How much does a vet visit cost?
How much does a vet visit cost on average? A vet visit may cost between $50 and $250, not including the cost of services provided during exams or treatment plans. The cost of vet care is likely to differ based on your location, the type of pet you have, and your pet's health history. The good news is pet insurance can help you save on the cost of a vet visit and emergency care.
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Tracey L. Wells
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Tracey L. Wells is a licensed insurance agent and Farmers insurance agency owner with 23 years of experience. He is proud to be a local Farmers agent serving Grayson, Georgia and surrounding areas. With experience as both an underwriter and agent, he provides his customers with insight that others agents may not have. His agency offers all lines of insurance including home, life, auto, RV, busi...
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UPDATED: Jan 8, 2024
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And many of the companies we review do not pay us anything. We simply rate, compare and review their plan because we feel it will be valuable to you. Our reviews are guaranteed to be unbiased, professional and advertising compensation does not influence rankings.
We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about pet insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything pet insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by pet insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jan 8, 2024
Pet Insurance U receives compensation from the third parties included on this site. This includes payment for clicks from our site to insurance providers’ sites and quote requests generated. Our rankings and reviews are not affected by payments from the insurance companies. The compensation we receive allows the site to be free and regularly updated. Our goal is to review every pet insurance provider, but not all companies are listed on the site.
And many of the companies we review do not pay us anything. We simply rate, compare and review their plan because we feel it will be valuable to you. Our reviews are guaranteed to be unbiased, professional and advertising compensation does not influence rankings.
On This Page
- The average vet visit could cost between $50 and $250, but your vet costs will vary based on the type of pet you have, your pet’s health history, your location, and more
- Vet costs for cats are likely to be less than vet costs for dogs
- Pet insurance could help you pay for emergency vet care
Pet ownership has increased, and pets are treated more like family members than before. The betterment of pets’ care means that quality veterinary care is in high demand. As a result, people are more willing to spend money on their pets and bring them to regular checkups. However, this has also contributed to an increase in vet prices.
If you’re wondering, “How much does a vet visit cost?” continue reading below to find information on the cost of primary veterinary care, the difference between vet costs for cats and dogs, and how much emergency vet care may cost.
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How much does a vet visit cost?
Unfortunately for pet owners, the cost of veterinary care has been steadily increasing since the early 2000s and faster than the Consumer Price Index. This means that vet visits are becoming increasingly expensive in proportion to other price increases and income.
How much does a vet check-up cost? Let’s begin by looking at the average vet visit cost along with some prices for commonly-needed vet care:
Average Cost of Vet Visits and Common Vet Care
Type of Vet Care | Average Cost |
---|---|
Vet Check Up | $50 - $250 |
Spay or Neuter | $160 - $220 |
Vaccination | $15 - $28 |
Physical Exam | $45- $55 |
Fecal Exam | $25 - $45 |
Heartworm Test | $45 - $50 |
Dental Cleaning | $70 - $400 |
Allergy Testing | $195 - $300 |
Geriatric Screening | $85 - $110 |
The vet pricing for each service will vary depending on different factors, such as your location, the type of pet you have and breed, and your pet’s health history. Smaller pets are generally cheaper for vet care, while larger or older animals may cost more.
How much is a vet visit for a cat?
How much do vet visits cost for cats? Cats are likely to be less expensive than dogs, but vet costs for cats can still add up over time. Let’s look at some of the more complex vet care costs for cats:
Complex and Emergency Vet Care Costs for Cats
Vet Service | Average Cost for Cats |
---|---|
Cancer Treatment | $3,282 |
Chemotherapy | $4,000 |
Diabetes Treatment | $1,634 |
Ophthalmology | $227 |
Stomach Foreign Object | $2,955 |
Broken Bone | $2,257 |
Arthritis Treatment | $490 |
Dental Disease/Periodontitis | $768 |
Bladder/Urinary Tract Infection | $1,053 |
Kidney Disease Treatment | $1,318 |
Heart Murmur | $1,440 |
The estimated first-year cost for vet care for a cat is $1,174. However, the average lifetime cost for vet care for cats is $9,150.
How much is a vet visit for a dog?
How much is a vet check-up for dogs? Dogs are likely to be more expensive than smaller pets. For example, a dog surgery cost is expected to be more costly than the equivalent surgery for a cat. Let’s begin by looking at a veterinary price list for some more complex vet care costs for dogs:
Complex and Emergency Vet Care Costs for Dogs
Vet Service | Average Cost for Dogs |
---|---|
Cancer Treatment | $4,137 |
Chemotherapy | $4,000 |
Diabetes Treatment | $2,892 |
Ophthalmology | $319 |
Stomach Foreign Object | $3,262 |
Broken Bone | $2,371 |
Arthritis Treatment | $724 |
Dental Disease/Periodontitis | $519 |
Bladder/Urinary Tract Infection | $424 |
Heart Murmur | $1,140 |
The average cost of vet visits for dogs in their first year is $1,471 for small dogs, $1,779 for medium dogs, and $2,008 for large dogs. However, the vet price for a dog over its lifetime could range between $7,565 and $19,060.
Your dog’s breed may be a primary determinant in the cost of vet care. In addition, some breeds will be more likely to deal with specific health issues, such as ACL tears, bladder stones, brachiocephalic syndrome, cancer, ear infections, hip dysplasia, knee and elbow dislocation, and slipped discs.
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How much is an emergency vet visit?
Fortunately, most veterinarian clinics have some time for walk-in vet services for emergencies, but how much does an emergency vet visit cost? This will vary based on the severity of the situation, but let’s take a look at typical emergency vet costs:
Average Cost of Emergency Vet Care
Emergency Vet Care Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Emergency Room Exam | $75 - $125 |
IV Catheter | $60 - $75 |
IV Fluids | $50 - $75 |
Blood Tests | $75 - $150 |
Urine Tests | $25 - $50 |
X-Rays | $75 - $250 |
Blood Pressure Measurement | $25 - $75 |
Pain Medication | $40 - $80 |
Hospitalization/Vet Tech Monitoring | $50 - $200 |
These costs do not include the cost of treatment. These are the essential services needed to diagnose your pet and determine what kinds of treatment they need. On top of these emergency vet costs, you’ll need to pay for your pet’s treatment as needed.
Should I buy pet insurance?
Pet insurance allows you to be reimbursed for your vet bills. Many companies will reimburse up to 80%-100% of your out-of-pocket expenses after meeting your deductible. Most pet insurance plans will cover the following:
- Unexpected accidents, injuries, or illnesses
- Surgeries
- Prescription medication
- Testing and diagnostic services
- Emergency exam costs
There are different pet insurance plans based on what you would like coverage for. For example, some plans will only cover accidents, some will cover accidents and illnesses, and others will cover accidents, illnesses, and wellness care.
The average monthly rate for pet insurance is $47 for dogs and $29 for cats, generally more manageable than the hefty bills for emergency vet care.
If you want to protect yourself against paying large vet bills, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below to find affordable pet insurance rates near you.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap pet insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Tracey L. Wells
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
Tracey L. Wells is a licensed insurance agent and Farmers insurance agency owner with 23 years of experience. He is proud to be a local Farmers agent serving Grayson, Georgia and surrounding areas. With experience as both an underwriter and agent, he provides his customers with insight that others agents may not have. His agency offers all lines of insurance including home, life, auto, RV, busi...
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about pet insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything pet insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by pet insurance experts.