Vaccinations prevent fatal, highly contagious diseases that were once common killers of UK pets. Following the correct schedule is also a strict requirement if you ever plan to use boarding kennels, catteries, or doggy day-care, and for maintaining valid pet insurance.
Dog Vaccination Schedule
Core Vaccines (Essential for all dogs)
- Parvovirus (CPV): Very contagious; causes severe bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration. Often fatal in puppies.
- Distemper (CDV): Airborne virus attacking the lungs, brain, and gut. Aggressive and frequently lethal.
- Canine Hepatitis (CAV): Attacks the liver and kidneys.
- Leptospirosis (L2 or L4): Bacterial disease contracted from rat urine in water (puddles, canals). Damages kidneys/liver. Transmissible to humans (Weil’s disease).
Non-Core (Context dependent)
- Kennel Cough: Protects against Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza. Given as a squirt up the nose. Essential if your dog is boarding or attends day-care.
- Rabies: Only required if travelling outside the UK.
The Dog Schedule
- 8 weeks old: 1st primary injection
- 10-12 weeks old: 2nd primary injection (fully protected 2-4 weeks later)
- 1 year old: 1st Annual Booster (covers all core diseases)
- Subsequent Years: Leptospirosis requires an annual booster. DHP (Distemper, Hep, Parvo) immunity lasts much longer, so those elements are typically only boosted every 3 years.
Cat Vaccination Schedule
Core Vaccines
- Feline Parvovirus (FPV / Panleukopenia): Highly contagious, causes severe gastrointestinal disease; rapid death in kittens.
- Cat Flu (FCV & FHV): Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpesvirus cause severe respiratory issues, sneezing, and mouth ulcers.
Non-Core (Usually Essential for Outdoor Cats)
- Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV): Spread by biting and mutual grooming. Causes immune suppression, anaemia, and cancer. Vets generally consider this “core” for any cat that goes outside. Indoor-only cats in single-cat households may skip this pending vet advice.
The Cat Schedule
- 9 weeks old: 1st primary injection
- 12 weeks old: 2nd primary injection
- Annual Booster: Required yearly. Cat flu elements need annual topping up. FeLV frequency depends on the specific vaccine brand (some are 1 year, some 3 years).
Average UK Vet Costs (2026)
Expect some variation based on location (London vs North) and clinic type.
| Service | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Puppy Primary Course (2 injections) | £100 – £115 |
| Puppy Primary Course + Kennel Cough | £135 – £160 |
| Dog Annual Booster (Lepto + 3-year DHP check) | £70 – £80 |
| Kitten Primary Course (With FeLV) | £105 – £115 |
| Cat Annual Booster (With FeLV) | £70 – £80 |
Tip: Many vets offer “Pet Health Clubs” for around £15-£20 a month, which split the cost of annual vaccinations, flea/worming treatments, and health checks across the year. This often works out cheaper than paying ad-hoc.
FAQs
Are vaccines a scam? My dog never gets sick.
Your dog doesn’t get sick because of “herd immunity.” Because the vast majority of UK owners vaccinate, horrible diseases like Distemper have been driven to very low levels. However, outbreaks of Parvovirus still happen regularly in the UK in areas where vaccination rates drop, and unvaccinated puppies almost always die from it. Vaccinations are a fundamental pillar of responsible pet ownership.
Reviewed by Dr. Sarah Jenkins, MRCVS
Dr. Jenkins is a fully practicing veterinary surgeon in the UK with over 15 years of clinical experience in small animal medicine and canine behaviour. She reviews and verifies our health content to ensure medical accuracy.
