often fatal diseases. Vaccinations work by stimulating the immune system of your pet and making them better equipped to deal with diseases they may come into contact with.

Even if your pet does survive an initial brush with a nasty illness, lots of diseases can cause serious long-term health problems in cats and dogs and drastically shorten their life expectancy.

2. To protect other animals and people

When lots of animals in a community are vaccinated, it becomes much less likely that a contagious disease will spread and cause harm to even unvaccinated animals. This is called herd immunity.

Some diseases can be passed from animals to humans, too – these are called zoonotic diseases. One example is leptospirosis, which dog vaccinations commonly protect against. Though it’s rare, this unpleasant infection can be passed onto humans in the form of Weil’s disease.

3. It’s cheaper in the long run

It goes without saying that the more times you take your pet to the vet, the more money you’ll have to spend. Though a cat or dog may recover from an initial bout of illness, some diseases can severely damage your pet’s overall health, so you’ll need to take them to the vet more frequently in the long run.

For example, FeLV (feline leukaemia) can seriously impact your cat’s immune system and make them much more likely to pick up other diseases and develop health issues like anaemia and cancer. A case of parvovirus can cause dogs to have problems with their organs and immune system down the road, too.

4. It’s required

There are some situations where a cat or a dog needs to be vaccinated. Lots of boarding kennels and catteries in the UK request proof of vaccination before a pet can stay. Kennel cough (true to its name) is one example of a disease that can spread quickly among unvaccinated dogs in close quarters.

When it comes to taking your cat or dog abroad, you’ll need to check the restrictions and requirements around vaccinations of the country you’re visiting first. If you’re visiting an EU country or Northern Ireland, you’ll also legally need to get a rabies vaccination for your pet.

For more information regarding the report visit www.boughtbymany.com/news/article/average-cost-dog-cat-vaccinations/