Dog and Cat Vaccines: Where to Find Free and Low-Cost Pet Vaccinations
Key takeaways:
Government-funded animal shelters, nonprofit organizations, and vet schools may offer free and low-cost vaccinations for dogs and cats.
Dogs typically get vaccinated for rabies and leptospirosis, and they typically receive a combination vaccine that protects against canine distemper and other viruses, such as canine parvovirus.
Cats also typically get vaccinated for rabies, as well as feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia.
Table of contents
Getting your pet vaccinated helps protect them from diseases that can cause illness, disability, and death. Even though many pet owners keep their animals indoors, these furry friends still need to be vaccinated to stay healthy.
Like caring for a pet in general, getting them vaccinated can be expensive. But the good news is that there are ways to save on dog and cat vaccines.
Where do you find free or low-cost vaccinations near me?
There are locations that may provide free and low-cost pet vaccinations near you. Here are some places you may be able to access free or low-cost pet vaccinations.
Government animal shelters: Municipal animal services agencies often offer less-expensive preventive care services, including vaccinations.
Nonprofit organizations: You may be able to find free or low-cost vaccinations through local animal advocacy groups. These organizations sometimes conduct pop-up vaccination events in local neighborhoods.
Veterinary medicine colleges: Many vet schools run low-cost clinics for pet owners with limited resources. You can find a list of U.S. vet schools and their contact information on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website.
Mobile vet clinics: A growing number of private companies offer roving or pop-up services at retail pet stores and other convenient locations.
Pet stores: Some retail pet stores have in-store clinics that may offer lower-cost vaccinations. Other stores may host events where you can bring your pet in for low-cost cat or dog vaccinations.
Local vets that provide charity care: A veterinarian near you may offer charity care services underwritten by donors such as the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. You can also ask your regular vet about discounted rates or a payment plan.
Vets in less-expensive areas: Vet services in smaller towns may be less expensive than in more populated areas.
Save on the top 10 pet medications
Save big on common pet medications like Fluoxetine and Levetiracetam at your local pharmacy.
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Keep in mind that the costs of veterinary services vary by provider. Researching all of your options can help you find the best price for your cat or dog’s vaccinations.
How much do pet vaccinations cost?
The cost of individual dog and cat vaccines varies, depending on where you get the vaccines and where you live. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are sample prices from across the U.S.
Dog vaccine costs
Rabies vaccine | DAPP or DA2PP combo vaccine | Leptospirosis vaccine | |
$27.05 | $38.07 | $23.31 | |
$34 | $34 | $34 | |
$39 | $42 | $42 | |
$37 | $48 | $47 | |
$34 | $40 | $40 |
Cat vaccine costs
Rabies vaccine | FVRCP combo vaccine | Feline leukemia vaccine | |
$27.05 | $31.98 | $34.44 | |
$34 | $34 | $35 | |
$42 | $42 | $42 | |
$37 | $50 | $50 | |
$34 | $48 | $46 |
How much do first-year pet vaccinations cost?
According to veterinary practices across the U.S., first-year cat vaccine packages can start at $85 and go up to $235. For dogs, packages range from $85 to $270. Many vets include rabies shots and exams in their prices. Others will require you to pay a separate exam cost. Ask your vet what’s included.
Does pet insurance cover the cost of vaccinations?
A basic pet insurance plan typically covers accident-related injuries and certain illnesses.
Most pet insurance plans don’t cover the cost of vaccinations, because they are considered preventive care. But you may be able to buy a rider, which is an add-on option to your policy, in order to get vaccination coverage. For example, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers preventive coverage as an addition to a pet’s plan for an extra fee.
What vaccines does your pet need?
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends core vaccines for dogs and cats. Rabies is a core vaccine for both dogs and cats.
Shots for pups: Check out our puppy vaccination schedule, based on expert recommendations. It includes everything you need to know about dog vaccines.
No more fleas, please: Do you know how to combat fleas on your dog or cat? We can help. Read about the best flea treatments for your pet.
Pet insurance practices: Does your pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions? Probably not. Learn more about what’s covered and what’s not.
For dogs, there are two additional core vaccines. One prevents leptospirosis, a condition caused by bacteria. The other is a combination vaccine that protects against:
Adenovirus Type 2 (infectious canine hepatitis)
Parainfluenza protection may not be included in some forms of the combination vaccine. In that case, your dog may be able to get vaccinated against parainfluenza through the bordetella vaccine, which is not considered a core vaccine.
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For cats, the core vaccines are:
Feline leukemia virus (for cats less than 1 year old)
Additional noncore vaccines are available for both cats and dogs, depending on your pet's lifestyle.
Quiz: What vaccines do dogs need?
At what age does your pet need to be vaccinated?
Puppies can begin getting vaccinated at 6 weeks old. Use this AAHA lifestyle-based vaccine calculator for dogs to see recommended vaccines based on your pup’s age, activities, and exposures.
Kittens can start receiving vaccinations as early as 6 weeks old. Use this AAHA lifestyle-based vaccine calculator for cats to see recommended vaccines based on your kitty’s age, activities, and exposures.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you may be able to find a payment plan for pet vaccinations through your veterinarian’s office or companies such as CareCredit. Talk to your veterinarian about payment options before you schedule vaccinations for your dog or cat.
Yes, you can buy your own dog vaccinations from various online retailers and pet stores. But there are risks to vaccinating your dog at home, especially if you’re not trained. Talk to your veterinarian before giving your dog a shot of any kind. You need to make sure you’re giving the correct dosage in the correct location on your dog’s body
Most states do not allow the sale of rabies shots over the counter. In addition, most municipalities across the U.S. require a veterinarian to administer rabies shots to pets.
The bottom line
Vaccinations are essential for protecting your pet from preventable diseases, and they’re often required by ordinance or law. First-year vaccine packages for dogs or cats start at $85 and go up from there, depending on your location and the package.
If you have limited resources, you may be able to access free or low-cost pet vaccinations near you through government-funded animal shelters, pet advocacy groups, and clinics run by veterinary medical colleges. If you plan to buy pet insurance, you can add a rider for an additional fee that will cover preventive care services, including vaccinations.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Animal Hospital Association. (2019). Top 10 facts pet owners should know about AAHA’s canine vaccination guidelines.
American Animal Hospital Association. (2020). Lifestyle-based vaccine calculator.
American Animal Hospital Association. (2022). Vaccine recommendation schedule based on age at initial vaccination and lifestyle of dog.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. (n.d.). Preventive care coverage.
Banfield Pet Hospital. (n.d.). Banfield price estimator.
Bergmann, M., et al. (2020). Antibody response to canine adenovirus-2 virus vaccination in healthy adult dogs. Viruses.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Information for veterinarians.
Modern Animal. (n.d.). Pricing transparency.
ShotVet. (n.d.). FastPaws packages and prices.
Stone, A. E. S., et al. (2020). 2020 AAHA/AAFP feline vaccination guidelines. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association.
Tizard, I. R. (2020). Canine vaccines. Vaccines for Veterinarians.
Tizard, I. R. (2020). Feline vaccines. Vaccines for Veterinarians.
Vetco Vaccination Clinic. (n.d.). California vaccination packages & prices.
VIP Petcare. (n.d.). Pet healthcare services & pricing.
