RexVet Research • Updated May 2026 • Free to cite
The 2026 Pet Care Cost Index
How much does the vet really cost in 2026? We analyzed 15 common veterinary procedures across Florida, New York, and Virginia — and the affordability gap driving more than half of U.S. pet owners to skip recommended care.
52%
of U.S. pet owners skipped or delayed recommended vet care in the past year due to cost
$168
average in-person cost of a routine vet concern across FL/NY/VA
3x
cheaper to handle that concern via $64.99 non-profit telehealth
Key findings
Veterinary costs vary dramatically by state. Across the 15 procedures analyzed, New York averaged the highest in-person prices, followed by Florida, then Virginia.
The affordability gap is widest on routine care. The average routine, telehealth-appropriate concern costs roughly $168 in person — about 3x the $64.99 cost of a non-profit telehealth visit.
Emergency care is the single biggest financial shock. ER visits range from a few hundred dollars to $5,000-7,000 depending on state and severity — the bills most responsible for the 52% of owners who delay care.
Surgical procedures (spay/neuter, dental, ACL) remain in-person necessities, but their pre- and post-operative consultations are increasingly handled by telehealth — reducing total cost of care.
Price opacity compounds the problem. Most clinics do not publish prices, making comparison shopping difficult. Transparent flat-fee telehealth is one structural response to rising, unpredictable pet care costs.
Cost Index by state
Average mid-point cost across all 15 analyzed procedures, by state.
#1 most expensive
New York
$1059
avg procedure cost
#2 most expensive
Florida
$770
avg procedure cost
#3 most expensive
Virginia
$718
avg procedure cost
Full cost data
Cost ranges per procedure, per state (2026). Click any procedure for the detailed breakdown.
| Procedure | Florida | New York | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spay surgery for a dog | $200–$700 | $300–$900 | $200–$650 |
| Neuter surgery for a dog | $150–$600 | $250–$800 | $150–$550 |
| Spay surgery for a cat | $100–$400 | $175–$550 | $100–$350 |
| Neuter surgery for a cat | $60–$300 | $100–$450 | $65–$275 |
| An annual vet checkup | $50–$250 | $80–$350 | $50–$225 |
| Pet vaccinations | $75–$250 | $100–$350 | $75–$225 |
| A dental cleaning for a dog | $400–$1500 | $600–$2000 | $400–$1400 |
| A heartworm test | $30–$90 | $45–$120 | $30–$85 |
| Microchipping | $25–$75 | $40–$100 | $25–$75 |
| X-rays for a pet | $150–$600 | $200–$800 | $150–$550 |
| Bloodwork for a pet | $80–$350 | $120–$450 | $80–$325 |
| An ER vet visit | $200–$5000 | $300–$7000 | $200–$4500 |
| ACL/CCL surgery for a dog | $2500–$6000 | $3500–$8000 | $2500–$5500 |
| A mass removal for a dog | $250–$1800 | $350–$2500 | $250–$1700 |
| A tooth extraction for a pet | $100–$800 | $150–$1100 | $100–$750 |
Cite this report
This data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit and link to RexVet.
For media inquiries, original data requests, or expert commentary, contact Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM (Chief Executive Officer & lead veterinarian) at dr.delacruz@rexvet.org.
Methodology & sources
Cost ranges represent typical 2026 prices for each procedure in each state, compiled from published industry references including CareCredit, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Pawlicy Advisor, and Forbes Advisor, cross-referenced with regional clinic pricing. Ranges reflect the variation between low-cost/nonprofit clinics and full-service or specialty hospitals; actual prices vary by clinic, pet, and case complexity.
The "52%" affordability figure reflects widely-reported survey data on U.S. pet owners delaying or skipping recommended veterinary care due to cost. The telehealth comparison uses RexVet's published flat fee of $64.99 per consultation (or $120/year for the Family Plan covering unlimited visits). Telehealth is appropriate for many routine and non-emergency concerns but does not replace in-person care for surgery, emergencies, or hands-on diagnostics.
Reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM. Last updated May 2026. RexVet (Rex Vets Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit veterinary telehealth organization, EIN 33-2469898.
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