Veterinary Exam and Procedure Costs

When your dog, cat or other pet needs to see the vet, there are several factors that can impact the price of your final bill. Understanding some of the average costs is an important part of planning.

When to Take Your Pet to the Vet

Your pet may need to see a vet for many different reasons, and the cost depends on the type of vet visit. Common reasons to take a pet to the vet include:

• Routine veterinary visits. Routine veterinary exams are similar to human physicals. They’re meant to help keep your pet healthy by assessing overall wellness, treating any ongoing conditions and following up on any concerns you may have.
• Vaccinations. You may have to set up a series of appointments to ensure your pet gets the properly scheduled vaccination shots to help prevent conditions like rabies and Bordetella.
• Condition or illness. Maybe your pet isn’t drinking much water or has a suspicious cough. If so, you should take it in for a sick visit, where your vet will check baseline health and may recommend additional evaluations and testing to diagnose your pet’s condition and determine next steps.
• Emergencies. There may be a time that your pet needs immediate medical attention, which calls for an emergency vet visit. Emergency visits can mean the difference between life and death, and the cost of an emergency vet visit will likely be higher due to specialized equipment and treatments.
• Surgical or specialty visits. Your pet may need to see a specialist to set up surgical procedures like spaying or neutering, dental extractions, fracture repairs, foreign object removal or cancer-related surgery or chemotherapy treatment.

Cost of a Vet Visit

During a routine veterinary appointment, your vet will perform a physical exam to assess your pet’s health. The vet will check vitals (heart rate, breathing, temperature, weight), signs of infection (ears, eyes, nose, mouth) and parasites (coat and skin).¹

The national average cost* for a routine vet visit can range from $56 to $129 (dogs) and $57 to $130 (cats). The total cost will vary based on location of the clinic, type of practice (specialty, emergency vet and/or general practice), required vaccines or tests, pet’s age and health, additional treatments (like flea prevention) and any supplementary procedures (like nail trimming or dental care).²

Cost of vet visit by state/district (dogs)

Here is a look at the average cost* of a vet visit for dogs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.²

State/District	Average cost
Alabama	$59
Alaska	$84
Arizona	$73
Arkansas	$58
California	$94
Colorado	$72
Connecticut	$76
Delaware	$69
District of Columbia	$97
Florida	$70
Georgia	$62
Hawaii	$127
Idaho	$69
Illinois	$64
Indiana	$62
Iowa	$61
Kansas	$58
Kentucky	$63
Louisiana	$63
Maine	$74
Maryland	$79
Massachusetts	$99
Michigan	$61
Minnesota	$64
Mississippi	$57
Missouri	$60
Montana	$70
Nebraska	$64
Nevada	$69
New Hampshire	$76
New Jersey	$77
New Mexico	$63
New York	$83
North Carolina	$66
North Dakota	$62
Ohio	$64
Oklahoma	$58
Oregon	$75
Pennsylvania	$64
Rhode Island	$76
South Carolina	$66
South Dakota	$63
Tennessee	$62
Texas	$63
Utah	$70
Vermont	$78
Virginia	$69
Washington	$77
West Virginia	$57
Wisconsin	$66
Wyoming	$65

View All

Cost of vet visit by state/district (cats)

Here is a look at the average cost* of a vet visit for cats in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.²

State/District	Average cost
Alabama	$61
Alaska	$86
Arizona	$75
Arkansas	$60
California	$96
Colorado	$73
Connecticut	$78
Delaware	$70
District of Columbia	$98
Florida	$71
Georgia	$63
Hawaii	$129
Idaho	$71
Illinois	$65
Indiana	$63
Iowa	$62
Kansas	$60
Kentucky	$64
Louisiana	$64
Maine	$75
Maryland	$80
Massachusetts	$101
Michigan	$63
Minnesota	$66
Mississippi	$58
Missouri	$61
Montana	$71
Nebraska	$65
Nevada	$70
New Hampshire	$77
New Jersey	$79
New Mexico	$65
New York	$85
North Carolina	$67
North Dakota	$63
Ohio	$65
Oklahoma	$59
Oregon	$77
Pennsylvania	$66
Rhode Island	$78
South Carolina	$67
South Dakota	$64
Tennessee	$63
Texas	$64
Utah	$72
Vermont	$79
Virginia	$70
Washington	$79
West Virginia	$58
Wisconsin	$67
Wyoming	$66

View All

Routine Veterinary Exam Costs by Procedure

A routine veterinary exam is a good time to discuss any concerns you may have about your pet’s health and get preventive treatment for common health issues. For dogs and cats, your vet may recommend additional procedures like deworming, flea prevention and/or heartworm tests, with costs varying by location, species, pet size and other factors.²

Vet exam procedure costs (dogs)

Here’s a look at the average costs* of some common vet exams for dogs:²

Vet exam procedure costs (cats)

Here’s a look at the average costs* of some common vet exams for cats:²

Dog and Cat Vaccine Costs

On average, vaccinations for dogs and cats will cost between $22 and $96 and can help protect them from catching serious diseases, like rabies.²

Vaccination costs (dogs)

Here are the average costs* of some common vaccinations your dog may need:²

Vaccination costs (cats)

Here are the average costs* of some common vaccinations your cat may need:²

Veterinary Test and Diagnostic Costs

You’ll want to set up a special appointment with your vet if you think your pet is sick (or worse). For example, the following symptoms your pet may exhibit could require further evaluation, tests and diagnosis from your veterinarian:³

• Behavior changes
• Coat, skin or grooming changes
• Frequent coughing
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Labored breathing
• Lethargy or tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Strong odor changes
• Unusual vocalization
• Weight gain or loss

If your pet is exhibiting signs of an illness, your vet will likely want to run some tests to help determine what’s going on.

Vet test and diagnostic costs (dogs)

Here’s an overview of the average costs* of some common tests for your dog:²

Test or procedure	Average cost
Allergy testing (skin)	$296
Arthritis testing	$234
Arthritis testing with scans	$410
Blood pressure test	$36
Blood test (CBC)	$104
Blood test (chemistry panel)	$164
Blood test (glucose)	$39
Blood test (thyroid)	$125
Diabetes (diagnosis)	$436
Computed tomography (CT scan)	$1,615
Geriatric screening	$181
Hypothyroidism testing	$156
Ultrasound	$483
Vision care (ophthalmoscopy)	$125
X-rays (two to three views)2	$172

View All

Vet test and diagnostic costs (cats)

Here’s an overview of the average costs* of some routine tests for your cat:²

Test or procedure	Average cost
Allergy testing (skin)	$227
Blood glucose test	$35
Blood pressure test	$35
Blood test (chemical panel)	$144
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) testing	$39
Computed tomography (CT scan)	$1,144
Fructosamine test	$108
Geriatric screening (basic)	$182
Ultrasound	$323
Urinalysis	$54
Urine test (culture)	$94
Urine test (microscope)	$45
Urine test (specific gravity)	$31
X-rays (two to three views)2	$158

View All

Once your vet has the results, they will provide a course of treatment to address the cause of your pet’s symptoms and hopefully help your fur baby feel better.

Cost of treatment for common conditions or illnesses (dogs)

Below is the average cost* of treating some common health problems your dog may experience:²

Condition or illness	Average cost
Allergy shot	$285
Arthritis (acupuncture)	$117/per session
Arthritis (joint supplements)	$33/month
Arthritis (pain relief NSAIDs)	$36/month
Arthritis (steroids)	$36/month
Bladder issues (tumors with radiation)	$6,243
Bladder issues (UTI)	$182
CCL TPLO surgery (per knee)	$3,525
Diabetes (initial treatment and meter)	$520
Diabetes (monthly treatment)	$182
Diarrhea (minor)	$185
Diarrhea (moderate)	$545
Diarrhea (severe)	$1,455
Ear infection	$154
Eye infection (blepharitis)	$31
Eye infection (corneal ulcers)	$722
Eye infection (keratitis)	$691
Eye infection (pink eye)	$345
Eye infection (uveitis)	$486
Hypothyroidism (medication: levothyroxine)	$26/quarter
Skin infection (atopic dermatitis)	$968
Skin infection (pyoderma)	$388
Skin infection (flea allergy)	$272
Skin infection (mange)	$307
Skin infection (ringworm)	$151
Skin infection (yeast infection)	$234
Sprains (exam and X-rays)	$213
Upper respiratory infection (mild)	$335
Upper respiratory infection (moderate)	$649
Upper respiratory infection (severe)	$2,671
Upset stomach	$390
Vision care (antibiotic eye drops or ointments)	$19
Vision care (anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments)	$31
Vision care (glaucoma medications)	$20

View All

Cost of treatment for common conditions or illnesses (cats)

Here’s a look at what it will cost to treat common illnesses in cats:²

Emergency Vet Care Costs

An emergency veterinarian visit is an unscheduled trip to the vet to get help for your pet in an urgent or critical situation. There are many reasons you might need to take a pet to see an emergency veterinarian, such as:

• Toxins. When you know your pet has consumed foods or chemicals that are poisonous — like antifreeze, human medications, chocolate, insecticides, certain plants and other toxic substances — a visit to the emergency vet may be needed.⁴
• Trauma. This includes bite wounds, electrical shock or being hit by a car.
• Vomiting and diarrhea. Frequent vomiting and diarrhea can be signs that something serious is going on, like an obstruction, an infection or pancreatitis.⁵

The price of an emergency vet visit will depend on the situation, but due to specialized care and testing, it will likely be more expensive than a routine visit.

Emergency vet procedure costs (dogs)

Below are the costs for initial assessment, stabilization and treatment for common dog emergencies:²

Emergency vet procedure	Average cost
Emergency surgery (pyometra)2	$1,218
ER exam	$135
Hospitalization (emergency clinic)	$1,323
Hospitalization (veterinary clinic)	$619
IV catheter and one bag of fluid	$130
Oxygen therapy (large dogs)2	$1,861
Oxygen therapy (small dogs)2	$1,194
Pain medication (carprofen/Rimadyl®)	$36
Pain medication (deracoxib/Deramaxx®)	$77
Pain medication (firocoxib/Previcox®)	$119
Pain medication (grapiprant/Galliprant®)	$88
Sedation (deep)	$244
Sedation (inhaled)	$198
Sedation (injectable)	$146
Sedation (light)	$173
Sedation (oral)	$39
Wound treatment (abrasions and scrapes)	$182
Wound treatment (abscesses)	$286
Wound treatment (bite wounds)	$519
Wound treatment (puncture wounds)	$857

View All

Emergency vet procedure costs (cats)

Here is a summary of common ER vet treatments and procedures for cats:²

Emergency vet procedure	Average cost
Emergency surgery (bladder stone)	$2,096
Emergency surgery (foreign body removal)	$2,367
Emergency surgery (pyometra)	$2,116
ER visit (base fee)	$143
Hospitalization (emergency clinic)	$1,144
Hospitalization (veterinary clinic)	$582/per day
IV catheter and one bag of fluid	$121
Pain medication (Gabapentin, 100 capsules)	$14
Pain medication (Meloxicam, 30 generic tablets)	$23
Pain medication (Robenacoxib, 3 tablets)	$13
Pain medication (Tramadol, 30 tablets)	$11
Sedation (deep)	$222
Sedation (inhaled)	$178
Sedation (injectable)	$123
Sedation (light)	$138
Sedation (oral)	$35
Wound treatment (abrasion)	$118
Wound treatment (abscess)	$296
Wound treatment (bite wound)	$276
Wound treatment (puncture wound)	$296

View All

Surgery and Specialty Treatment Costs

If your pet has an underlying condition, or something is discovered as a result of testing during a wellness check, your vet may recommend specialized treatment. The cost of these treatments ranges widely depending on the type of care needed and the type of animal.

Surgical and specialty treatment costs (dogs)

Here’s a look at some common surgical and specialty treatments and associated average costs* for dogs:²

Surgery or specialty treatment	Average cost
Bladder issues (stones: surgical)	$2,331
Cancer therapy	$5,254
Cataract surgery (per eye)	$3,782
CCL TPLO surgery (per knee)	$3,525
Colon tumor surgery (no chemo)	$4,110
Colon tumor surgery (with chemo)	$8,733
Dental disease/periodontitis (routine dental cleaning)	$379
Heart murmur (echocardiogram)	$78
Heart murmur (electrocardiogram)	$301
Heart murmur (medication: ACE inhibitors)	$24
Heart murmur (medication: anti-arrhythmic)	$36
Heart murmur (medication: beta blockers)	$24
Heart murmur (medication: pimobendan)	$62
Hernia surgery (diaphragmatic)	$3,103
Hernia surgery (hiatal)	$2,496
Hernia surgery (inguinal)	$1,243
Hernia surgery (initial exam)	$504
Hernia surgery (perineal)	$2,599
Hernia surgery (umbilical)	$955
Microchipping	$48
Neuter (over 6 months)	$487
Spay (over 6 months, small or medium dog)	$455
Ingested foreign body (non-emergency enterotomy)	$4,383
Vision care (corneal retinal surgery)	$2,909
Vision care (corneal ulcer treatment)	$364
Vision care (fluorescein staining)	$44
Vision care (ophthalmoscopy)	$125
Vision care (Schirmer tear test)	$57
Vision care (tonometry)	$68

View All

Surgical and specialty treatment costs (cats)

We’ve outlined the average costs* of common surgeries and specialty treatments specific to cats:²