Emergency Vet Costs for Dogs and Cats

When you adopt a pet, there are a number of costs you take on. There’s food, grooming, and routine health visits and medication.

At some point though, you may find yourself dealing with emergency vet costs. It’s important to understand what those might look like and how to prepare financially. Here, we’ll review vet emergency care prices for different situations, so you have an idea of what to expect.

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What Is Emergency Veterinary Care?

Just like humans, pets need to see a doctor regularly for annual physicals and to follow up on routine health issues. Those are expenses you can plan and budget for.

Emergency vet costs are much harder to plan for, the same way you can’t exactly plan for a plumbing emergency or sudden car repair. When your pet falls ill or gets injured, you may end up having to take them to an animal hospital or after-hours clinic.

In that situation, an exam alone might cost more than a standard visit with your regular vet, the same way a plumber might charge you more for an emergency fix late at night as opposed to during the day. Your emergency vet costs could increase even further if your pet needs follow-up tests and treatment.

Average Vet Costs by Condition

Vet emergency care prices depend on the emergency at hand. And while your costs will hinge on where you take your pet and the specifics of your situation, here are some common pet emergencies and what they might cost.

Dog and Cat Poisoning

The cost of treating poisoning in a pet will depend on the substance they ingested. Preventive Vet puts the cost of addressing accidental antifreeze ingestion at $2,000 to $6,000. For chocolate, the range is $250 to $2,000, and the same applies to ingestion of human pain medications.

In some cases, your pet may not need treatment for ingesting something they shouldn't have, depending on their size and the quantity they ingested. Before rushing to an animal hospital, you may want to call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. They're open 24/7. And while a $95 consultation fee may apply, they could be able to help you address your emergency and avoid racking up higher bills at a clinic or animal hospital.

Urinary Obstruction in Cats

Urinary obstruction tends to be more common in cats than in dogs. It’s often caused by bladder stones. Preventive Vet puts the cat urinary blockage cost at $1,500 to $3,000 or more.

Bloat or Gastric Torsion in Dogs

Bloat is a life-threatening condition for dogs where the stomach fills with gas or food and then twists. It can come from eating too quickly or other factors, including genetics. The cost of treating bloat can range from $1,500 to $7,500 for emergency surgery, according to Preventive Vet.

Broken Bones

The cost of treating a broken bone will depend on the nature of the injury. PetMD puts the average cost of treating a broken bone at $100 to $300 for a cast or splint.

Foreign Body Ingestion

Preventive Vet puts the cost of surgery to remove a foreign body at $1,500 to $5,000. Pets tend to swallow things like coins, fabrics, food wrappers, and rocks, all of which can cause problems and lead to issues like intestinal blockages.

Seizures or Loss of Consciousness

The cost of treating a seizure or loss of consciousness in an animal will depend on the cause, and whether the cause is known. Preventive Vet puts the average cost at $600 to $1,700 for hospitalization and monitoring.

Heatstroke or Hypothermia

When pets overheat, like humans, they're at risk of heatstroke. Preventive Vet puts the average cost of treating heatstroke at $1,500 to $6,000 or more. On the flipside, when exposed to extreme cold temperatures, pets can develop hypothermia. Wag puts the average cost of hypothermia treatment at $500 to $6,000.

Severe Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)

Just as humans can have a severe allergic reaction that causes anaphylaxis, so too can animals. Wag puts the average cost of treatment at $500 to $5,000.

How Much Does an Emergency Vet Visit Cost?

When your pet requires emergency care, there are a variety of services they may need. Here are some of the most common and the typical cost involved, courtesy of Preventive Vet.

Comparing Dog and Cat Emergency Costs

The cost of any given pet emergency will depend on the circumstances at hand. However, dog emergencies tend to cost more than emergencies for cats. Dogs tend to be larger, meaning that they may require larger doses of medication or fluids in an emergency.

On the other hand, there are certain emergency situations that are more common for cats. While dogs can get hurt falling or jumping, cats tend to perch on ledges and high places, increasing their fall risk.

How to Prepare for Unexpected Vet Bills

You can’t predict when your pet will get hurt or sick, so it’s important to be prepared for anything. One of the most important things you can do as a pet owner is have a pet emergency fund. Keep that money separate from your other savings so you have dedicated funds for pet care.

It’s also worth researching pet insurance policies and seeing what coverage is available for your pet. Pet insurance may pick up a portion of the tab if your pet gets hurt or sick, depending on if the illness of injury is eligible for coverage.

However, don't skimp on your savings if you get pet insurance for emergencies. Your policy will not cover your costs entirely. Most plans have annual limits, as well as deductibles to meet.

It’s also wise to familiarize yourself with how payment plans work in pet emergencies. Services like CareCredit are designed to allow you to pay your vet bills off over time.

You can also see if there are any nonprofit clinics in your region. These clinics tend to be located in underserved areas and often receive grants and donations that allow them to keep their costs down.

FAQs About Emergency Vet Costs

Here are some commonly asked questions about pet emergencies:

Can I refuse treatment or delay procedures?

As your pet’s owner, you have the right to refuse or delay treatment. Whether that leads to the outcome you want, though, is a different story. A good emergency vet will walk you through your options and explain the urgency of the situation so you can make an informed decision. If money is an issue, many emergency vets will work with you on a payment plan so that not having the money up front isn’t a barrier to getting your pet treated.

Do emergency vets have to disclose pricing?

Emergency vets are generally not required to provide a pricing list up front, and they may not be able to estimate the cost of your pet's care until they start an exam and see what they're dealing with. A good emergency vet, though, should be able to give you a rough estimate of what to expect before they begin. They should also explain the various aspects of their proposed treatment and what each one costs.

What if I can’t afford care?

Most emergency vet clinics offer some type of payment plan so you can pay your bill off over time. You may also be able to put the expense on a 0% interest rate credit card or take out a loan to pay for your pet’s care.

Are emergency vet prices regulated?

Emergency vet costs are not regulated, and the cost of your pet's care can vary from one facility to another. It is difficult to establish uniform pricing for emergency pet care because there are so many variables involved, including your pet’s size, breed, age, and more.