Dog veterinary care is a necessary part of owning a dog. Routine vaccinations and health check-ups are expensive. When selecting a veterinarian, ask other pet owners for suggestions. Veterinary fees vary from office to office. Typically, new veterinary clinics charge more because they have a new mortgage and business loans to pay off.
Fees for Routine Dog Veterinary Care
The Humane Society posted a list of their fees for dogs in 2009 (most veterinarians use a similar fee schedule):
- Bordetella - $20
- Dewormers - $3 per pound of dog’s weight
- DHLPP/C vaccine - $30
- Fecal exam - $20
- Heartworm pill - $6 each
- Heartworm test - $35
- Neuter - $125 (plus $100 if testicles have not descended)
- Office visit with appointment - $30
- Rabies - $40 (three-year)
- Spay - $150 (plus $20 if dog is in heat)
- Walk-in office visit - $40
Veterinary specialists charge additional fees. A visit to an orthopedic specialist starts at $75 and then test fees increase your bill.
Creating a Veterinary Care Budget
Even with routine care, a yearly visit to your veterinarian will cost upwards of $200 including heartworm medications. Emergency dog veterinary care drives this cost up. If you set aside $30 a month, you’ll have enough for a yearly check up while building up a good amount of savings for emergency care. Purchasing a dog medical insurance policy will help reduce emergency care costs.