Home›Procedures

Veterinary Procedure Cost Guide (2026)

National average costs for common vet procedures — dogs vs cats comparison

🦷 Dental

Dental Cleaning

National Avg

$280–$650

Professional teeth cleaning under anesthesia to remove tartar, plaque, and assess dental health.

🐕 Dog

$300–$700

🐈 Cat

$250–$550

Includes: Anesthesia, scaling, polishing, dental X-rays (sometimes), full oral exam

Cost factors: Number of extractions needed, pre-anesthetic bloodwork, pet size

🩺 Wellness

Flea & Tick Prevention (Annual)

National Avg

$80–$200

Monthly or quarterly preventive treatments to protect against fleas, ticks, and related diseases.

🐕 Dog

$100–$220

🐈 Cat

$60–$150

Includes: 12 months of topical or oral prevention (brand varies)

Cost factors: Pet weight, product brand, prescription vs OTC

✂️ Surgery

Spay (Female)

National Avg

$260–$500

Surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus to prevent pregnancy and reduce risk of certain cancers.

🐕 Dog

$280–$550

🐈 Cat

$200–$400

Includes: Pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, surgery, monitoring, pain medication, post-op instructions

Cost factors: Pet weight, age, pre-surgical bloodwork (optional), clinic type

🩺 Wellness

Routine Consultation / Exam

National Avg

$65–$110

A standard wellness exam where the vet checks your pet's overall health, weight, heart, lungs, teeth, and eyes.

🐕 Dog

$65–$110

🐈 Cat

$55–$95

Includes: Physical examination, weight check, vital signs, ear/eye/teeth check, parasite screening recommendation

Cost factors: City, clinic type (corporate vs independent), pet size and age

💉 Vaccination

Core Vaccinations

National Avg

$45–$95

Essential vaccines protecting against life-threatening diseases like rabies, distemper, and parvo.

🐕 Dog

$50–$100

🐈 Cat

$40–$85

Includes: Rabies, DHPP (dogs) or FVRCP (cats), Bordetella (dogs), exam fee may be separate

Cost factors: Number of vaccines, whether exam fee is bundled, clinic type

🔬 Diagnostics

Heartworm Test

National Avg

$35–$75

Blood test to detect heartworm infection, essential for dogs in mosquito-prone areas.

🐕 Dog

$35–$75

🐈 Cat

$45–$85

Includes: Blood draw, rapid antigen test, results within 10 minutes

Cost factors: Clinic type, whether bundled with wellness exam

🚨 Emergency

Emergency Visit

National Avg

$150–$500

After-hours or urgent care visit for sudden illness, injury, or life-threatening conditions.

🐕 Dog

$175–$600

🐈 Cat

$150–$500

Includes: Triage, examination, basic diagnostics, stabilization

Cost factors: Time of day, severity, additional treatments required

✂️ Surgery

Neuter (Male)

National Avg

$200–$420

Surgical removal of the testes to prevent reproduction and reduce behavioral issues.

🐕 Dog

$220–$450

🐈 Cat

$150–$320

Includes: Pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, surgery, monitoring, post-op care

Cost factors: Pet weight, age, clinic type, geographic location

🔬 Diagnostics

X-Ray / Radiograph

National Avg

$120–$280

Imaging used to evaluate bones, organs, and detect foreign objects, tumors, or injuries.

🐕 Dog

$130–$300

🐈 Cat

$100–$240

Includes: 1-3 radiograph views, radiologist review, sedation if needed

Cost factors: Number of views, need for sedation, body area imaged

🔬 Diagnostics

Blood Panel / CBC

National Avg

$80–$200

Comprehensive blood test evaluating organ function, blood cell counts, and detecting disease.

🐕 Dog

$85–$210

🐈 Cat

$75–$190

Includes: Complete Blood Count (CBC), basic metabolic panel, organ function markers

Cost factors: In-house vs send-out lab, panels included, clinic type

See Actual Prices in Your City

National averages are a starting point. Local prices vary significantly.

Browse All Cities →