How much is an emergency vet visit without insurance?

Pets have a knack for getting sick or injured at the worst possible time. It is usually between the last episode of your current Netflix series or on a holiday when you have already spent money on all the bookings and now you’ve got to cancel the skydive and run to the vet.

The cost of an emergency vet visit will depend on several factors, mainly the reason for which you’ve taken your pet there. The cost of an emergency vet visit for a dog can range anywhere between $150 and $5,000. For a cat, the visit may set you back anywhere from $150 to $3,000.⁽¹⁾

To understand this better, you must understand what qualifies as an emergency vet visit, when you will need it, and what to expect during such a visit.

What is an Emergency Vet Visit?

An unexpected trip to the veterinarian for urgent, often life-threatening situations that require immediate medical attention is called an emergency vet visit. It is for instances when your pet suddenly falls ill, gets injured, or does something absolutely reckless, like eating the sock you just removed or attempting parkour off the kitchen counter as if they actually have 9 lives.

How is an Emergency Vet Clinic different from a normal one?

Emergency vet clinics operate outside normal business hours, usually 24/7 (because they wouldn’t call it an emergency if the incidents happened only during the day). They specialize in handling critical conditions such as poisoning, severe wounds, breathing difficulties, or a blocked urinary tract.

When should you take your pet to an Emergency Vet Clinic?

As a pet parent, you must be on a constant lookout for signs that require immediate attention. And at the same time, you must know the difference between what an emergency is and what can wait till the vet opens the next day.

Below are the signs indicated by the American Veterinary Medical Association that require immediate attention⁽⁵⁾

What to Do During a Pet Emergency

The very first thing you should do if you spot any of the signs above in your pet is to try to contact your family vet. If that option is not available, try to get in touch with the nearest veterinary emergency clinic or animal hospital.

It’ll be difficult for them to provide a diagnosis on the call, but they will definitely be able to help you with first-aid instructions and whether your pet needs to be brought in.

It is highly recommended to always have a pet-friendly first-aid kit in your home. Here are the things the kit should include, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association:⁽⁴⁾

How much does an Emergency Vet Visit cost without Insurance?

Emergency vet visits are usually more expensive because of the urgent nature of services, specialized care, and the fact that pets only seem to get sick at the most inconvenient times.

The national average cost for an emergency vet exam ranges from $96 to $236 for dogs and $94 to $228 for cats, depending on various factors. ⁽²⁾

Below are the average costs of common emergencies in cats: ⁽³⁾

And here are some average costs for common emergencies in dogs: ⁽¹⁾

Please note that these are only approximate averages. The actual cost may depend on your pet’s condition, the type of facility you use, expert services needed, etc.

These are the costs you may have to bear if your pet is not covered by pet insurance. There are ways to help prevent these costs, like

However, there are always going to be some instances that you cannot avoid. And for such instances, it is important that you be financially prepared to offer the best care to your pet. Pet insurance can help with that.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Emergency Vet Visits?

With pet insurance, you can get reimbursed up to 90% of the emergency vet visit costs as long as the condition or accident is covered by the insurance plan.

With Spot Pet, you can get help with coverage for not only the covered vet visit costs, but also costs like alternate therapies, prescription diets, specialist vet visits, and many more.

More About Spot Pet Insurance

Spot accident and illness plans can be used with any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Whether you are home or traveling to the U.S., veterinary services your pet receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of covered conditions can be eligible for reimbursement. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions, including broken bones, lacerations, aggression, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. With the addition of Wellness Riders for an extra cost, you can also receive reimbursements for wellness exams, certain vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more.

Learn more about dog insurance or get a free quote!