How Much Does the Vet Cost Without Insurance?

Veterinary costs without insurance can range from $410 for annual routine and preventative medication to $5,000 or more for treating more serious injuries.⁽¹⁾

Being a pet parent is all fun and games till you have to go to a vet, and at the end, you hear the words – “That’ll be $500”, and you’re like “Whaaaatt? But the dog did not even have a major disease.” And if this is not shocking enough for you, the next words that you probably hear will be, “If it was a major disease, there would have been another zero.”

And if you’re a cat parent and are probably laughing at the dog parents, thinking that you avoided this, you’re probably wrong. Ask an experienced cat parent, and they will tell you that “independent and low-maintenance pets” is a big fluffy lie.

Here are the average vet costs that you can expect for dogs and cats –

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 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 – ⁽³⁾

And if you’re taking your dog to the vet for the treatment of a specific medical condition, the average costs of some of them are as below. ⁽²⁾

And in case your dog has to be treated for a major surgery, get ready for a big hole in your pocket. 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.

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 diagnostics is similar to those for dogs. In case the vet visit is for a specific treatment, below are the average costs of some of them –

We know all these numbers can look scary. And they are. In a survey, 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. 25% of them required emergency vet visits. ⁽⁵⁾

How often should I take my pet to the Vet?

The recommended frequency of vet visits for your pet usually depends on the age of the pet.

Kittens - They need a good amount of attention and care. You should plan your first vet visit during the first week of the kitty at your home. It is also recommended that you do not adopt a kitty that’s under 6 weeks of age.

Adult cats – An annual wellness exam is recommended for all cats above the age of 1. It is important to catch diseases and medical conditions early.

Puppies – Just like kittens, more frequent vet visits are important for puppies too. You should plan appointments every 3-4 weeks for vaccinations and wellness checks until they are around 16 weeks old.

Adult dogs – Dogs above the age of 1 should have annual wellness vet visits to identify diseases and other conditions at an early stage.

Apart from scheduling vet visits for wellness exams, you should take your pet to the vet if you see any of the following symptoms – ⁽⁶⁾

How to Save Vet Visit Costs for Pets?

You may not be able to prevent all the costs. This is where pet insurance can play a major role. You can save up to 90% of the covered costs related to treatments for dogs and cats. Routine vet visits, however, may not be covered by basic plans. However, some insurers do have a wellness add-on that can help cover routine visits as well.

Spot Facts!*

You probably do not have pet insurance yet (just guessing from the title of the article).

Spot Pet insurance can help provide financial assistance for eligible veterinary care in case of unexpected accidents, illnesses, or injuries. Our plans can help pet parents manage the eligible costs of covered veterinary care and help ensure that their pets can receive the best treatment possible. Here are some ways that Spot pet insurance plans can help:

Spot's also offers preventive care add-ons, which can help cover the eligible costs of spaying and neutering, dental cleaning, vaccinations, and other routine care services.

Get a quote today!