US pet care cost database
Know the bill before the estimate
12 itemized guides to what dog and cat veterinary care actually costs in the US — surgery, emergencies, dental work, and diagnostics — plus the insurance math that decides who pays.
| Procedure | Typical US cost | Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Cancer Treatment Cost | $3,000–$12,000 | Often covered |
| Dog ACL Surgery Cost in 2026 | $3,500–$7,000 | Usually covered |
| Dog Foreign Body Surgery Cost | $2,000–$6,000 | Usually covered |
| Cat Urethral Blockage Cost | $1,500–$3,500 | Usually covered |
| Cat Hyperthyroidism Treatment Cost | $1,200–$2,500 | Often covered |
| Dog Dental Cleaning Cost in 2026 | $300–$900 | Sometimes |
| Cat Dental Cleaning Cost | $300–$800 | Sometimes |
| Dog Spay Cost | $250–$700 | Rarely covered |
Run the numbers
Two calculators, no sign-up, same data as the guides.
Insurance break-even calculator
Enter your premium, deductible, and expected vet spending. See the annual cost with and without a policy, and the spending level where it starts paying for itself.
Emergency visit cost estimator
Pick the symptom — vomiting, a swallowed object, a cat straining to urinate — and get an urgency level plus a realistic bill range before you drive.
Emergency costs
The bills people cannot plan for. Read these before you need them.
Why we only publish prices
There is no shortage of pet care advice. There is a shortage of straight answers about money.
Ranges, not averages
The same TPLO is $3,000 in a rural practice and $7,500 in a coastal referral hospital. A single average would hide the decision you actually have to make.
Coverage first
A $6,000 surgery that is usually covered is a different financial event from a $500 cleaning that is usually excluded. Every guide states which one you are looking at.
Sourced and dated
Each page lists its review date and the inputs behind the range. Read the methodology →
No miracle cures
We do not sell supplements, and we do not tell you to skip care to save money. When a symptom is an emergency, we say so before discussing the bill.
Everyday care guides
Food, hydration, home safety, and travel — the routines that prevent bills.