Vet fees for dogs
Dogs can bring such joy into our lives as owners, but their vet treatments can be expensive. If the worst was to happen, do you know how much it could cost?
How much do vet fees cost?
The cost of vet appointments for dogs can vary widely, and can be influenced by factors like your dog’s breed, where you live, and the type of care required. Some services, such as basic health checks or tests, are relatively affordable. Others, including emergency treatments or surgical procedures, can be much higher.
On this page, we’ll break down the range of expenses you might encounter, from costs of routine check-ups for your dog, to more complex and longer-term treatments.
All data cited on this page is based on average dog vet fee costs for conditions claimed and submitted to Animal Friends during 2025. Average costs are provided for illustration purposes only.
Average vet bills for common conditions in dogs
The tables in the expandable list below show the 15 most common conditions claimed for by our customers in 2025. To make this information more specific to your dog, we’ve grouped dogs into sizes, ranging from Miniature to Giant.
The data is based on the top 10 breeds insured with us per size group. It's important to reiterate that this is just an estimate, and vet fees can vary based on your location, the age of your dog, and the severity of the condition.
How much do vet fees cost?
| Condition | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Foreign Body | £1,368 |
| Lameness | £1,361 |
| Tumour | £1,257 |
| Gastroenteritis | £1,161 |
| Heart Disease | £1,108 |
| Mitral Valve Disease | £1,061 |
| Eye Ulcer | £1,032 |
| Vomiting and Diarrhoea | £1,020 |
| Heart Murmur | £973 |
| Seizures | £930 |
| Osteoarthritis | £821 |
| Allergies | £809 |
| Teeth/Dental | £733 |
| Otitis | £675 |
| Toxic Ingestion | £647 |
| Condition | Average cost |
| Lameness | £1,322 |
| Tumour | £1,136 |
| Mitral Valve Disease | £1,107 |
| Heart Disease | £1,095 |
| Foreign Body | £1,043 |
| Vomiting and Diarrhoea | £999 |
| Eye Ulcer | £993 |
| Heart Murmur | £966 |
| Seizures | £918 |
| Allergies | £840 |
| Osteoarthritis | £810 |
| Skin Disease | £786 |
| Teeth/Dental | £712 |
| Toxic Ingestion | £650 |
| Otitis | £650 |
| Condition | Average cost |
| Cruciate ligament damage | £2,954 |
| Lameness | £1,455 |
| Foreign Body | £1,254 |
| Seizures | £1,242 |
| Tumour | £1,234 |
| Gastroenteritis | £1,209 |
| Eye Ulcer | £1,065 |
| Vomiting and Diarrhoea | £1,049 |
| Osteoarthritis | £997 |
| Allergies | £935 |
| Skin Disease | £923 |
| Wound | £810 |
| Otitis | £784 |
| Teeth/Dental | £716 |
| Toxic Ingestion | £635 |
| Condition | Average cost |
| Cruciate ligament damage | £3,116 |
| Foreign Body | £1,645 |
| Lameness | £1,585 |
| Gastroenteritis | £1,326 |
| Seizures | £1,289 |
| Tumour | £1,286 |
| Eye Ulcer | £1,187 |
| Osteoarthritis | £1,136 |
| Allergies | £1,119 |
| Vomiting and Diarrhoea | £1,075 |
| Atopy | £1,038 |
| Skin Disease | £994 |
| Urinary Tract Infection | £868 |
| Wound | £829 |
| Otitis | £752 |
| Toxic Ingestion | £695 |
| Accidental injury | £682 |
| Condition | Average cost |
| Cruciate ligament damage | £3,563 |
| Hip Dysplasia | £2,330 |
| Lameness | £2,070 |
| Entropion | £1,925 |
| Foreign Body | £1,803 |
| Gastroenteritis | £1,657 |
| Tumour | £1,535 |
| Vomiting and Diarrhoea | £1,244 |
| Allergies | £1,239 |
| Osteoarthritis | £1,176 |
| Skin Disease | £1,093 |
| Otitis | £992 |
| Wound | £955 |
| Toxic Ingestion | £877 |
| Accidental injury | £592 |
How much is a vet check up for a dog in the UK?
A standard check up cost for your dog in the UK varies depending on whether the practice charges a consultation fee on top, and which region of the UK you live in. A check up usually includes a physical examination and consultation, but not tests, vaccinations, or treatment.
Puppy’s first vet visit costs
Your puppy’s first vet appointment is important for a full health check and advice on feeding, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and behaviour. For most new owners, the cost will be similar to a standard consultation, with vaccinations charged separately.
How much does a dog operation cost on average in the UK?
The cost of surgery for dogs varies widely depending on the type and complexity of the procedure and your dog’s size. Here are the average costs of common dog surgeries that you may find helpful as a general guideline:
- Hip or elbow dysplasia: £1,578
- Cruciate Ligament Damage: £2,918
- Tumour: £1,233
- Dental conditions: £727
- Cataract surgery: £2,155
- Bladder stone removal (Urolithiasis): £2,251
- Neutering/castration: £473
Costs for treating accidents and injuries
Accidents can happen, and emergency vet visits are often more expensive than standard consultations. Our data shows that treating a dog’s fractured leg costs £3,308 on average. Claims average £659 to treat poisoning, or £1,320 for foreign body ingestion.
Long-term health condition treatments
Some conditions in dogs require ongoing treatment over many months or years, which can add up significantly. Here are some examples of average prices for long-term conditions:
- Diabetes treatment: Costs for dogs average at around £1639, but this is likely to be higher if regular check ups or emergency care is needed.
- Heart disease: Average treatment costs are £1,193, but again, this can be higher if follow-up appointments or surgeries are needed.
- Cancer: Treatment costs can vary widely depending on whether the procedures involve surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Average fees for dogs based on Animal Friends claims are £1,254
How pet insurance can help cover vet fees
Learning about the many potential costs involved with owning a dog can be overwhelming. However, pet insurance can help protect your pooch against unexpected vet fees, should they get ill or be injured. Though you may be unsure if you need pet insurance, it’s worth keeping in mind that vet fees can add up very quickly and your pet may need ongoing treatment and medication.
We have plenty of resources about how to make life with your pet more affordable on our Pet Affordability Hub. You can also learn more about keeping your pet healthy and understanding pet insurance jargon by checking out our Pet Tools & Resources.
More advice on your dog's health
Basic first aid for dogs
Learn the basics of first aid for dogs - contents needed for a first aid kit, plus how to treat common injuries while you get them to the vets
Canine cruciate ligament disease or injury
Like many athletes/sportsmen injury to cruciate ligaments can occur in our dogs, here are the symptoms to look out for, repair options and what to expect when your dog is recovering.
Diarrhoea in dogs
The causes, symptoms, and treatments for diarrhoea in dogs.
Dysplasia in dogs
Learn about the causes, symptoms and treatment of dysplasia, plus techniques to manage the pain and improve quality of life
Vomiting in dogs
We look at the causes and recognise the symptoms for vomiting in dogs and ways to prevent them from throwing up.
Should I get insurance?
Pet insurance can help protect your pet against unexpected vet fees, should they get ill or be injured. Though you may be unsure if you need pet insurance, it’s worth keeping in mind that vet fees can add up very quickly and your pet may need ongoing treatment and medication.
Get a quote
To help you decide, get a quote to find out what type of policy might be right for you and how much it would cost.