What vaccinations does my pet need?
Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limitsKeeping up to date with vaccinations is an essential part of owning a pet. Most pet insurance policies that offer routine care benefits will cover the full or partial cost of vaccines, though this will depend on the provider, and limits and exclusions may apply.
However, failure to keep up with your pet’s vaccinations could get your claim rejected if they come down with a preventable illness.
So in the spirit of looking after our furry friends, here are the unmissable vaccinations for cats and dogs in Australia.
Puppy vaccinations schedule
When your puppy is six weeks old, your veterinarian will start their shots program. Vaccines help protect their naive immune systems from nasty bugs.
‘Core’ vaccines are mandatory for your puppy’s health since they protect against life-threatening diseases worldwide.
‘Non-core’ vaccines are administered based on lifestyle risk. For example, dogs who frequently meet other dogs or livestock receive different additional shots than indoor, solitary puppers.
Many, if not all, of the vaccines your puppy needs get rolled into one shot given by your vet. Common shots include the C series of core vaccines, which protect against increasing groups of diseases. C3 is usually given as a minimum as soon as you book your puppy’s first vet visit.
Here are the standard dog vaccines in Australia:
- C3: Canine distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), and parvovirus.
- C4: C3 diseases plus parainfluenza.
- C5: C4 diseases plus varieties of kennel cough.
- C7: C5 diseases plus leptospirosis and coronavirus.
A standard puppy vaccine schedule looks like this:
- 6 to 8 weeks: first shot.
- 10 to 12 weeks: second shot.
- 14 to 16 weeks: third shot.
As a rule of thumb, your puppy should not come into contact with other dogs or explore public areas (especially park grass) until two weeks after their third booster shot. This way, they’re kept safe from germ exposure until their immune system can handle it.
Vets may also recommend you give your puppy another booster shot at six months, in case their immune system hasn’t already had a strong enough reaction. Titre blood tests can gauge how many antibodies your puppy or dog has developed after a vaccine.
Australia is a rabies-free country, so if your dog is born and raised here, there’s no need to vaccinate them against rabies. If you plan on taking them overseas, however, it’s recommended that you do since the disease is deadly for animals and humans.
Dogs who regularly engage in activities where they could receive a deep wound (like on a farm) may also receive a tetanus injection. However, this particular disease has a low incidence rate in canines.
Annual dog booster vaccinations
It’s recommended that your dog receives an annual C5 booster for kennel cough and a C3 booster every three years for the rest of their life. Regular doses help keep their immune system primed for these diseases since they’re prevalent in the natural environment.
Kitten vaccinations
Much like puppies, kittens start vaccinations from six weeks old. Shots can protect them from life-threatening diseases found globally.
Core vaccines protect against the worst of the worst, while non-core vaccines offer additional protection based on your cat’s lifestyle (for instance, if they’re an indoor-only or outdoor cat).
The F3 vaccine is the most common core vaccine administered to cats in Australia. Unlike the C3 injection for dogs, the F3 doesn’t prevent viral shedding or symptomatic infection. It does, however, reduce the severity of illness.
Diseases covered by the F3 vaccine include:
- Panleukopenia.
- Feline herpesvirus.
- Feline calicivirus.
The term “cat flu” usually refers to the latter two diseases. Specific F3 variants may also protect against feline parvovirus.
Additional feline non-core vaccines vets may recommend include diseases such as:
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
- Feline leukaemia.
- Chlamydia.
- Bordetella bronchiseptica (a kind of bronchitis).
A standard kitten vaccine schedule looks like this:
- 6 to 8 weeks: first shot.
- 10 to 12 weeks: second shot.
- 14 to 16 weeks: third shot.
Your vet may also recommend a rabies vaccine if you’re taking your cat out of the country or a tetanus shot if they live outdoors on a farm. Your kitten may also receive an F3 booster at six months if its first immune response isn’t strong enough.
Annual cat booster vaccinations
Adult cats who venture outdoors should receive yearly F3 and feline HIV boosters. If they live strictly indoors, they may only receive boosters every two to three years.
Other boosters may apply based on your veterinarian’s recommendation.
FAQs about pet vaccinations
What are common vaccine side effects in pets?
Much like humans, sometimes pets experience side effects after vaccination.
These can include local soreness at the vaccine site, fatigue, poor coordination (they may appear ‘loopy’), stomach upset like vomiting and diarrhoea, temporary limping (especially in cats), loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing.
Contact your vet if you’re concerned about any of these symptoms in your pet. Most are normal and will resolve in a day or two, but some can indicate a problem.
What happens if your pet misses a shot?
Contact your veterinarian to get back on schedule as soon as possible. Late is far better than never!
There’s some flexibility on the vaccine schedule for adult animal boosters since they may or may not be necessary, but for puppies and kittens, it’s vital not to miss a shot.
If you accidentally skip a scheduled shot and your puppy or kitten is under 12 weeks of age, they may need an additional booster to the usual three.
Can pregnant pets receive vaccinations?
Veterinarians usually won’t recommend vaccinations for pregnant animals. If you're concerned about your pregnant pet's risk of disease, talk to your veterinarian about your options.
How do you keep your pet calm during vaccinations?
Needles aren’t fun for anyone, let alone puppies or kittens. If your little furry bundle finds themselves anxious or sensitive when getting vaccinated, lots of soothing words, cuddles, pats, favourite toys, and treats can go a long way to calming them down.
It’s important to stay calm as a pet parent, too. Sometimes your nerves can become theirs! But while they may cry or squeak, the sting is only temporary and they will be okay.
Find ways to distract yourself and keep it light, such as going for a walk, playing with your pet, or listening to your favourite tunes.
Compare pet insurance policies below.
Compare pet insurance
Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits.
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Pet Protection Plus
Petsy has zero sublimits and an annual limit up to $25k. Get a pre-existing conditions assessment in your cooling-off period - free of charge for members only. Dedicated all Australian customer service team. Cancel your policy and receive a full refund of your premium in the first 30 days (T&Cs apply).
annual benefit limit
$5,000, $10,000 or $25,000benefit percentage
80% or 90%choice of excess
$0, $150, $200, $300, $500choice of vet
Yesavailable discounts
- 5% discount for second pet covered with Petsy applied for lifetime of the policy
CompareComparePet Protection Plus
Petsy has zero sublimits and an annual limit up to $25k. Get a pre-existing conditions assessment in your cooling-off period - free of charge for members only. Dedicated all Australian customer service team. Cancel your policy and receive a full refund of your premium in the first 30 days (T&Cs apply).
- annual benefit limit
- $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000
- benefit percentage
- 80% or 90%
- choice of excess
- $0, $150, $200, $300, $500
- choice of vet
- Yes
- available discounts
- 5% discount for second pet covered with Petsy applied for lifetime of the policy
- accident only cover
- no
- accident and illness cover
- yes
- routine care
- No
- routine care limit
- N/A
- dog
- yes
- cat
- yes
- ct and mris
- Yes
- cruciate ligament condition limits
- Yes
- hip joint surgery
- Yes
- total hip replacement
- Yes
- tick paralysis
- Yes
- dental cover
- Optional
- emergency boarding
- Yes
- theft or straying
- No
- death from illness
- Yes
- legal liability
- No
- overseas pet travel insurance
- Yes, only while in New Zealand
- essential euthanasia
- Yes
- maximum age in years
- 9
- minimum age in weeks
- 6
- waiting period
- 1 day for Non-specified accidental injury, 14 days for Non-specified illness, and dental illness, 6 months for specified conditions and behavioural problems
- special offers
- Use code "BREAST" and Petsy will donate $50 to National Breast Cancer Foundation
- pre approval process
- Online, phone and written approval. Customer can also request for us to pay the vet directly.
- claims service
- Electronically by your vet, online claims
- other benefits
- -
- other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about Petsy pet insurance
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Value Cover
Get great value coverage with Knose Value Cover. Award-winning pet insurance designed with the help of vets. No sub-limits or hidden costs. Customise your plan to help fit your budget. Australian-based customer care.
annual benefit limit
$7,500, $12,5000, or $25,000benefit percentage
70%, 80% or 90%choice of excess
$0, $100, $200 Annual Excesschoice of vet
Yesavailable discounts
- Get 10% off your first-year premium using the promo code "MOZO10"
CompareCompareValue Cover
Get great value coverage with Knose Value Cover. Award-winning pet insurance designed with the help of vets. No sub-limits or hidden costs. Customise your plan to help fit your budget. Australian-based customer care.
- annual benefit limit
- $7,500, $12,5000, or $25,000
- benefit percentage
- 70%, 80% or 90%
- choice of excess
- $0, $100, $200 Annual Excess
- choice of vet
- Yes
- available discounts
- Get 10% off your first-year premium using the promo code "MOZO10"
- accident only cover
- no
- accident and illness cover
- yes
- routine care
- No
- routine care limit
- N/A
- dog
- yes
- cat
- yes
- ct and mris
- Yes
- cruciate ligament condition limits
- Yes
- hip joint surgery
- Yes
- total hip replacement
- Yes
- tick paralysis
- Yes
- dental cover
- Optional
- emergency boarding
- Yes, up to 30 days
- theft or straying
- No
- death from illness
- No
- legal liability
- No
- overseas pet travel insurance
- Yes, only while in New Zealand on a trip of not more than 60 days
- essential euthanasia
- Yes
- maximum age in years
- 8
- minimum age in weeks
- 6
- waiting period
- 1 day for illness, 14 days of illness, and 6 months for specified conditions
- special offers
- Get 10% off your first-year premium using the promo code "MOZO10"
- pre approval process
- -
- claims service
- Online by you or your vet
- other benefits
- Optional excess is charged once per annual policy period. Complimentary access to the Knose Pet Health Hotline.
- other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about Knose pet insurance
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Exceptional Value Accident & Illness Pet Insurance - 2024
Comprehensive Pet Insurance
Give your pet the care they need with Budget Direct’s Comprehensive Pet Insurance. Get a generous $15,000 annual policy limit, routine care options to choose from and up to 80% money back on eligible vet bills (T&Cs apply). Get cover for orthopaedic care, accidental injury and illness cover as well as choice of vet.
annual benefit limit
$15,000benefit percentage
80%choice of excess
$100, $200choice of vet
Yesavailable discounts
- Receive 15% off the first year’s premium for new policies quoted online
CompareCompareComprehensive Pet Insurance
Give your pet the care they need with Budget Direct’s Comprehensive Pet Insurance. Get a generous $15,000 annual policy limit, routine care options to choose from and up to 80% money back on eligible vet bills (T&Cs apply). Get cover for orthopaedic care, accidental injury and illness cover as well as choice of vet.
- annual benefit limit
- $15,000
- benefit percentage
- 80%
- choice of excess
- $100, $200
- choice of vet
- Yes
- available discounts
- Receive 15% off the first year’s premium for new policies quoted online
- accident only cover
- no
- accident and illness cover
- yes
- routine care
- Optional
- routine care limit
- -
- dog
- yes
- cat
- yes
- ct and mris
- Yes
- cruciate ligament condition limits
- Yes, up to $2,600
- hip joint surgery
- Yes, orthopaedic limit up to $8,000
- total hip replacement
- Yes
- tick paralysis
- Yes, up to $1,500
- dental cover
- Optional Extra- Dental checkups, scale and polish only.
- emergency boarding
- No
- theft or straying
- No
- death from illness
- No
- legal liability
- No
- overseas pet travel insurance
- No
- essential euthanasia
- Yes
- maximum age in years
- 9
- minimum age in weeks
- 8
- waiting period
- 2 days for accidental injuries, 30 days for illness and tick paralysis, 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions
- special offers
- -
- pre approval process
- -
- claims service
- Submit claim by email or by post
- other benefits
- -
- other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about Budget Direct pet insurance
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Basic
Get a Basic Pet Insurance policy from Coles Insurance and collect 10 Flybuys points for every $1 you spend in the pet aisle at Coles (max cap applies). All accidents and injuries covered, plus 4 specified illnesses covered. Up to 100% back on eligible vet bills. Cured pre-existing conditions covered. Exclusions, excess, limits, and T&Cs apply. Underwritten by Guild Insurance Limited.
annual benefit limit
$10,000benefit percentage
80%, 100%choice of excess
$200choice of vet
Yesavailable discounts
- Save 5% when you insure two or more pets on one policy
CompareCompareBasic
Get a Basic Pet Insurance policy from Coles Insurance and collect 10 Flybuys points for every $1 you spend in the pet aisle at Coles (max cap applies). All accidents and injuries covered, plus 4 specified illnesses covered. Up to 100% back on eligible vet bills. Cured pre-existing conditions covered. Exclusions, excess, limits, and T&Cs apply. Underwritten by Guild Insurance Limited.
- annual benefit limit
- $10,000
- benefit percentage
- 80%, 100%
- choice of excess
- $200
- choice of vet
- Yes
- available discounts
- Save 5% when you insure two or more pets on one policy
- accident only cover
- no
- accident and illness cover
- yes
- routine care
- No
- routine care limit
- N/A
- dog
- yes
- cat
- yes
- ct and mris
- Yes
- cruciate ligament condition limits
- Yes, up to $3,000
- hip joint surgery
- Yes
- total hip replacement
- Yes - for covered conditions
- tick paralysis
- Yes, up to $2,500
- dental cover
- No
- emergency boarding
- No
- theft or straying
- No
- death from illness
- No
- legal liability
- No
- overseas pet travel insurance
- No
- essential euthanasia
- Yes, up to $500
- maximum age in years
- 8
- minimum age in weeks
- 8
- waiting period
- 21 days for accidents and specified illnesses, waiting period waived for specified accidents, 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions
- special offers
- -
- pre approval process
- Written approval
- claims service
- Online claims
- other benefits
- -
- other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about Coles pet insurance
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Dog Plan
Get dental, physio and behaviour cover included as standard with Fetch 30k cover with no sub-limits. Your plan includes free 24/7 vet support and an all Aussie vet nurse team to manage claims. Claims are paid directly to your vet.
annual benefit limit
$30,000benefit percentage
80%, 90% or 100%choice of excess
$0 - $200choice of vet
Yesavailable discounts
- Get an extra 5% off your entire plan when two or more pets are covered under the same plan.
CompareCompareDog Plan
Get dental, physio and behaviour cover included as standard with Fetch 30k cover with no sub-limits. Your plan includes free 24/7 vet support and an all Aussie vet nurse team to manage claims. Claims are paid directly to your vet.
- annual benefit limit
- $30,000
- benefit percentage
- 80%, 90% or 100%
- choice of excess
- $0 - $200
- choice of vet
- Yes
- available discounts
- Get an extra 5% off your entire plan when two or more pets are covered under the same plan.
- accident only cover
- no
- accident and illness cover
- yes
- routine care
- No
- routine care limit
- n/a
- dog
- yes
- cat
- no
- ct and mris
- Yes
- cruciate ligament condition limits
- Yes
- hip joint surgery
- Yes
- total hip replacement
- Yes
- tick paralysis
- Yes
- dental cover
- Yes
- emergency boarding
- Up to 14 days
- theft or straying
- No - optional support with a social media campaign targeting up to 5,000 people in your postcode
- death from illness
- No
- legal liability
- No
- overseas pet travel insurance
- No
- essential euthanasia
- Yes
- maximum age in years
- 9
- minimum age in weeks
- 8
- waiting period
- 2 days for injury, 30 days illness, Cruciate rupture, Patellar Luxation, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) and Cherry Eye, has a 90-day waiting period.. Option to submit a video to have waiting period waived.
- special offers
- -
- pre approval process
- Ask your vet to submit a pre-approval and get the outcome in-app.
- claims service
- Claim in-app or your vet submits online.
- other benefits
- Free 24/7 vet support in-app. Physio, Behavior cover included. See PDS for more.
- other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about Fetch pet insurance
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* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
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