When your pet faces a medical emergency, rushing to the vet is the only option. But as a pet parent, the financial aspect of emergency veterinary care can add stress to the situation. Understanding the factors that influence emergency vet costs and how to prepare for them can help you navigate these challenging moments more confidently.
→ Learn more – Emergency Dog Vet: When to Seek Immediate Help for Your Pup
→ Learn more – Emergency Cat Vet Services: Top Reasons to Visit
Factors Influencing Emergency Vet Costs
Various factors influence the cost of emergency vet services, from location to the nature of your pet's emergency. In the following sections, we discuss how each of these can increase or decrease emergency vet costs.
1. Geographic Location
The cost of emergency veterinary care can vary significantly based on where you obtain it. Vet clinics in urban or metropolitan areas may charge higher fees, primarily due to higher operating expenses like rent and utilities.
However, fees can also be affected by whether or not there are enough vets in the area to meet the demand. Since there is a shortage of vets in rural areas, this can also impact emergency vet costs—as well as their availability.
2. Diagnostic Tests Required [Blood Work & Imaging Tests]
When pets are brought to a vet clinic for pet emergencies or urgent care, they go through a methodical patient assessment algorithm, which helps the clinic provide diagnosis and treatment effectively.
In any case, diagnosis is often one of the first steps—along with stabilizing the patient’s condition. Different cases will require a different set of diagnostic tests, such as blood work, x-rays, ultrasounds, and so on. The goal of these tests is to know the root cause or extent of the medical issue. These may vary depending on vet recommendations
In general, the more complex and varied the diagnostic tests are, the higher the cost of the emergency vet visit. Here are a few examples of how different emergency cases can have different diagnostic procedures:
- Fracture in dogs and cats — X-rays for determining the extent of the fracture; bloodwork for detecting shock or internal injuries from trauma
- Accidental ingestion — X-ray and/or ultrasound for determining the extent and location of the blockage; +/- barium study for providing more contrast if the X-rays are inconclusive.
- Poisoning — bloodwork and urinalysis to assess toxicity; blood oxygen levels for assessing the degree of poisoning; X-ray or ultrasound for assessing damage to organs or locating ingested items
3. Early vs Late Intervention
One of the most common questions pet parents ask is “can my dog’s or cat’s emergency wait till morning?” However, most pet emergencies have a timeframe of minutes to hours wherein immediate action can make a significant difference in the outcome. Early intervention typically leads to a better prognosis.
Another possible benefit of early intervention is reduced emergency vet costs. By addressing the issue promptly, costly complex treatments and/or hospitalization may be avoided.
Here are a few examples of emergencies and how they can escalate if not brought to an emergency vet quickly:
- Fractures in dogs and cats — when left without treatment for an extended period of time, fracture injuries can get worse with compounded soft tissue injury, especially if the dog or cat tries to use or move the fractured body part.
- Poisoning in dogs and cats — the impact of newly ingested poison can still be reduced with induced vomiting performed or guided by a veterinarian. Leaving the pet to wait after ingesting a poisonous substance leads to more absorption of the toxin, resulting in a critical condition, organ damage, or death.
- Foreign body ingestion — as a foreign body is allowed to stay inside the gastrointestinal tract, it increases the risk of perforation and subsequent peritonitis (an inflammation of the thin layer of tissue in the abdominal cavity). Perforation may also lead to systemic infection or sepsis, which puts the pet in a critical condition.
4. Stabilizing Medication & IV Fluids
Once a pet is brought to an emergency vet clinic or vet ER, one of the first things that veterinarians do is stabilize the pet’s condition and prevent the pet’s condition from escalating.
Veterinarians may need to use medications, IV fluids, and/or blood transfusions to stabilize the patient—and these will impact emergency vet costs either minimally or significantly, depending on the extent of care required
A few examples of conditions that need multiple stabilizing measures include the following:
- Fractures — may need pain relievers to manage pain; splints and bandages for immobilization; antibiotics to prevent infections in open fractures; IV fluids to prevent shock (especially for trauma injuries); and sedation for X-rays and preventing stress
- Severe dehydration — may require IV fluids for rehydration and anti-nausea medication to ease vomiting.
- Poisoning (ingested) — the pet may be given activated charcoal to bind to the toxins; IV fluids for kidney support and to flush their system; anti-seizure medications to prevent seizures; and more.
5. The Need for Surgery
Some pet emergencies require prompt veterinary surgery as part of the treatment. These are often done within the same visit—after a pet is assessed and cleared to be placed under anesthesia.
Veterinary surgeries can significantly add to the emergency vet costs, especially for complex operations. Here are some examples of pet emergencies that typically require surgery:
- Compound or complex fractures — compound fractures (where the bone protrudes through the skin), or complex fractures (involving multiple bone breaks), often require surgery to realign and secure the bones for proper healing.
- Intestinal obstruction by a foreign body — if the foreign body cannot be removed with an endoscope, surgery may be required.
- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) — GDV, commonly caused by bloat and commonly affecting deep-chested breeds, is a life-threatening condition where the stomach twists, causing a buildup of gas and fluid. Emergency gastric surgery is required to untwist the stomach and prevent GDV from recurring.
6. The Need for Hospitalization
Hospitalization will add to the total emergency vet costs, especially for prolonged stays. Pet hospitalization is often recommended when the dog or cat requires treatment or round-the-clock monitoring that cannot be provided at home.
Here are a few examples of conditions that may need hospitalization:
- Severe physical trauma — hospitalization may be recommended to monitor the pet and provide prompt treatment in case of internal bleeding, organ failure, and so on.
- Sepsis—hospitalization may be needed for administering intravenous antibiotics and IV fluids to keep the pet stable.
- Severe poisoning— certain chemicals can cause prolonged unconsciousness by affecting the nervous system or vital organs. In such cases, hospitalization is critical for administering antidotes (if available), IV fluids, and medications to promote recovery.
7. 24/7 Vet ER vs Fully-Equipped Emergency Vet Clinic
Generally, going to a 24/7 vet ER would result in higher emergency vet costs. This is because these facilities are equipped to handle emergencies around the clock, often requiring specialized staff and steep operational costs.
On the other hand, vet clinics that provide emergency services are fully equipped for pet emergencies. However, some may NOT be available 24/7. Some clinics offer standard hours of operation—while some are available for extended hours. In any case, these clinics tend to have lower rates than 24/7 vet ER.
Note: Sploot Vets, located in Denver and Chicago, provides emergency vet services (as well as primary and urgent care) for extended clinic hours, 365 days a year, from 8 am to 8 pm—with rates up to 60% lower than that of 24/7 vet ERs. If you need emergency vet services, call us at (720) 770-8656.
8. Active Pet Insurance [& The Policy’s Details]
Another factor that can influence emergency vet costs is the presence of active pet insurance. Pet insurance can reimburse a portion or the entire emergency vet cost, depending on the policy’s deductible.
There are two main types of pet insurance that address pet emergencies:
- Accident-only pet insurance — this kind of pet insurance can reimburse a portion of emergency vet costs associated with common accidents like falls, collisions, ingestion of foreign objects, animal attacks, and so on.
- Accident-and-illness pet insurance — also known as comprehensive pet insurance, these plans reimburse a portion of emergency vet costs associated with both pet accidents, sudden illnesses, and chronic illnesses. However, some policies may exclude pre-existing conditions.
Tips for Preparing for Emergency Vet Costs
As covered in the above sections, emergency vet costs can rise, depending on the required diagnostic tests, medication, supportive treatment, emergency surgery, hospitalization, and so on. To prepare for the unpredictable costs of emergency vet services, here are a few solutions to consider:
1. Emergency Savings for Pets
Setting aside an emergency savings fund for your pet can help you manage unexpected emergency vet costs. Though there isn’t a set amount that’s recommended for all, most pet parents get started with an amount of around $1,000 to $2,000, set aside for pet emergencies.
2. Pet Insurance
As mentioned earlier, having a pet insurance policy can help reduce emergency vet costs. Pet insurance can reimburse the entire amount or a percentage of it, depending on the policy’s coverage and deductibles.
If you’re considering getting pet insurance, make sure to review the policy’s details carefully, especially its exclusions, so that you can choose a coverage that best suits your pet’s needs.
3. Payment Plans for Emergency Vet Services
Some veterinary clinics offer payment plans or financing options for emergency care. These plans allow you to pay off the costs in installments, which can make expensive treatments more manageable.
Note: If your pet gets emergency vet services at Sploot Veterinary Care, our team will give you the documentation you need to file for reimbursement from your insurance provider. We also offer payment plans via CareCredit and ScratchPay, to help make emergency vet costs more manageable.
Final Thoughts on Emergency Vet Costs
We trust you found this article helpful. Understanding the factors that affect emergency vet costs can help pet parents prepare for these unforeseen events.
As always, we encourage pet parents to save the contact information of nearby vet clinics that offer emergency services—as well as nearby 24/7 vet ERs—since having this information on hand can be very helpful during time-sensitive pet emergencies.
→ Learn more - Emergency Vet: 9 Vital Things to Look For
Sploot Vets: Emergency Vet Care, 365 Days a Year
Sploot Veterinary Care is your go-to vet clinic for emergency vet services. Our clinics in Denver and Chicago are fully equipped for handling pet emergencies—with experienced medical teams, spacious exam rooms, and dedicated surgical suites.
We handle more than 95% of your pet’s healthcare needs, with rates up to 60% lower than that of 24/7 vet ERs. Our clinics are also open for extended hours, from 8 am to 8 pm, 365 days a year.
Easily arrange an emergency appointment at Sploot by calling us at (720) 770-8656.