What are the most expensive vet bills for dogs?
Unfortunately, there’s no NHS for dogs. If your dog has an accident or gets sick, you’ll need to pay for diagnosis and treatment at the vet


Vets can be very expensive. For unscheduled trips to the vet, you’ll usually need to pay a consultation fee, plus the cost of any required treatment, medication or surgery.
Vets’ fees aren’t regulated or standardised in the UK, so they can charge what they like. Each vets’ practice’s price list will be different and determined by factors such as location, staff costs and overheads. Prices will also be influenced by the breed and size of dog you have (bigger dogs cost more to treat), and the treatment he or she needs.
Many pet owners have pet insurance. The right insurance policy for your dog will cover some, or all, of the cost of any vet treatment your dog needs. However, most policies will have limits per claim, per condition, or per year. In most cases you’ll be required to pay part of the claim – this is called the ‘excess’.
If you have a puppy, read our guide on pet insurance for puppies.
Data from insurers
Tesco Bank, which sells pet insurance, looked at its claims data to determine average prices for common conditions that affect dogs.
Its research included looking at the most expensive claims for some ongoing conditions. For a large dog (over 20kg) these included:
Ongoing condition | Treatment cost |
---|---|
Lameness | £3,760 |
Arthritis/DJD | £1,865 |
Cruciate rupture | £5,001 |
Tumour | £3,151 |
Skin allergy | £2,058 |
However, the Scratch and Patch pet insurance survey 2020 cited two claims much higher than these figures – reaching more than £15,000. One was for a Cavachon with a fluxating patella and the other for a Rataneiro de Bodega requiring surgery on collapsed disks in its neck.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) also has examples of the following insurance claims that would make your eyes water if you had to foot the vet’s bill yourself:
- £7,000 to treat a French Bulldog with a fractured leg
- £3,800 to treat a dog’s dislocated kneecap
- £3,600 to repair right leg cruciate ligament damage in a Jack Russell terrier
According to Direct Line, neurology and nervous system disorders are typically the most expensive vet fee claims. These include epileptic seizures and spinal conditions such as disc prolapse. These typically cost £1,125 to treat.
(MORE: Most expensive dogs to insure)
Vets’ prices for surgery
You should expect to pay more at the vet if your dog needs surgery rather than just medication. If you have a large dog, or ‘giant’ breed, surgery can cost up to twice as much due to the higher doses of anaesthetic and medication needed.
Not all vets display their price list online but one that does is Abington Park Referrals in Northampton which specialises in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, oncology and diagnostic imaging.
Some of the most expensive surgeries on its price list include:
Surgery | Cost |
---|---|
Total hip replacement | £4,600 |
CT and hemilaminectomy decompression for intervertebral disc disease | £3,000 |
Liver lobectomy | £2,300 |
Humeral unicondylar fracture repair (not including CT) | £2,500 - £3,500 |
Cranial cruciate ligament repair | £3,000 |
CT and arthroscopy for elbow dysplasia | £2,500 |
CUE (canine unicompartmental elbow resurfacing) | £4,000 |
Laryngeal tieback | £2,200 |
Thoracotomy/lung lobectomy/pericardectomy | £2,300 |
These fees are estimates for uncomplicated surgical procedures and include initial consultation, x-rays, surgery, hospitalisation for one night, initial courses of pain relief and antibiotics. Any complications could mean additional surgery hospitalisation or medication, incurring extra costs.
Look After My Bills Newsletter
Get the best money-saving tips, tricks and deals sent straight to your inbox every week. Make sense of your money in partnership with The Money Edit.
Emma Lunn is an award-winning freelance financial journalist who specialises in money and consumer affairs. She has more than 17 years’ experience writing for national newspapers, trade and consumer magazines, and specialist websites. She has a particular interest in writing about property and mortgages, and enjoys explaining complex issues in an easy-to-understand way.
-
Octopus Energy relaunches energy tracker deal – we explain what you need to know and if it could save you money
If you’re an Octopus Energy customer, you may be able to save on your energy bills with the relaunch of its tracker deal. We look at how it works
By Sue Hayward Published
-
Three energy firms pay £8m in switching compensation - has your provider paid out?
More than 100,000 customers have received compensation after changing providers, but is now a good time to switch energy suppliers?
By Tom Higgins Published
-
Travel insurance: what to look for when buying travel cover this Easter
Buying travel insurance can seem like one more job on your holiday ‘to do’ list, but it’s important you don’t leave home without it. We explain what to look for when shopping around for the best deal
By Sue Hayward Published
-
Missed flight cover: when can you claim if you miss your plane?
Bad weather, traffic jams, breaking down or not having a valid passport could all mean you can’t get as far as the airport – we look at whether your travel insurance will pay up
By Sue Hayward Published
-
Six reasons your home insurance could be refused, cancelled or voided
Check your policy and read the small print to ensure your home insurance is not refused, cancelled or voided
By Sue Hayward Last updated
-
Average price paid for home insurance ‘at lowest levels in at least a decade’
The average cost of home insurance in 2022 was £300 - how does your premium compare?
By Katie Binns Published
-
Revealed: the job titles that add £100s to car insurance - and the cheaper alternatives
Job titles that will see the biggest rise in car insurance costs in 2023 have been revealed - is your job title one of them? And how to find cheaper alternatives
By Vaishali Varu Published
-
How to avoid sneaky car insurance fees
Some motor insurers are increasing fees and charges for motorists. We reveal how to avoid them
By Sue Hayward Last updated
-
How to get cheap car insurance: 10 ways to cut the cost
If you’re a driver, you can’t hide from paying for car insurance but knowing how to get cheap car insurance can cut the cost without compromising cover quality.
By Vaishali Varu Published
-
Amazon sells insurance: is comparing and buying an insurance policy through Amazon any good?
Amazon Insurance Store launches in the UK to sell home insurance
By Sue Hayward Published