The Burrow
Apr 30, 2026
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 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 |
| Australia average | $512 | $646 | $207 | $379 |
Note: Average amounts are based on limited publicly available pricing listed online and are intended as indicative only. Actual costs may vary depending on clinic, pet size, age, weight, health status and the complexity of the procedure. Australian average is the from the states provided in the table. Not all states had prices available online and were therefore excluded from this analysis.^
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 dental grades | Australian average cost | What it reflects |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $622 | Covers scale and polish and cleaning assessment |
| Grade 2 | $890 | Moderate disease, may involve extractions |
| Grade 3-4 | $1,371 | Severe disease, surgery and potentially multiple extraction |
| Full mouth extraction | $4,120 | Price depends on size of dog or cat |
Note: Average amounts are based on limited publicly available pricing listed online and are intended as indicative only. Actual costs may vary depending on clinic, pet size, age, weight, health status and the complexity of the procedure.^
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.
| 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 |
Note: Average amounts are based on limited publicly available pricing listed online and are intended as indicative only. Actual costs may vary depending on clinic, pet size, age, weight, health status and the complexity of the procedure.^
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.
| 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 |
Note: All Compare the Market Quote data from 01/03/2025-31/03/2026.*
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.
| Dog size | Average cost of pet insurance |
|---|---|
| Giant | $1,456 |
| Large | $1,340 |
| Medium | $1,089 |
| Small | $959 |
| Toy | $809 |
Note: All Compare the Market Policy quote data from 01/03/2025-31/03/2026.*
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:
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.”
*This analysis is based on internal Compare the Market pet insurance data, using 16,652 insurance quotes across Australia from [date] March 2025 to [date] March 2026. Average annual policy costs were calculated by dividing the total premium value by the number of quotes for each category, including pet type, state or territory, and dog size.
^Veterinary pricing examples for desexing, dental treatment and surgery were compiled using limited publicly available pricing listed online by selected Australian veterinary clinics.[include dates the data was collected] These figures are intended as indicative snapshots only, not comprehensive national averages. Actual veterinary costs may vary depending on clinic, pet size, health status, disease severity and treatment complexity.
Veterinary costs were calculated as the average using either the listed price or range where provided.
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