How much does a vet visit cost?

Vet checkup cost

The exam fee is the base price of a checkup. Lemonade puts a basic checkup at $60 to $80 and the visit fee in general at $50 to $150, separate from treatment and tests.^[1] For dogs 7 and older, a senior screening adds $85 to $110.^[1] If your pet is sick rather than due for a checkup, the exam costs more: Lemonade lists a thorough dog exam at $100 to $300 or more plus tests.^[1]

Average vet visit cost for a cat

CareCredit’s average routine cat visit is $68, against $89 for a dog.^[2] Lemonade lists a cat physical exam at $90 to $200, cat rabies vaccine at $25 to $50 and FVRCP or feline leukemia at $25 to $70 per dose.^[1] CareCredit puts annual cat vaccinations at $30 to $121.^[2] A kitten’s first visits cost more because of the vaccine series; see below.

Puppy first vet visit cost

PetMD’s figures for a puppy’s first visit:^[3]

• First exam: $40 to $85
• First set of vaccines: $200 to $250
• Each booster: around $50
• Fecal test for intestinal parasites: $20 to $50
• Deworming: about $10 to $20 per dose
• Total first visit: about $300 to $350

Boosters mean more visits after the first one, so budget for each booster on top of the first visit total.

Kitten first vet visit cost

Spot Pet Insurance’s figures for a kitten:^[4]

• Physical exam: $50 to $100
• FVRCP vaccine: $25 to $50 per dose
• FeLV vaccine: $25 to $50 per dose
• Rabies vaccine: $20 to $35
• Fecal exam: $36
• Deworming: $20 to $50
• First visit: $75 to $150 for the exam and first vaccines, $150 to $250 with a fecal test and deworming
• Full vaccine series in the first year: $200 to $400

Vaccine costs per shot

Vaccine	Price per dose
Dog DHPP (DAPP)	$25 to $60
Dog rabies	$40 to $75
Dog bordetella	$19 to $60
Dog leptospirosis	$30 to $65
Dog Lyme	$30 to $65
Dog influenza	$30 to $70
Cat rabies	$25 to $50
Cat FVRCP or feline leukemia	$25 to $70

Prices from Lemonade.^[1] CareCredit puts annual vaccinations at $25 to $50 for a dog and $30 to $121 for a cat.^[2]

Tests at a checkup

Common add-ons and Lemonade’s prices:^[1]

• Heartworm test: around $50
• Fecal exam: $25 to $50; treatment if parasites are found: $400 to $1,000
• Senior screening for dogs 7 and older: $85 to $110
• Lab testing: $200 to $300
• Basic X-rays: $75 to $250

Vet visit cost by state

Banfield’s average visit prices by state, as quoted by Lemonade, run from $63 in Kansas to $89 in California.^[1]

What to do if you can’t afford the vet

1. Tell the clinic before the visit. Best Friends Animal Society suggests negotiating a better price or asking to pay over time.^[5]
2. Get a second opinion and compare prices. Another clinic may offer a more cost-effective treatment.^[5]
3. Apply for help before the procedure. Aid groups are sometimes less likely to pay for care already given, and several sources together may cover what one cannot.^[5]
4. Look at a veterinary school. Accredited vet schools sometimes treat pets at a reduced cost.^[5]
5. Use a low cost clinic for routine care. Nonprofit clinics often charge far less for surgery such as a spay; see spay and neuter cost and the low cost options in the vet costs hub.
6. Read financing terms. Best Friends lists vet financing and payment plans such as CareCredit and Scratch; check the interest and promotional terms first.^[5]

If your pet cannot breathe, has collapsed or is bleeding heavily, go to an ER first; the emergency vet cost guide lists exam fees.

How to pay less

1. Ask for the exam fee and vaccine prices when you book, and whether the clinic offers puppy or kitten packages.
2. Ask which vaccines your pet needs. Each dose costs $19 to $75 for a dog.^[1]
3. Check a nonprofit or humane society clinic for vaccines and basic care.
4. Use a virtual vet for questions. Care Anytime’s Virtual Veterinarian benefit gives members 24/7 access to licensed veterinary professionals by video chat or phone, with all visits included in the membership. See online vet visits for what a virtual vet can and cannot do.