Average Vet Costs in Australia

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“The total cost of cancer claims for both cats and dogs in 2023 was $31.5 million.”

https://petsure.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pet-Health-Monitor-2024-spreads-v.pdf

So, it’s 11pm at night, you’re just about to tuck yourself into bed. Then you hear it. The wretching of a sick little puppy who, come to think of it, hasn’t had much to eat today… Next thing you know you’re in your car, pup wrapped up warm, navigation set to the nearby Emergency Vet Hospital, and with your wallet half out of your pocket whispering something about how it heard vets are expensive. If only you could know in advance how much that vet bill would cost.

With the cost of vet visits rising everyday, it can be handy to take a look around every now and then at the advertised pricing that can be found for common vet procedures. With hindsight in hand, we searched across Australia for information on treatment costs for any procedures we could find public quotes for. Having a price list like this available for quick reference allows you to better prepare for some of those unthinkable costs, and hopefully soften the wince when your local vet hands you the bill. Save this list for easy reference in the future!

Average Vet Costs via Insurers

Statistics via https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/pet-insurance/guides/pet-costs-survey.html

Costs of Common Dog Conditions

Condition	Average Cost of Treatment
Ear Infection	$315
Diarrhoea	$416
Skin Allergies	$520
Vomiting	$565
Mass Skin Lesion (including a cyst, wart or abscess)	$698
Dental Disease	$706
Tick Paralysis	$2,402

Costs of Common Cat Conditions

Condition	Average Cost of Treatment
Ear Infection	$347
Diarrhoea	$376
Skin Allergies	$451
Bite Injury	$562
Vomiting	$636
Dental	$815
Tick Paralysis	$1,859
Snake Bite	$2,200
Broken Rear Leg	$3,805

Vet Costs via Claim Statistics

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294596/australia-average-cost-of-veterinary-treatment-for-common-illnesses/

Vet Costs via Vets Themselves

Vet sourced fees via https://www.forbes.com/advisor/au/pet-insurance/vet-fees/

Walkerville Vet in Adelaide

Surgery Prices
Grass seed removal	$350
Small lump removal	$700
Large lump removal	$1,300
Cruciate (small dog)	$1,900
Cruciate (large dog)	$4,200
Patella (small dog)	$1,300

A consultation fee may also be added if the animal is new to the practice. Walkerville Vet charges $84.90 for a standard consultation. (Repeat consultations are charged at $69.90).

Diagnostic Test Prices

Xrays & sedation (2 views)	$500
Ultrasound & sedation	$600
Ear infection cytology	$48
Lump needle aspiration	$35
Urine tests (in house)	$35
Annual wellness blood test	$159.25
Preanaesthetic test (>7y)	$159.50
Preanaesthetic test (<7y)	$118.80

Dentistry Prices

Dental Scale and Polish (Dog)	$552.65 (for dogs up to 30kg with maximum Grade 2 disease)
Dental Scale and Polish (Cat)	$552.65 includes 4 dental x-rays

Brisbane Pet Surgery

Brisbane Pet Surgery charges from $79.50 for a consultation.

Orthopaedic Surgery

Medially luxating patella	$1,850 – $2,300
Anterior cruciate ligament	$2,750 – $3,800
Pelvic fractures	$2,500 – $5,000
Limb fractures	$2,500 – $4,000

Eye Surgery

Corneal ulcers	$700 – $1,000
Prolapsed third eyelid gland	$700 – $900
Entropion	$1,400 – $1,600
Meibomian gland tumours	$700 – $1,000

Caesarean

Day procedure	$1,350 – $1,700
After hours	$2,200 – $2,600

Cancer Treatments

Skin Masses	$750 – $1,750
Splenic Tumours	$2,000 – $2,800
Osteosarcoma	$2,000 – $3,000
Anal gland adenocarcinomas	$2,000 – $2,500
Mammary gland cancer	$950 – $2,000
Ear & nose cancer in white cats	$950 – $1,400

Soft Tissue Surgery

Soft palate resection

$1,250 – $1,650

Abdomen

Gastrointestinal obstructionss	$1,600 – $2,600
Oesophageal foreign bodies	$1,600 – $2,100
Bladder stone removal	$1,700 – $2,200