have you had a dog spayed recently?

[kitchenreno]

I live in a HCOL area.  The estimate for my dog's spay appointment is between $1200-1600.  Google says it should be 1/4 to  1/2 this.  If you've had a dog neutered r spayed in a HCOL area recently, what did you pay all in?  My quote includes anesthesia and post op medications

[simpsongal]

10+ years ago we were quoted like $700, so that may be accurate. We went to the humane society and paid like $150. I'd look into that if I were you - they do it all the time, same treatment, way lower cost.

[tacokick]

We paid about $700 last year. Our vet charges about half what our old one did for pretty much everything. I’d call around.

[starburst604]

We had our lab neutered at the end of 2022 and we were quoted $800. I think we spent a bit more on pre-op blood work too. We were told anesthesia cost is calculated by weight, so keep the size of the dog in mind. I don't know if spaying is typically higher cost since it's more invasive, but definitely call around.

[carriebear822]

In Southern California, in 2022, we paid $660 for our lab spaying. That included anesthesia, cone, post-op visit check-up, and meds. Southern California here

[followyourarrow]

I'm in Louisiana, so LCOL. My dog gets spayed next month and the estimate is $1,100, but it goes by weight and she' 62 lbs.

[devonpow]

We are in Boston - I think it was $600-$700 7 years ago?

[sarahsays]

I'm in CT and I'm in a leadership position in a rescue. That number doesn't seem out of the realm of reasonable depending on a lot of factors.

I would look for a spay/neuter clinic, if there is one near you. They tend to have lower prices.

[lavenderblue]

I'm in the Philly burbs, so MCOL, and 4 years ago I payed a little over $500. I'm thinking costs have gone up since I am having 2 small kittens spayed tomorrow and that is costing me $400/each.

[deadwing]

I spent $1000ish on a lumpectomy for my dog in 2021. The surgery was quite minor and she was under for less than 30 minutes. However, my cost included having the lump analyzed at a lab, which I think was over $200 on it's own. I'd still expect a spay to cost at least as much because it's a more invasive procedure. M-to-H COL.

[isabel]

Your quote is very similar to the one we received. Thankfully the rescue paid it in full if we used their preferred vet, who does lower cost spays for rescues.

I was shocked by the price. I’m in Colorado.

[EvieEthelGarland]

I'd shop around.

My parents senior rescue (retired mama dog from a local breeder) was recently spayed for $800 in Seattle exburbs. My suburban vet quoted about $1200. She's a 75lb golden and was having more monitoring done because of her age and maternal history.

[mccallister84]

We paid I believe $700 in May. But she’s under 20 pounds. I would say we are MCOL.

[pinkdutchtulips]

Miss Ellies was spayed through a county program - $250 covered the surgery, meds, cone of shame in late June 2024.

Local vets wanted $1200-1500   I waited THREE years for the county to release dates only to end up on the waitlist and eventually get an appointment. 

I'm in the SF/Bay Area 

[loira]

I live in HCOL area. We had our 40lb dog spayed about a year and a half ago. We waited until she was fully grown as per the breeder's wishes, so the spay obviously cost more than if she had been a puppy. I believe the extra cost had to do with size (more anesthesia needed) and she was more fully developed so a more complicated surgery.

We paid about $1,400 CAD for everything including pre surgery meds and health testing in preparation for surgery.

[nicolewi]

My dog got spayed in June 2023. It was about $750, including meds, cone of shame, surgery. Medium cost of living area.

WE also paid $140 or so for pre-op bloodwork.

And we paid an additional $250 or so at the same time for the microchip and some ear clean-out stuff they did for mild ear infection while already sedated. I think also dental X rays were in there.

[zarapipe]

Are there any non profits that do spay and neuter? We have used those before for a fraction of the price. Problem is availability bc there are so many animals that need spay and neuter.

[raleighnc]

That's definitely reasonable for HCOL for a spay (which is abdominal surgery, so more invasive than neutering). Google is probably telling you that it's lower based on either old data or subsidized spay surgeries that some nonprofits do (they fundraise to cover the remainder). They also may be including pre-op blood work and extra personnel for monitoring during surgery.

[sadlebred]

Google "Low cost spay + your city." Sometimes animal services (formerly animal control) or a rescue might offer low cost spaying.

[livinitup]

I don’t know much but I’ve been reading about private equity buying up private practices / solo practices like veterinary care. Brick & mortar industries to protect against the losses private equity firms suffered after the 2008 crash. They keep the name of the practice and it looks the same. Except they buy up a lot of them in the same area and jack up the prices. So, you can’t really shop around because the prices are high everywhere.

The care is still good. Just expensive.

Still worth asking around for better prices.

[meganew]

We got Mabel spayed in 2021 in Philly and it was about $500. Your quote seems super high, even for HCOL.

[heygrey]

Our dog was spayed in April 2024 and it would have been $1000ish. Our vet was opening a new clinic at the time and offered 30% off some services so it was a bit cheaper for us, but still on the higher side. That included pre-op bloodwork, anesthesia, the procedure, meds, and a post-op check up between 7-10 days. I have a 65lb golden retriever.

My SIL had her dog spayed in January and it was $350 for everything including an overnight for observation at her vet. She has a 45lb doodle. She is in a MCOL city in NYS. I was shocked at how cheap it was there compared to ours.

[sdlaura]

Yes, I had my Scottish terrier spayed in June in a HCOL area (SoCal) and all in cost was about $850 I think. Maybe a little less.

[verycontrary247]

MCOL area and we just got quoted around 1k to spay our great dane mix that's 10 months