Average Vet Costs by Procedure (2026 Updated Prices)

These are the predictable, plannable vet costs that every pet owner should budget for annually:

Annual wellness exam: $50–$150 (US), £30–£80 (UK), A$50–$120 (AU)

Annual vaccinations (dog): $75–$200 (core vaccines: distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, rabies)

Annual vaccinations (cat): $50–$120 (core vaccines: panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus)

Flea and tick prevention (annual): $150–$300 (spot-on or oral treatment)

Heartworm prevention (dogs, annual): $50–$120

Faecal exam: $25–$75

Professional dental cleaning (under anaesthesia): $300–$800 (dogs), $200–$600 (cats)

Surgical costs vary significantly by procedure complexity, animal size, and facility:

Spay/neuter: $200–$600 (dogs), $150–$400 (cats). Size is a major factor — neutering a large-breed dog costs more than neutering a small one.

Cruciate ligament repair (TPLO surgery, dogs): $3,500–$7,000 per leg. One of the most common and most expensive orthopaedic procedures in dogs.

Hip replacement (large breed dogs): $4,000–$7,000 per hip

Cataract surgery: $2,700–$4,500 per eye

Caesarean section: $800–$2,500

Abdominal exploratory surgery: $1,500–$4,000 (commonly performed for foreign body ingestion)

Diagnostic costs are often the surprise element of a vet bill. Before any treatment can begin, the vet needs to understand what is wrong:

Blood panel (full chemistry + CBC): $100–$250

Urinalysis: $50–$100

X-ray (one view): $150–$300

Ultrasound (abdominal): $300–$600

MRI: $1,500–$3,500

Biopsy and histopathology: $150–$500

CT scan: $1,500–$3,000

These costs accumulate quickly in a single appointment. A dog presenting with vomiting might require a blood panel, urinalysis, and X-ray — $350–$650 in diagnostics before any treatment.

Emergency vet visits carry a significant premium over routine appointments:

Emergency consultation fee: $100–$250 (on top of procedure costs)

After-hours surcharge: 20–50% above standard rates

Overnight hospitalisation: $500–$1,500 per night (includes monitoring and nursing care)

IV fluids and catheter: $200–$400/day

Oxygen therapy: $100–$200/day

A dog hospitalised for 48 hours after emergency surgery might accumulate $3,000–$6,000 in total costs — surgery plus diagnostics plus hospitalisation — before they are discharged.