--- title: "Dog & Cat Vaccinations UK 2026: Costs & Schedule" description: "Which jabs does your pet need? Our 2026 guide covers core vaccines, schedules, and costs. Average UK prices: dog booster £71, cat booster £73." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "The Vet Price Comparison Site", "alternateName": "VetPrices", "url": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Vet Price Comparison Site", "alternateName": "VetPrices", "url": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk", "logo": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/web-app-manifest-512x512.png" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Dog & Cat Vaccinations UK 2026: Core, Non-Core, Costs & WSAVA Schedule", "description": "Which vaccines your pet really needs, real 2026 UK pricing (dog booster £71, cat booster £73 average), and the WSAVA-aligned schedule most UK practices follow.", "image": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/assets/vaccinations-qguZL9Ea.webp", "datePublished": "5 July 2025", "dateModified": "25 June 2026", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Moore" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Vet Price Comparison Site", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/web-app-manifest-512x512.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/blog/vaccinations-what-your-pet-needs" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dog & Cat Vaccinations UK 2026: Core, Non-Core, Costs & WSAVA Schedule", "item": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/blog/vaccinations-what-your-pet-needs" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dog & Cat Vaccinations UK 2026: Core, Non-Core, Costs & WSAVA Schedule" } ] } ] --- [Compare Vet Prices](/find-a-vet)[Compare Health Plans](/compare-pet-plans)[Pricing Map](/county-pricing)[About Us](/#who-we-are) [![The Vet Price Comparison Site](/assets/logo-v3-BBKbOnyg.webp)](/) [Blog](/blog)[For Vets](/for-vets)[Claim Your Listing](/practice/claim) [Compare Vet Prices](/find-a-vet)[Compare Health Plans](/compare-pet-plans)[Pricing Map](/county-pricing)[About Us](/#who-we-are)[Blog](/blog)[For Vets](/for-vets)[Claim Your Listing](/practice/claim)[Claim Your Listing](/practice/claim) 1. 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Dog & Cat Vaccinations UK 2026: Core, Non-Core, Costs & WSAVA Schedule [Back to Blog](/blog) Pet Health 5 July 2025 9 min read # Dog & Cat Vaccinations UK 2026: Core, Non-Core, Costs & WSAVA Schedule By Simon Moore · Last reviewed 25 June 2026 ![Dog & Cat Vaccinations UK 2026: Core, Non-Core, Costs & WSAVA Schedule](/assets/vaccinations-qguZL9Ea.webp) TL;DR — UK averages, June 2026 - • **Dog annual booster:** £71.24 average (range £45–£95) - • **Cat annual booster:** £73.41 average (range £50–£95) - • **Puppy primary course:** £60–£100 (2 doses) - • **Kitten primary course:** £55–£110 (2 doses) - • **Kennel cough (Nobivac KC):** £30–£50 - • **Rabies (travel):** £45–£75 ## Core vs non-core: what WSAVA actually recommends The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) — the global gold standard most UK practices align with — splits vaccines into **core** (every pet) and **non-core** (lifestyle-driven). ### Dogs — core - Canine distemper virus (CDV) - Canine adenovirus (CAV) - Canine parvovirus (CPV) - Leptospirosis (often treated as core in UK due to high disease burden) ### Dogs — non-core (recommended based on lifestyle) - Bordetella + parainfluenza (kennel cough) — for dogs who socialise, board or attend daycare - Rabies — required for pet travel - Canine herpesvirus — breeding bitches ### Cats — core - Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV / feline parvo) - Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) - Feline calicivirus (FCV) ### Cats — non-core - Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) — strongly recommended for all cats with outdoor access - Rabies — for travel - Chlamydia — multi-cat households with conjunctivitis history ## The typical UK schedule Age Dogs Cats 8–9 weeks First DHPL First FPV+FHV+FCV 10–12 weeks Second DHPL (immunity from 1 week later) Second FPV+FHV+FCV (+/- FeLV) 12 months Booster Booster Annually Lepto + KC; DHPV cycled 1–3 yearly FHV+FCV annual; FPV every 3 years (WSAVA) ## Are over-the-counter vaccines safe? No — vaccines are POM-V (prescription-only medicines administered by a vet). Cold-chain storage, correct timing and proper recording are essential for legitimate travel passports, boarding certificates and insurance claims. ## How to save without compromising cover 1. **Compare practices in your area.** Our data shows annual booster prices vary by £30+ within 10 miles in most postcodes — search by [postcode](/). 2. **Use puppy/kitten packages.** Many practices bundle the primary course + microchip + first nail clip + introductory health plan month for £80–£140 total. 3. **Get the kennel cough vaccine with the booster.** Doing both in one visit avoids a separate consult fee. 4. **Healthcare plans** can pay for themselves where vaccines, parasiticides and 6-monthly checks are bundled — see [our plan analysis](/blog/pet-care-plans-worth-it). ## FAQs ### Why do my dog's vaccines change yearly rather than every 3 years? Lepto immunity is short-lived and given annually; the core viral components (DHP) can often be given every 3 years per WSAVA. UK practices' "annual booster" usually means lepto + checking which viral cover is due. ### Are titre tests worth it? For DHP they can confirm protection and avoid unnecessary boostering; they do not work for leptospirosis or KC. * * * **About the data:** Booster averages from 1,625 UK practices in our database (June 2026). Schedule follows WSAVA 2024 guidelines adapted for UK disease prevalence. ## Sources & further reading - [WSAVA — Global Vaccination Guidelines](https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/) - [BSAVA / BVA — Vaccination position](https://www.bva.co.uk/) - [Gov.uk — Pet travel rabies requirements](https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad) [Browse all articles](/blog) [![The Vet Price Comparison Site](/assets/logo-v3-BBKbOnyg.webp)](/) The UK's leading vet price comparison site. 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