How much is a vet visit?

A vet visit can cost you anywhere from $410 for annual routine medical costs and preventative medication to $5,000 or more to treat more serious injuries. ⁽¹⁾

It’s important to understand how vet visits work, what to expect during a vet visit, what factors can affect the cost, etc., so keep reading. We’ll cover each of these in detail below –

Vet Visits: An Introduction

Vet visits are a very important part of pet parenting. They help ensure that your pet remains healthy, receives necessary vaccinations, and gets timely treatment for any medical issues. But the benefits do not just stop at the pet’s health. They help strengthen the relationship between you and your pet as well.

The pet's first vet visit will usually be when they are around 8 weeks old. If you've adopted an older pet, you should take them to the vet within the first few days of getting them home.

Now, to understand what to expect during a vet visit, you must know the different reasons for visiting a vet.

Types of Vet Visits

While the above are the most common kinds of vet visits, there can be others like geriatric visits for senior pets, , behavioral and training consultations, and end-of-life visits.

How Much is a Vet Visit for a Dog?

The average cost of a routine vet visit is between $50 - $85. In states like New Jersey and New York, you can expect it to be on the upper end of this spectrum, while in states like Kansas, Wyoming, West Virginia, etc. the cost would be around $60. ⁽²⁾

The cost, however, does not include any diagnostic tests. Your vet may ask to run additional tests if any signs of infection or any other medical condition are visible during the examination. Here are the average costs for common tests – ⁽³⁾

If you're taking your dog to the vet because they're feeling sick, the cost can vary depending on they're symptoms. Here are the average costs for some of the most common health conditions in dogs. ⁽²⁾

How Much is a Vet Visit for a Cat?

The average cost of a vet visit for a cat is between $25-$186. A lot of factors affect the cost, like the age of the cat, the nature of the visit, your location, the type of facility, etc. Below are some average costs for specific vet visits for a cat – ⁽⁴⁾

The cost of diagnostic tests for cats are similar to that for dogs. Here are average costs for common health conditions in cats -

We know that we’ve not mentioned the average costs of surgery. That’s because we’ve written an entire article on ‘Does pet insurance cover surgery?’ You’ll get a detailed idea of the average costs of different kinds of pet surgeries.

Now, to the most important part of this article -

How to Save on the Cost of Vet Visits?

In a survey published by MarketWatch, 16% of pet parents lost a pet because they could not afford vet care. Roughly 83% of pet parents required at least one vet visit in a year, and 25% of them required emergency vet visits. ⁽⁵⁾

With pet insurance, pet parents can get reimbursed up to 90% of covered vet bills. With Spot Pet Insurance, you can not only save up to 90% of the covered medical costs, but also costs like alternative therapies, specialist vet visits, prescription diets, and many more.

Routine vet visits, however, are often not covered by basic plans. However, some insurers offer wellness add-ons for an additional cost that can help with the cost of routine visits. Learn more about wellness add-ons.

Spot Facts!*

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!