- Unexpected costs: Hip replacement surgery for dogs costs an average of $6,667 in Australia, while common emergency procedures regularly exceed $3,000.
- Pet dental care: Treating advanced dental disease can cost over $4,000 for full extraction, compared with around $622 for early treatment
- Australians pay an average of $619 a year to insure a cat, compared with $1,192 for a dog.
- Pet owners in Western Australia pay the highest insurance premiums on average, while Tasmania was the cheapest state
- Giant dogs cost over 40% more to insure than smaller breeds
Have you ever wondered whether where you live affects how much you pay for pet insurance? What about how much emergency and routine pet surgeries can actually cost? The pet insurance comparison experts at Compare the Market have analysed more than 16,000 insurance quotes and gathered publicly available veterinary pricing to provide a snapshot of pet surgery costs across Australia. Knowing how location and size of pets can influence costs can help pet owners to feel more in control of their insurance decisions and financial planning.
Emergency pet surgery can cost thousands of dollars. Yet, pricing is rarely advertised and can vary widely depending on the type of procedure and the level of treatment required. With veterinary costs often not transparent and the rising cost of living contributing to financial pressures, many pet owners may be caught off guard by bills they didn’t expect or can’t afford. This analysis offers indicative pricing to help pet owners better understand the range of routine and emergency procedures their furry family members may encounter, and the potential costs if an emergency does happen.
Desexing of cats and dogs
| Desexing pet costs | Dog castration | Dog spey | Cat castration | Cat spey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | $439-$690 | $540-$780 | $275 | $420 |
| New South Wales | $380-$620 | $510-$1,070 | $220-$282 | $384-$630 |
| Queensland | $250-$610 | $300-$800 | $140-$235 | $180-$410 |
| Western Australia | $310-$520 | $350-$600 | $120 | $225 |
| South Australia | $509-$625 | $556-$949 | $178 | $405 |
| Australian average | $512 | $646 | $207 | $379 |
Desexing procedures for cats and dogs are routine veterinary operations and are generally excluded from pet insurance policies as it’s considered an elective, or preventative procedure rather than an unexpected injury. Pricing varies widely across Australia depending on the size, weight, age and gender of the pet, as well as the clinic providing the service. Costs differ depending on the sex on the animal. Castration refers to desexing males and spey refers to desexing female cats or dogs. Speying is generally more expensive as it’s a more invasive procedure that requires abdominal surgery.
Based on available pricing, the average cost of desexing a male dog across Australia is around $512, while desexing a female dog averages closer to $646. Cats are typically less expensive to desex due to their smaller size, with male cat castration averaging $207 and female cat speys averaging $379 nationally.
While these procedures are planned and relatively common, they highlight how veterinary costs can quickly add up, particularly in the early days of pet ownership.
Vet dentistry costs
| Vet dental grades | Australian average cost | What it reflects |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $622 | Covers scale, polish and cleaning assessment |
| Grade 2 | $890 | Moderate disease, may involve extractions |
| Grade 3–4 | $1,371 | Severe disease, surgery and potentially multiple extractions |
| Full mouth extraction | $4,120 | Price depends on size of dog or cat |
Veterinary dental disease is also common in pets and is often an underestimated health issue. While early-stage dental disease can be managed with a routine scale and polish (grade one), costs rise rapidly if the severity increases.
Available pricing shows that grade one dental treatment, which typically includes cleaning and assessment, averages around $622. However, more advanced dental disease frequently requires surgical intervention, including multiple tooth extractions, with grades three to four treatments averaging more than $1,370. In severe cases or when the disease goes untreated, a full-mouth extraction can cost more than $4,000, depending on the size of the dog or cat and the complexity of the surgery.
More complex dental disease and surgical conditions can therefore drive veterinary costs into the thousands if left untreated. While standard pet insurance often covers dental injuries caused by accidents or when treatment is medically necessary, routine dental care may be covered only as an add-on. For this reason, it is recommended to consider coverage early in a pet’s life, as pre-existing dental conditions are usually excluded.
Cost of pet surgery
| Pet surgeries | Australian average cost |
|---|---|
| ACL (cruciate ligament repair or TPLO) | $3,533 |
| Hip replacement | $6,667 |
| MLP (medially luxating patella, kneecap) | $2,692 |
| Hip dislocation | $3,500 |
| Gastrointestinal surgery (animal has ingested foreign object) | $2,620 |
| Cystotomy (bladder stone removal) | $2,440 |
| Skin masses (cancer) | $1,380 |
A snapshot of veterinary pricing shows how quickly routine pet care can escalate into major surgery when health issues arise. While many preventative treatments are relatively affordable, serious injuries or medical emergencies can result in bills running into the thousands.
For example, cruciate ligament repair typically costs more than $3,500, while hip replacement surgery can exceed $6,000, placing significant financial pressure on pet owners if unexpected treatment is required.
Most comprehensive pet insurance policies cover the types of surgeries highlighted above, provided conditions are not pre-existing at the time cover begins.
Pet insurance quote costs (average)
| Average pet insurance quote costs | Cat | Dog |
|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | $ 685 | $ 1,356 |
| Victoria | $ 613 | $ 1,217 |
| Northern Territory | $ 633 | $ 1,206 |
| New South Wales | $ 598 | $ 1,197 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $ 606 | $ 1,166 |
| Queensland | $ 605 | $ 1,161 |
| South Australia | $ 588 | $ 1,136 |
| Tasmania | $ 569 | $ 1,093 |
| Australian average | $ 619 | $ 1,192 |
Analysis of Compare the Market’s pet insurance data, based on more than 16,000 insurance quotes, shows Australians are paying an average of $619 per year to insure a cat and $1,192 per year to insure a dog.
The cost of pet insurance varies slightly across Australia. Western Australia consistently records the highest average premiums for both dogs and cats, which suggests higher underlying veterinary and treatment costs. At the same time, Tasmania remains the most affordable state for pet insurance. These differences highlight how location can affect the overall cost of pet ownership, particularly when it comes to insurance.
Pet insurance costs for dog size
| Dog size | Average cost of pet insurance |
|---|---|
| Giant | $ 1,456 |
| Large | $ 1,340 |
| Medium | $ 1,089 |
| Small | $ 959 |
| Toy | $ 809 |
Analysis of pet insurance pricing shows that premiums increase steadily with dog size, reflecting higher treatment and surgery costs associated with larger breeds. On average, toy-sized dogs cost around $809 per year to insure, compared with $1,456 per year for giant breeds. Pet size is just one variable that can have a significant impact on insurance costs, making it a consideration for Australians thinking about the financial commitment of bringing a new pet into their home. Other variables that can influence the cost of pet insurance include:
- The type of pet – cat or dog
- Your pet’s age, or when you take out the policy
- Your pet’s breed
- Your pet’s health status/medical history
- The annual limit you choose
- The insurance benefit percentage
- The policy excess
- The optional extras you include
- Your claims history
Premiums vary between providers and depending on whether you’re taking out a new policy or renewing the level of coverage you already have. Compare your policy options to ensure you’re happy with the cost of pet insurance.
Adrian Taylor, Chief Executive – General Insurance, comments: “Insurance premiums tend to increase with dog size as larger breeds are more prone to complex medical conditions, requiring longer surgery and specialist care. On the other hand, smaller dogs tend to experience fewer high-cost surgeries, helping keep premiums lower.
“Having pet insurance in place can provide valuable financial support if the unexpected happens. Pet insurance can help cover the cost of treatments and surgery, reducing the out of pocket burden for owners when serious illness or injury arises. Some conditions are excluded if they are considered pre existing, so it’s recommended to consider pet insurance early in a pet’s life to ensure protection is in place before any health issues or emergencies occur.”
For further insights and methodology visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/pet-insurance/features/pet-surgery-bills/
