Pet Dog: Costs for Veterinarian Treatments

How much does it cost to treat my dog at the vet?

The regular costs that arise for the health care of your four-legged friend are mainly the annual vaccination and worming. The costs for both together are about $65-100 or €65-100 per year.

Beagle at the vet Photo: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/stock.adobe.com

• Vaccinations

Costs: $45-60 per year

Annual vaccinations mostly provide protection against several illnesses, like the 6 in 1 vaccine:

Distemper (virus infection)
Canine parvovirus (contagious viral infection)
H.c.c. (hepatitis)
Leptospirosis (infectious illness)
Kennel cough (infection of the airways) and
Rabies (viral infection)

There are lots of differing opinions about vaccinations. Just like us, some dogs don’t tolerate vaccinations very well. On the other hand, you could be protecting your dog from an illness that could kill them. Your dog should definitely be vaccinated against rabies. If a dog has rabies and bites a human, it can be fatal.

• Worming

Costs: $20-40 a year

How often a dog should be wormed depends on how often it eats things that it shouldn’t. Like anything it finds on the sidewalk. If your dog does this often, worming should be carried out every three months. Other dogs are fine with just one worming a year. How much this treatment costs depends on your dog’s weight. The heavier the dog, the more medicine is needed. Be prepared to pay around $20-40 or €20-40 per worming treatment.

• Operations and other Treatments

One of the most common operations is the castration of male dogs. This usually costs over $120 or €120. Other operations may include pulling a tooth. This can also easily cost over $120 or €120. Hip operations under general anesthetic can often come to over $1,200 or €1,200. Sometimes, your dog may need blood tests and you will have to pay for lab costs. These don’t have set prices, as the costs vary so much. It’s always a good idea to “set aside” some money just in case.

Golden Retriever at the vet Photo: Roger costa morera/Shutterstock