Vets Guides & Resources

Typical Vet Costs in Australia

Trips to the vet, hopefully not for an emergency, are all part of household pet ownership. Here's a rough guide of what the Australian households owning a furry friend should expect from vet treatments depending on the size and type of their pets. These figures tend to be accurate, but it's worth [checking with your vet](/guides/vets/what-is-a-vet) for specific vet costs if they're available. In Australia, the vet bills are usually collected in full on the day of the discharge of your pet. Pet insurance is helpful in covering some parts of the expenses. The insurance depends on various health conditions or the type of pet. ## Costs of owning a dog Two types of costs of owning a dog, upfront and ongoing. The costs include food, health products, boarding services, vet, etc. As per the Australian veterinary association, below is the detailed list of various pet products which an average pet owner spend money on. | Item | Estimated cost | | -- | -- | | Dog tag | $20 | true | | Kennel | $200 | true | | Puppy trainer | $200 | true | | Microchipping | $80 | true | | Desexing | $500 | true | | Vaccination | $250 | true | | Flea and worming treatment | $100 | true | ## Costs of owning a cat Similar to the cost of owning a dog, the cost of owning a cat has upfront and ongoing costs. The average cost which the cat owners spend are detailed below. | Item | Estimated cost | | -- | -- | | Carry cage | $100 | true | | Scratching post | $300 | true | | Vaccination | $200 | true | | Flea treatment | $150 | true | ## Veterinary care and costs: Does the type of breed matter? The type of breed can impact the initial [cost at the vet](/guides/vets/vet-consultation-cost), but at the same time there are many other factors that vary depending on the type of breed. Pet dogs or cats often require similar treatments when it comes to surgeries, so there is rarely a difference between prices for each pet animal. Pet insurance can help the hip pocket as it covers some parts of the expenses in any serious cases. The insurance depends on various conditions and types of pet. It's worth noting that if the owners' pet needs rehabilitation or long-term treatments that the costs will be higher for larger pet dogs. Some breeds of pet dogs are more prone to breathing issues, for example, breeds such as pugs, boxers and French bulldogs will often require special care. ## What are the types of veterinary services offered in Australia? For pet dogs and cats, the pet owners can expect various physical exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, grooming, microchipping, spaying or neutering and rabies shots. These are some of the most common treatments vets offer in Australia. Some more complicated surgeries may also be performed by your vet (under general anaesthetic and x-ray machine) including birth deliveries, corrective eye surgery for conditions such as cataracts, diagnosis of tumours or other health problems through biopsies and cancer tumour removal among others. Pet insurance are helpful for pet owners in such cases of serious illness or injury as it covers some part of the expenses. The insurance depends on various conditions and the health of the pet. ## What is involved in a vet checkup? Pet dogs and pet cats are seen individually at the vet office. The initial visit may include a physical exam, vaccinations for rabies or feline leukemia, parasite tests and spaying or neutering if they're old enough. Depending on the needs of the pet this may be their only visit to the vet office in a year, but some pet animals will require more regular visits due to their variety or age. For example, puppies might need exams every two months until they turn 16 weeks old. Other pet animals, such as senior large dogs and cats might not require immunisation boosters unless there is a particular risk of disease within their area. Pet insurance can help cover some portion of the vet expenses. The insurance depends on various conditions of the pet. ## Average vet services price list The vet expenses in Australia are listed in full averaged up or down. The expenses for vet services in rural areas are slightly cheaper than the urban areas. ### Consultation cost The prospective pet owners are expected to pay $74 for a standard visit and pay $60 for a repeat visit to the vet. The initial costs of nail clipping are $35 while implanting a microchip it costs $63. An arthritis injection can be bought for $40 to $55. A preschool course for puppies costs $155 for 5 weeks. The first kitten or puppy visit is usually free under certain conditions. Pet insurance is helpful in pet ownership as it covers some portion of the bills in case of any serious illness or injury. The premium paid for the insurance depends on various conditions like age, size or type of animal. ### Vaccine cost For pet dogs, the average cost of a 3-year C5 is $131. Expected vet bills for kennel cough vaccination is $100, which is for 2 and 3 years. Similarly, the average cost of C3 for 3 years is $122. Whereas a C5 pack for 10 weeks can cost $270. Similarly, the cat owners, are expected to pay $100 for F3 vaccine and pay $75 for FIV vaccine. Calicivirus vaccine for pet rabbits can be bought for $100 and distemper vaccination for ferrets would be $100 too. ## Male dog desexing cost - Below 10Kg: $300 - 10Kg to 19Kg: $320 - 20Kg to 29Kg: $350 - 30Kg to 44Kg: $380 ## Female dog desexing cost - Below 10Kg: $390 - 10Kg to 19Kg: $445 - 20Kg to 29Kg: $500 - 30Kg to 44Kg: $550 ## Cat desexing cost - Male: $130 - Female: $290 ## Dental costs - Polishing and scaling for a dog: $460 (for a dog under 30Kg) - Polishing and scaling for a cat: $370 - Polishing and scaling for a rabbit: $550 ## Proheart cost The annual injection to prevent heartworm for all pets based on their weight attract the following expenses. - Under 4Kg: $100 - 5Kg to 9Kg: $115 - 10Kg to 19Kg: $130 - 20Kg to 29Kg: $150 - 30Kg to 44Kg: $155 - 45Kg to 54Kg: $170 ## Surgical cost Various surgical operations and their estimated vet bills for any pet are below. - Getting a grass seed removed: $250 - Getting a lump removed: $600 for a small one and $1,200 for a large one - Cruciate: $1,700 for a small dog and $3,700 for a large dog - Patella: $1,200 for a small dog ## How often should I take my pet for a checkup? For puppies or kittens who have not yet reached their full adult size, the vet will give general advice of getting check ups every two months. These check ups allow your vet to keep an eye on how your young pet is developing and catch any potential problems that may arise early before they become serious. Once your pet animal reaches adulthood, you should follow the advice provided by your vet, what frequency of visits are ideal for them depending on their types or ages. For healthy animals without major risk factors, examinations might only occur once a year. Some breeds such as senior dogs and cats can go much longer between appointments if they're in excellent health and don't require immunisation boosters unless there's a particular risk in their area. ## Do vets do microchipping? Yes, pet microchipping is a very common procedure that vet offer. This vet service involves implanting a small microchip under the skin of your pet. This chip contains registration information for you and your animal and if they ever get lost, it helps to identify them and find their owner quickly. Microchipping only takes a few minutes, and it's nearly painless for your pet. It can also be done in conjunction with other procedures like spaying or neutering to save you time and money at the vet. For further information you can consult with your authorised representative. ## How often should I get my pet vaccinated? In Australia, pet cast receive a vaccine against feline leukemia while puppies are typically given vaccines including rabies. As these are fatal diseases in both cats and dogs, the frequency of vaccination depends on your pet's risk factors. In case of any serious illness pet insurance is helpful in pet ownership as it covers some part of the vet bills. The insurance depends on various health conditions of the pet. For example, if you have a new pet dog that will come into contact with other animals at kennels or daycare then they may require regular checkups during their first year to provide immunity against parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus. Similarly, kittens who go outside where there is a greater chance of exposure to diseases might need vaccines more often than those who spend all their time indoors. You should discuss this issue with your vet along with any other concerns to get any second opinion you have about your pet's health care. This way they can recommend an ideal vaccination schedule suited for your pet's age. ## What happens at my pets first vaccinations? The initial [vet examination](/guides/vets/vet-check-up-cost) may include measurements such as weight, temperature and heart rate along with vaccinations. This appointment typically occurs after two weeks old if the kitten or pup has had no complications during birth or early life problems such as parasites can cause health issues later on. While you're at the vet office, your vet will consider other factors such as how well the kitten or puppy is nursing and gaining weight to make sure they're in good health even if their vaccinations aren't due yet. Pet insurance helps the pet owners in financial hardship as it covers some portion of the bills in case of any injury. The insurance depends on various health conditions of the pet animal. These exams are a great opportunity for a veterinarian to set up a standard protocol for your pet that includes scheduled examinations, parasite control and vaccinations. They'll consider their current age, type, general health and requirements to suggest an ideal vaccination schedule suited to your needs. ## How long does a checkup take? If the pets have never been to the veterinary clinic before, they will need basic health assessments like weight and temperature measurements as well as an examination of their skin, eyes and teeth. During this appointment, your pet animal is also typically microchipped along with receiving any initial vaccinations appropriate for their age and type. If you have concerns about their current health, your veterinarian may spend more time and money to thoroughly check them over. Sometimes they'll recommend extra tests depending on your pets history and breeds such as bloodwork or X-rays if there's a chance they might be suffering from a serious disease. Pet insurance helps the pet owners in financial situation as it covers some portion the bills in case of any injury. The insurance depends on various conditions of the pet. These factors significantly increase the amount of time your pet spend at the clinic. If you have any questions about costs or what pay to expect during a standard veterinary visit, it's best to talk with your veterinarian as early as possible. Interested in pet insurance? For more information, take a look at the [moneysmart website](https://moneysmart.gov.au/pet-insurance).