If you are looking to get your female dog spayed but are wondering about the cost to spay a dog, you’re not alone. This is a common concern among new dog parents.
Costs can vary between private practices, neuter or spay clinics, and specialty clinics. Find out how much it costs to spay a dog and what options can help lower costs.
Key Takeaways
- You can expect to pay anywhere from $250–$2,000 for a routine dog spay.
- Spayed and neutered dogs also have longer average lifespans than their intact counterparts.
- Speak with your veterinarian about getting your dog spayed. They should not only discuss the pros and cons of this common surgery but also offer you potential solutions if you are concerned about the procedure’s cost.
What Is Dog Spaying?
Dog spay surgery is a common veterinary surgery done to stop a female dog from becoming pregnant.
Most commonly, the ovaries and uterus are removed, which is known medically as an ovariohysterectomy. This is typically what’s meant by a “spay surgery.”
Sometimes, only the ovaries are removed, which is called an ovariectomy. In this case, the dog still has her uterus but can’t get pregnant because she does not have ovaries to produce eggs for fertilization. She will not show signs of heat or attract males.
If a hysterectomy is done, meaning the uterus is removed but the ovaries remain, the dog cannot get pregnant. However, she will continue to attract males and display the behaviors of an intact female dog.
Spaying is a very common surgical procedure.
According to Humane World for Animals (formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) estimates that around 69% of pet dogs are spayed or neutered in the United States, while the American Pet Products Association (APPA) found in their 2021–2022 survey that around 78% of dogs were spayed or neutered.
What’s the Average Cost of Spaying a Dog?
According to Lemonade Insurance, you can expect to pay anywhere from $250–$2,000 for a routine dog spay, with Forbes listing the average spay cost at $600.
However, costs vary widely depending on the factors listed below. A laparoscopic spay, which involves making several small incisions and using a camera within the abdomen rather than an open abdominal surgery, generally cost more than traditional spays.
In a low-cost clinic, you’ll usually pay less than $300.
Low-cost clinics typically handle a higher number of animals each day. High-volume veterinary surgeons are usually extremely fast, and their quick speed, in addition to fewer monitoring and pre-operative requirements, means they can charge less per surgery.
The following factors contribute to the cost of spaying a dog:
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Geographic location: The local cost of living, local wages, and the price of veterinary materials can impact pricing at the clinic.
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Type of practice: Costs will generally be higher if your dog is spayed somewhere that does laparoscopic spays. Low-cost and nonprofit clinics will cost less than private practices.
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Size and age of dog: Costs are usually higher in older, larger, and obese dogs because of increased surgical difficulty and time. Older dogs might also need more testing during their presurgical workup, such as blood and urine testing, to ensure anesthesia is safe for them.
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Pre-anesthetic requirements: Some clinics may require blood work for all patients before the spay. Others may only require testing if your dog is a certain age or has other underlying health concerns. If the clinic requires an intravenous (IV) catheter, that’s another potential cost.
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Anesthetics and pain medications: The types of anesthetics used, how long your dog is under anesthesia, and the types of pain medications given can impact cost.
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Monitoring equipment and personnel: Costs will be increased if the clinic is using more advanced monitoring equipment.
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Dog’s individual reproductive cycle: Certain stages of your dog’s reproductive cycle can increase the difficulty of surgery. Some clinics will charge more for dogs who are in heat or pregnant at the time of their spay surgery.
Benefits of Spaying a Dog
Spaying a dog has several benefits, both for the pet and for the pet parent. These include:
Spayed and neutered dogs also have longer average lifespans than their intact counterparts. In fact, spayed females may have the longest life expectancy when compared to intact males and females and neutered males. According to a study published in 2019, the lifespan of a spayed dog is around 30 weeks (i.e., over half a year) longer than the lifespan of an intact female dog.
Of course, there are risks associated with spay procedures as well.
As with any surgery performed under general anesthesia, risks include anesthetic complications, bleeding, and infection.
Some dogs will have urinary incontinence after being spayed, which is usually manageable with medications, like Proin.
Spayed dogs are also more likely to become overweight, so it’s important to watch your pet’s body condition and work with your veterinarian to change their diet if needed.
Research is ongoing regarding how spay and neuter procedures impact joint health, growth and development, and certain cancer risks. It’s best to discuss the risks versus benefits of spaying with your veterinarian.
What To Do if You Can’t Afford To Have Your Dog Spayed
Getting your dog spayed is one of the more expensive parts of adopting a new dog, and this can be a large burden for some pet parents. Several options exist to help lower the cost of a spay procedure, such as:
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Choosing a low-cost or nonprofit clinic. This option seems obvious. What you may not know, however, is that some of these clinics occasionally host free spay/neuter events. They may also offer financial assistance to underprivileged pet parents. You may have to show proof of low income or government assistance.
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Enrolling in pet insurance. Because pet insurance is meant to cover unexpected costs, most accident and illness plans do not cover spay procedures. However, some pet insurance companies offer wellness plans either as add-ons or standalone plans. These will often include coverage for spaying your dog.
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Signing up for clinic wellness plans or bundles. Some veterinary clinics have wellness plans that help to break up the cost of your dog’s routine care over the course of a year. For puppies or juvenile dogs, the wellness plan may offer a spay/neuter add-on, meaning you’d pay for the surgery over the course of a year rather than all at once.
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Have your dog spayed at a younger age. Surgery will generally cost less if your dog is younger and smaller. Some clinics will spay a dog as young as 2 months old. However, make sure to speak with your veterinarian about whether this is a safe option for your dog.
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Adopt from a shelter or rescue. Often, these pets will already be spayed or neutered. If they are not, the shelter or rescue may offer you a voucher for a free or reduced cost spay.
Speak with your veterinarian about getting your dog spayed. They should not only discuss the pros and cons of this common surgery but also offer you potential solutions if you are concerned about the procedure’s cost.
While the cost of a spay surgery may seem like a lot, you will find that it’s significantly more expensive to care for newborn puppies or an intact female dog who needs an emergency procedure, such as a pyometra spay or a cesarean section (C-section).
Don’t forget to check out your local nonprofits to find an option that works best for you and your dog.
