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How Much is an Emergency Vet Visit?
By Andrea Agostini Ferrer MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Money’s guide of how much is an emergency vet visit.
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As much as we’d like to avoid it, pets may need emergency care at some point during their lifetime, and that can be expensive — even with coverage from the best pet insurance companies.
It can pay to know the cost of the most common emergencies to build a little wiggle room in your budget for an emergency vet visit. Read on to learn more.
Table of contents
- How much does an emergency vet visit cost?
- What is considered a “pet emergency?”
- Emergency vet cost
- How much is an emergency vet visit without insurance?
- Cost of common pet emergency procedures
- Who to call during a pet emergency
- How to prevent pet emergencies
- What to do if you can’t afford emergency vet services
- How much is an emergency pet visit FAQs
- Summary of Money’s How much is an emergency vet visit
How much does an emergency vet visit cost?
The average cost of an emergency vet visit is anywhere from $250 to $8,000, according to CareCredit, a short-term financing service for medical expenses. Initial costs may go towards stabilizing the pet and diagnosing the problem, often using expensive imaging equipment like X-rays and ultrasounds.
After diagnostics, the clinic will draft an estimate of the total cost, half of which is usually due upfront, with the remaining balance settled after your pet is ready to come home.
Here’s where pet insurance comes in: a standard accident and illness policy may reimburse you up to 90% of the bill. This can provide a significant relief for pet owners facing large vet bills, especially if the pet insurance company offers direct payment to vets. In most cases, though, pet owners must pay upfront and then file for reimbursement.
What is considered a “pet emergency?”
A pet emergency is scary, especially when it’s hard to distinguish between a symptom that requires urgent medical care and one that can wait until the vet’s office opens.
Pet owners may be tempted to self-diagnose, use home remedies or take advice from online sources. However, it’s best to err on the side of caution and seek professional guidance, either via a phone consultation or by driving directly to a veterinary clinic.
These signs indicate a pet emergency and require a trip to the nearest pet emergency room ASAP, as advised by the American Veterinary Medical Association:
- Severe or constant bleeding
- Severe or continuous vomiting or diarrhea
- Seizures or sudden collapse
- Eye injury
- Difficulty breathing or choking, coughing and gagging nonstop
- Abnormal gum color (pale, blue or yellow tinge)
- Inability to go to the bathroom
- Bloat — swollen belly, panting, restlessness and gagging
- Trauma — car accident, fall, broken bones and open wounds
- Bite wounds and animal attacks
- Ingesting a known toxin or poison, such as chocolate or prescription medications for humans
- Possible ingestion of toxin or poison
- Heatstroke — abnormal gum color, lethargy, heavy breathing and seizures
- Hypothermia — shivering, pale gums, sluggishness, dilated pupils and slow heart rate
- Difficulty during birth — labor lasts more than 24 hours, or the mom struggles for more than an hour to deliver the next pup or kitten
Emergency vet cost
The cost of emergency veterinary care will depend on the pet, the severity of the condition, and the location of the clinic and how it prices its services. After the initial diagnosis — which can set you back between $100 to $600 — the charges can vary significantly. Treatment for a minor wound won’t increase your bill as much as a hospitalization or emergency surgery.
How much is an emergency vet visit without insurance?
Without a pet insurance plan, emergency veterinary fees can range anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The actual cost depends on the gravity of the medical emergency as well as the tests and treatments your pet needs. Costs vary depending on the size, breed and type of pet as well.
According to MetLife pet insurance, the cost of an emergency vet visit for a dog ranges from $150 to $5,000. Taking your cat to the emergency clinic may set you back anywhere from $150 to $3,000.
How much is an emergency vet visit for a dog?
An emergency visit for a dog can reach triple digits quickly, especially if surgery or hospitalization is needed.
Diagnostic tests such as a blood panel, X-rays or ultrasounds cost the same for dogs of all sizes. However, medication pricing varies by dog size and age, as dosage is determined by weight.
These are some of the most common dog emergencies and their price range:
- Anaphylactic shock: $500–$1,000
- Bloat: $1,500–$7,500
- Intestinal blockage: $2,000–$10,000
- Trauma: $100–$2,000
- Stomach issues: $400–$3,000
- Heatstroke: $500–$1,000
- Poisoning: $200–$7,500, depending on the toxin
How much is an emergency vet visit for a cat?
We found few differences between emergency visit costs for cats and dogs, except for weight-based treatments and medications, which tend to cost less for cats.
Common emergency issues include:
- Anaphylactic shock: $500–$1,000
- Urinary tract blockage: $700–$4,000
- Intestinal blockage: $800–$7,000
- Trauma: $500–$4,000
- Stomach issues: $200–$2,000
- Poisoning: $200–$2,000
Cost of common pet emergency procedures
Who to call during a pet emergency
The first person to call during a pet emergency is the family veterinarian. If that option isn’t available, get in touch with the nearest veterinary emergency clinic or animal hospital. The vet or technician won’t provide a diagnosis over the phone, but they can advise you on whether it’s necessary to take the pet in and offer first-aid instructions.
For suspected poisoning — ingestion of chocolate or toxic plants, for example — pet owners can call the 24-hour hotline of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. We also recommend keeping a pet-friendly first-aid kit in your home to be used under veterinary guidance.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, that kit should include:
- Phone numbers of the nearest emergency clinic, your regular vet and the Animal Poison Control Center
- Instructions on how to use the kit
- Gauze to cover wounds
- Cotton balls to treat wounds
- Adhesive tape and non-stick, self-adhering bandages only (don’t use adhesive bandages meant for people)
- Hydrogen peroxide, milk of magnesia and activated charcoal (always check with your vet before administering these)
- Digital thermometer
- Eye dropper
- Muzzle, leash and stretcher to stabilize and transport your pet
How to prevent pet emergencies
Prevention is the best course of action if you want to keep your pet healthy and safe — and protect your wallet. Here are some steps you can take to minimize pet emergencies.
Pet-proof your home
Pets, particularly puppies and kittens, are too curious for their own good — that’s part of what makes being a pet owner so fun. But it can also lead to emergency situations.
Follow these guidelines to pet-proof your home and avoid preventable emergencies:
- Keep potential hazards like toxic houseplants, medications and cleaning supplies off-limits.
- Secure and cover all trash bins (kitchen, bathroom, office).
- Store makeup, medications and other cosmetics out-of-reach.
- Place food and snacks on secure and high shelves.
- Secure any dangling wires from electrical devices like televisions and lamps.
- Check for and close off any nooks and crannies inside cabinets or behind appliances.
- Always check the dryer before turning it on (kittens are known to hide inside the drum).
- Use pet-proof gates to seal off specific areas like the kitchen and the bathroom.
Establish a regular meal and exercise routine
Even pet food can pose a risk for dogs and cats that overindulge. Overeating can lead to bloat (also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus or GDV), a condition that can be fatal in a matter of hours. To prevent this, try to schedule feedings twice a day instead of just once, and avoid exercising your pet immediately after each meal.
Be mindful of your pet and its surroundings
When pets venture outside, there are other precautions to consider.
For dogs, basic obedience training and using a secure leash and collar with an ID tag can minimize the chances of a car accident. Other considerations include walking during the early morning or late afternoon if the weather’s too hot and avoiding close encounters with other unknown, unleashed dogs.
With cats, outdoor safety is a bit more complicated. Cats can be more independent than dogs, and they love to explore on their own, which can expose them to dangerous situations. Some owners opt to keep their cat indoors at all times — especially if they live in a high-traffic area — while others prefer to let the cat roam freely.
To keep an outdoor cat as safe as possible:
- Get a well-fitting collar with an ID tag
- Consider a microchip
- Get them neutered or spayed
- Stay up to date on vaccines
- Bring them in at night
Be proactive with your pet’s preventive care
Staying on top of annual checkups (and following your vet’s advice on proper courses of action) will help catch conditions early on and may prevent unexpected emergency trips.
You can budget for your pet’s preventive care and pay as you go. If you have pet insurance, you can also purchase a pet wellness plan that includes physical exams, vaccinations, deworming, heartworm treatment, parasite prevention and pet dental care.
It’s worth doing a cost analysis before committing to a pet wellness subscription, however. Depending on where you live and the cost of vet care in your area, the annual cost of a wellness plan may be higher than what you would pay out-of-pocket for preventative care.
What to do if you can’t afford emergency vet services
The cost of emergency vet visits can carve a deep, unexpected hole in your wallet. If you can’t afford to pay for these services, consider the following funding alternatives:
- Try to work out a discount or payment plan with your vet
- Visit low-cost clinics run by local veterinary colleges
- Seek financial aid from nonprofits and animal welfare organizations like RedRover, The Pet Fund and Bow Wow Buddies foundation
- Use a credit card or CareCredit, a low-interest financing option for medical expenses
Summary of Money’s How much is an emergency vet visit
Emergency pet care may set you back $150-$5,000 although more complex procedures like surgery will increase the price. Costs vary significantly by case, and most pet owners won’t know the full cost of the visit until the emergency vet clinic drafts an estimate.
That said, there are a few ways to plan and prepare for these high veterinary expenses. Consider pet insurance early on, set up an emergency savings account or open a CareCredit line to finance pet healthcare expenses. If these options aren’t possible, research nonprofits and animal welfare organizations that might be able to provide financial assistance.
Most importantly, keep up with routine care and always be mindful of your pet’s surroundings.
As part of our in-house team of insurance experts since 2021, Andrea has worked on travel insurance, pet insurance and life insurance. Her work consists of conducting thorough research into insurance services, to help our readers better understand the intricacies of these products and the companies that sell them. Her expertise in pet insurance organically overlaps with at-home pet care. Driven by her own queries and challenges in learning how to care for her own dog, Andrea strives to source helpful, accurate and nuanced information from experts so that our readers can give their pets the best care possible. Beyond her expertise in insurance, Andrea has lent her skills to diverse projects, including product reviews as well as consumer guides on credit, mortgages and insurance. She's also collaborated on projects like Money's Best Places to Travel and Best Places to Live. Her work has been featured in multiple online publications including Money.com, Yahoo Money, The Island Packet, The Independent Tribune, Logan Herald Observer, Roanoke Times and ConsumersAdvocate.org. Andrea holds a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Languages from the University of Puerto Rico.