How much does pet surgery cost?

There are many reasons a pet might need surgery. Procedures can range from basic ones, such as neutering, to more complex and expensive ones, such as foreign object removal, cancer surgery and more. The costs of these can vary widely depending on the animal, the vet and the situation. For example, if a dog needs surgery to remove a swallowed object, the cost might range from a few hundred dollars to a staggering $20,000+.

Cost of common pet surgeries

These figures come from from The Hollard Insurance Company's 2016/17 claims data via PetSecure.com.au. As you can see, there’s often a considerable difference between the average cost of a claim and the highest.

Want cover for surgery? Pet insurance has your back

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Name	Product	Maximum yearly benefit	Maximum yearly benefit	Paralysis Tick Benefit	Reimbursement rate	Reimbursement rate	Accidental Injury	Illness
Woolworths Comprehensive Cover		$24,000	$24,000	$1,500	80%	80%			Woolworths has a price beat promise for similar policies. 1 year free VetAssist gives you instant access to vets online (valued at $199). T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Vets Choice Elite Cover		$15,000	$15,000	$2,500	100%	100%			Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Knose Dog Cover		$25,000	$25,000	$25,000	70%, 80% or 90%	70%, 80% or 90%			Get cover for your pet.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PIA Major Medical Cover		$15,145	$15,145	$1,200	80%	80%			Get 2 months free when you sign up.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bow Wow Meow Ultimate Care Plan		$20,000	$20,000	$3,000	80%	80%			Join and get 2 months free pet insurance for puppies. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Kogan Pet Luxury Cover		$15,000	$15,000	$2,000	80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8	80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8			1 month free for new customers.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PetSecure Accident and Illness Cover		$12,000	$12,000	$500	75% or 85%	75% or 85%			Your pet is covered for life.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Petsy Dog accidental injury and illness cover (Vet Select)		$25,000	$25,000	$1,500	100%	100%			Enjoy 2 months free and personalised pet tag with promo code: PETSYPET. Petsy members enjoy free personalised gifts, exclusive pet discounts and perks for humans.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Medibank Ultimate Pet Care		$15,000	$15,000	$1,200	80%	80%			Want to win 1 of 10x $1,000 pet food vouchers? Plus, health members save 10%. Use promocode: SAVE10. Ends November 1 2020. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
RSPCA Ultimate Plus Accident and Illness Cover		$20,000	$20,000	Up to $20,000 annual limit	80%	80%			Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies. T&C's apply.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Real Premium Accident & Illness Cover		$12,000	$12,000	$1,200	80%	80%			Pay fortnightly, monthly or yearly at no extra cost.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Guardian Platinum Accident & Illness Cover		$12,000	$12,000	$1,200	80%	80%			No joining fee to pay.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Prime Sovereign Accident & Illness Cover		$14,000	$14,000	$1,200	85%	85%			With guaranteed renewal you can protect your pet for life.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Australian Seniors Top Accident & Illness Cover		$12,000	$12,000	$1,200	80%	80%			If you're over 50 get 10% off.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Guide Dogs Premium Care		$20,000	$20,000	$2,000	85%	85%			Helps support Guide Dogs Australia.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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How much of this does pet insurance cover?

Pet insurance generally reimburses a portion of vet bills, up to around 80%, up to a specified annual limit. While it’s unusual for a single claim to push you over the limit, it can still happen.

To use an example from this list, the average cost of a pet swallowing something they shouldn’t have was $982, while the most expensive incident ended up costing over $22,919. In these types of situations, there’s a good chance that cheaper cover will end up costing you more overall.

• Basic policies will often have an annual benefit limit of around $5,000, while comprehensive policies typically carry limits of around $15,000 or more. In this case, a cheaper policy would have left the owner with more than $15,000 in expenses, while a more expensive (i.e. comprehensive) policy will leave them with much less to pay on their own.
• When claims get this expensive, there’s a significant difference between 80% cover and 100% cover.
• The excess - i.e. out of pocket expense - is typically from $100 to $200, which makes a considerable difference to smaller claims such as $250 for an ear infection. However, if your priority is to cover the more expensive vet bills, it may be worth aiming for a higher excess as this can reduce your premiums without making too big an impact on your overall costs.

What affects the cost of pet surgery?

Whether you pay $300 or $8,000 for cruciate ligament surgery, or for any other procedure, hinges on a range of factors:

• The nature of the condition. The same operation might be done in under an hour or might take several hours depending on the situation. Similarly, it might require more specialised equipment or a different type of anaesthesia. All of these can significantly affect the cost.
• The veterinary practice. A more experienced vet with more advanced equipment might generally be more expensive, and veterinarians are generally free to charge what they want.
• Whether you have a dog or a cat. Dogs are typically more expensive than cats.
• The breed of your pet. Different breeds can medically be very different. For example, different breeds of dog will need different kinds of anaesthesia before surgery, some of which are more expensive than others. Some breeds are also more likely to be susceptible to different health issues which can affect the likelihood of needing to pay more or less for a surgery. Doberman pinschers, for example, are more likely to suffer disorders which inhibit blood clotting, in which case they will require additional care during surgery.
• How large your pet is. Surgery is generally more expensive for bigger pets, although it can vary depending on the condition being treated.

Because the costs can vary so widely, it’s almost impossible to determine the average cost of a treatment and it’s unlikely that you’ll end up paying the average amount.

To be on the safe side, it may be a good idea to plan for the worst.

Is pet insurance right for me?

Does it matter which vet I go to?

Getting value for your money from pet insurance is dependent on the types of claims you think you’ll be making. If you have a comprehensive policy, more expensive claims can give you more value for your money.

There are no set general service fees for veterinarians so you might get very different prices from different vets.

This guide runs through some of the most commonly required pet surgeries and how much they generally cost to help you work out whether pet insurance is worth it.

As such, it’s worth considering the typical costs of different procedures, so you can think about pet insurance cover in real dollars.

Why are vet bills so expensive?

Surgery is complicated and involves a lot of steps before, during and after the process. All of these are part of the cost along with the equipment and expertise that’s being used. Depending on the procedure, your vet bill may include the following costs:

How much is pet insurance?

According to ASIC, pet insurance costs around $20 per month for cats and $24 per month for dogs. Sacrifice eating out just once a week and you won't have to choose between being thousands of dollars out of pocket or having to put down your beloved Rex.

The price of pet insurance varies, however on average it costs approximately*:

• $20 per month for accident-only cover
• $35-55 per month for accident and illness cover
• $60 per month for comprehensive cover

_{*Monthly averages found from ASIC (13 December 2016) Pet insurance. Moneysmart.gov.au/insurance/pet-insurance}

Frequently asked questions

• How much will a lumpectomy for my dog cost?

  According to VetInfo, a lumpectomy can cost up to around $500 for dogs and up to around $400 for cats.

  If the lump is tested and found to be malignant, it will be removed, but your pet might also require cancer treatment, in which case the full costs will be much higher.

  A lumpectomy may include the following costs:

  • A physical exam, including palpation, checking whether the lump appears to be painful and looking for signs that it has spread.
  • Testing of the lump prior to removal. If the test is inconclusive, then a biopsy may be necessary, which can be considerably more expensive.
  • Removal of the lump. The cost generally depends on how big an area needs to be removed. Depending on how it may have spread, the area to be removed might be considerably larger than the lump appears to be.

  If the lump is confirmed to be malignant, or suspected to be, X-rays might also be involved to determine if it has spread.

• How much does cataract surgery cost for dogs?

  Cornell University quotes a price of US$3,500 for uncomplicated cataract surgery for dogs, which includes a full range of preparatory procedures, examinations and the procedure itself. It does not include the full cost of any follow-ups that may be required or additional costs in the event of complications.

  You might find similar prices in Australia, both higher and lower, depending on the situation and the vet.

• How much will a pet ultrasound cost?

  The cost of a pet ultrasound can depend on what the vet is looking for and where you go. Veterinarian Patty Khuly says her colleagues generally charge from $50 to $500, depending on the situation and the equipment.

  Basic pregnancy ultrasounds may generally be the cheapest as they require less expertise and less advanced equipment, while diagnostic ultrasounds can be a lot more difficult and might require a vet to collaborate with radiologists, cardiologists or other specialists.

• How much does a PET scan for pets cost?

  PET scans, along with MRIs and CT scans, may be useful for diagnosing illnesses and conditions in dogs and cats but also tend to be quite expensive. You can generally expect them to cost over $1,000.

  This is because animals typically need to be anaesthetised prior to scanning and because the equipment itself is very expensive. It’s not usual for veterinary practices to have the necessary equipment on hand, so vets may need to make agreements with nearby hospitals to use their equipment after hours. Successfully diagnosing conditions with this equipment may also require consultation with specialists.