A vet visit can cost you anywhere from $180 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
Routine wellness checkup – This includes an overall physical exam, weight check, and a check for congenital issues, followed by preventive care advice. It is important to detect diseases early on.
Vaccination – Core vaccines usually start around 6-8 weeks of age and require boosters in the following months. Non-core vaccines might be recommended by a vet based on the pet’s lifestyle.
Sick visits – Are needed when a pet shows signs of illness like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, etc. They may also include services like diagnostic tests, including blood work and X-rays.
Emergency visits – If a pet experiences a serious health scare, like poisoning, a severe accident, difficulty breathing, etc., and cannot wait for an appointment to be seen by a vet, they should be taken to an emergency animal clinic. These clinics are open into the evening, with some operating 24 hours a day.
Surgeries – These can be for a minor surgery like spaying/ neutering, tooth removals, etc., or a major one like tumor removal, orthopedic surgeries, etc.
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 $80 - $1501 depending on your location and the services rendered by the vet.
The cost, however, does not include any diagnostic tests. Your vet may feel the need to conduct some tests if any signs of infection or any other medical condition are visible during the examination. The average costs of the same are – 2,3
Vet wellness profile and blood tests - $151
Deworming medication - $77
Diagnostic imaging - $75 - $150
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 –2
Vet wellness profile and blood tests - $151
Dental cleaning - $743
Spaying or neutering - $673-$833
We know all these numbers can look scary. In a survey, 50% of pet parents didn't bring their pets to a vet or declined recommended care because they could not afford the costs.4
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.
Can Pet Insurance Help With the Costs of Vet Visits?
In a survey, 50% of pet parents didn't bring their pets to a vet or declined recommended care because they could not afford the costs.4
With Spot pet insurance plans, pet parents can get reimbursed up to 90% of covered vet bills.* Covered expenses can also include eligible costs of alternative therapies, specialist vet visits, prescription diets, and much more.
Routine vet visits, however, are not covered by basic plans. However, some providers, like Spot, offer wellness add-ons for an additional cost that can help with the eligible costs of routine visits. Learn more about wellness add-ons.
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!
I've had the privilege of immersing myself in the realm of pet safety. As the owner of an energetic mini golden doodle, I know just how stressful being a pet owner can be. I am dedicated to ensuring our beloved pets enjoy a life brimming with good health.
*Reimbursement rate is based on your pet's age at enrollment and renewal.
"Are veterinary services expensive in Canada?" iFinance, Aug. 28 2025, https://ifinancecanada.com/are-veterinary-services-expensive-in-canada/.
"How to Budget for a Family Pet in Canada." MyDoh, May 17 2023, https://www.mydoh.ca/learn/blog/lifestyle/how-to-budget-for-a-family-pet-in-canada/.
"The Cost of Dog Parenthood in 2025." The Dog People by Rover, n.d., https://www.rover.com/ca/blog/cost-of-dog-parenthood/.
"State of Pet Care Study." Gallup, 2025, https://www.gallup.com/analytics/659123/gallup-petsmart-charities.aspx.
The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian.
