How Much Does a Vet Checkup Cost?

Routine vet checkups cost $70–$174 for dogs and $53–$124 for cats, according to CareCredit¹. Costs vary by location, the services included in the visit, and whether additional testing is needed. Dog parents spend an average of $598 per year on veterinary care, and cat parents average $529 per year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association².

What Does a Routine Vet Checkup Include?

A routine wellness exam is a head-to-tail health assessment with no specific concern driving it. During a standard checkup, your vet will typically:

This baseline check gives your vet a reference point for your pet’s normal health and helps identify problems early. A routine checkup is distinct from a sick visit, which addresses a specific concern and usually involves additional diagnostic work — and a higher bill.

How Much Is a Dog Checkup?

Routine dog checkups run $70–$174, according to CareCredit¹. That range covers the exam itself. Costs climb at visits where your dog is due for multiple vaccines, a heartworm test, or additional preventive care.

Common add-ons during a dog wellness visit include:

If an issue is found during the exam — an ear infection, skin condition, or early dental disease — treatment costs stack on top of the exam fee. Conditions requiring surgery or specialist care add substantially more to the total.

How Much Is a Cat Checkup?

Routine cat exams typically cost $53–$124, according to CareCredit¹. According to the AVMA², 40.9% of cat parents visit the vet once per year, compared to just 25.5% of dog parents — cats tend to require fewer visits, but their annual costs are comparable.

Cat wellness exams cover the same general elements as dog exams. Additional costs at a cat visit often include:

Dental disease is common in cats by middle age, meaning many cat checkups lead to a dental cleaning recommendation. For a full breakdown of what dental procedures cost, see how much pet dental care costs.

What Do Pet Owners Spend on Vet Care Each Year?

Annual vet spending varies based on your pet’s age, health status, and how often they visit. According to the AVMA², dog parents spend an average of $598 per year on veterinary care and cat parents spend $529 per year, with the average individual vet visit costing $200.² Of pet parents surveyed, 69.4% visited a veterinary practice in the past year, and 16.4% of cat parents cited cost as the main reason for skipping care.²

These figures cover routine care. Costs climb significantly when sick visits, emergency treatment, or procedures like surgery and dental work are added. For context on what emergency care involves, see what to expect at an emergency vet visit.

Does Pet Insurance Help With Vet Checkup Costs?

Standard accident and illness pet insurance plans are designed for unexpected illness and injury costs — not routine wellness exams. Checkup fees, vaccinations, and preventive medications are typically excluded from base policies.

Pet parents who want routine vet costs reimbursed have two main options:

For a full overview of what standard plans include, see what pet insurance covers. For how wellness add-ons work, see pet insurance with preventive care coverage.

Even without routine care coverage, accident and illness plans can help reduce the cost of conditions found during a checkup that require treatment — a detected lump, an early infection, or dental disease that needs intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pet insurance cover routine vet checkups?

Standard accident and illness plans generally don’t cover routine exam fees — they’re designed for unexpected events, not predictable wellness visits. A preventive care or wellness add-on to a base policy helps reimburse routine exams, certain vaccines, and dental cleanings up to an annual limit. Check your policy or ask your insurer what’s included before your appointment.

How often should I take my dog or cat to the vet?

Annual wellness exams are the standard recommendation for healthy adult pets. Puppies and kittens need more frequent visits for vaccination series and early development monitoring. Senior pets — generally dogs over 7 and cats over 10 — benefit from twice-yearly checkups to catch age-related conditions early. Your vet will recommend a schedule based on your pet’s age, breed, and history.

What’s the difference between a routine checkup and a sick visit?

A routine checkup is a scheduled wellness exam with no specific concern driving it — your vet evaluates your pet’s baseline health and performs due preventive care. A sick visit addresses a specific symptom (vomiting, limping, lethargy) and usually includes diagnostics like bloodwork or imaging. Sick visits typically cost more than routine exams due to the additional diagnostic work.

What factors drive vet checkup costs higher?

Geographic location has the biggest impact — costs in urban areas and high cost-of-living regions are consistently higher. Other factors include the number of vaccinations due at the visit, whether bloodwork or urinalysis is performed, any findings that require same-day treatment, and your pet’s age and health status. Senior pets and those with chronic conditions tend to have higher annual vet costs than young, healthy animals.

Unexpected vet bills can happen when you least expect them, but pet insurance may help make those costs more manageable. Having coverage in place can help pet parents feel more prepared for emergency care, surgery, diagnostics, and treatment for covered conditions.

Spot Pet Insurance offers dog insurance plans starting at $15/month^ and cat insurance plans starting at $9/month^^, helping to make it easier to find coverage that fits your budget. Spot also makes filing claims simple with a digital claims process that lets pet parents submit a claim in 60 seconds or less. Get a free quote.

Behind every claim is a pet parent who got to say yes to their pet's care. Read their stories and see what peace of mind really looks like.

_{^ Advertised premium is based on an accident and illness plan with an 80% reimbursement rate, $500 annual deductible, and a $2,500 annual limit for a 2-year-old small mixed dog (11-25lbs) in 32009. Plan costs vary.}

_{^^ Advertised premium is based on an accident and illness plan with an 80% reimbursement rate, $750 annual deductible, and a $2,500 annual limit for a 2-year-old mixed cat in 33801. Plan costs vary.}