How Much Does a Vet X-Ray Cost? (2024 Guide)
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Accidents happen. At some point, your pet may need to get an X-ray. If your pet shows signs that something is wrong, you should get it checked out, but you’ll probably want to know what kind of expense you’re looking at ahead of time.
We looked at the typical cost of a vet X-ray, how vet X-rays work, and common reasons pet parents take their dogs or cats to get one. We also looked at the best pet insurance plans that cover vet X-rays to help you save money on pet care.
What is the Typical Cost of a Vet X-Ray?
On average, vet X-rays fall in the $150–$250* range, but many factors can impact this estimate. Your pet’s X-ray could cost as little as $75 or as much as $500. The cost of a pet X-ray depends on factors such as location, injury severity, pet species, your vet’s office, and the size of your dog or cat. The more complex or widespread your pet’s issue, the more X-rays your pet is likely to need and the higher the cost will be. Cat X-rays are often less expensive than dog x-ray costs given their size, averaging between $100–$250.
*All cost ranges are calculated as averages from various 2022 reports, including Canine Journal and Pawlicy Advisor.
What Is a Vet X-Ray?
A vet X-ray is an image of your pet’s body structure using high-energy electromagnetic radiation. X-ray imaging devices can capture images of your pet’s internal organs, muscles, blood vessels, and bone structure. X-rays are quick and painless and expose your pet to minimal radiation. The American Cancer Society estimates that a typical chest X-ray exposes the subject to the same amount of radiation they would naturally experience over a 10-day period.
Your vet can use types of X-rays to spot the exact location of bone breakage, confirm dental decay, identify an ingested object, and detect heart and lung issues, among other things. However, an X-ray isn’t always the best diagnostic tool. Ultrasounds, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, or even blood work can more effectively detect issues in soft tissue structures, such as the bladder.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Vet X-Rays?
Most pet health insurance providers cover vet X-rays in their base accident-and-illness insurance plans. Pet insurance helps cover the cost of necessary and unexpected pet health care, including the use of X-ray machines. If your pet needs an X-ray, you will typically pay the vet bill out of pocket before you leave the vet clinic or animal hospital. You can file a claim for the amount charged. Most pet insurance companies will reimburse you within a few days to a few weeks via direct deposit or a mailed check.
Lemonade, Spot, and Healthy Paws, three pet insurance providers we recommend, all cover the cost of X-rays in their base plans. Pet insurance costs around $50 per month and can be used for various veterinary care in addition to X-rays, such as surgeries, medications, diagnostic testing, hospitalization, and routine wellness needs such as annual checkups and vaccinations to mitigate potential health problems.
Learn more about how pet insurance works.
What Are the Reasons for Getting a Vet X-ray?
Your vet may order an X-ray for your pet for several reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons.
Broken Bones
An X-ray is the best way to spot a broken bone. X-ray imaging can capture the exact location and severity of the fracture. Most breakages are easy to see and only require one X-ray to diagnose.
Intestinal Blockages
If your dog or cat swallows something indigestible, such as a small toy or another foreign object, it can cause severe pain and other serious consequences. A stomach X-ray can show where the object is in the intestinal tract. Your vet can then decide whether surgery is needed or to let nature run its course.
Bladder Stones
Veterinary medicine uses both X-rays and ultrasounds to detect kidney and gallbladder stones. Locating the stones helps vets remove them.
Tumors
Not all tumors appear on X-rays, but it can be a less expensive first step to diagnosing cancer. For example, bone cancer is one form that is likely identifiable by X-ray.
Orthopedic Issues
Issues such as hip dysplasia are often easily seen with X-ray imaging. This allows your vet to see how the condition is progressing and determine the best treatment plan.
Dental Problems
Vets recommend dental X-rays for pets yearly, even when there are no signs of a problem. Dental issues are hard for pet owners to spot until they become severe and affect your pet’s behavior. X-rays help catch issues while they’re still in the gum. If there is an issue, an X-ray will show its location and severity. Sedation is often needed during dental X-rays, as most pets don’t enjoy having their mouths poked and prodded.
Lung and Heart Issues
Your vet will take a chest X-ray if your pet is experiencing breathing problems. An X-ray can reveal a fungal infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, a mass, and other issues.
Pregnancy
Most vets agree that X-rays are safe for pregnant pets once puppies or kittens have gestated for 50 days. Vets X-ray pregnant pets to see how many puppies or kittens the mother is carrying and their positioning. The vet will also compare the fetus sizes to the mother’s birth canal to gauge delivery safety.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Vet X-Rays?
Several factors can fluctuate the cost of vet X-rays, sometimes by hundreds of dollars. Below are some of the most common influences:
- Injury location: Some body parts are more challenging to capture than others. A paw, for example, is relatively easy to X-ray compared to a stomach, which may require X-rays from different angles.
- Sedation: Anesthesia could be necessary for a few reasons. If your pet is in extreme pain, too nervous to maintain composure, or too tense to get a clear image of its muscles, your vet may use sedation to ease the process.
- Number of X-rays: It may be necessary to take X-rays from multiple angles to get a clear picture of the problem. Each X-ray will cost you.
- Geographic location: Your ZIP code impacts the cost of most vet visits. Vet offices in highly populated areas will likely have a higher average cost for their services.
- Type of office: An emergency clinic or animal hospital will likely charge more than a routine veterinary clinic.
Our Conclusion
If your pet needs an X-ray, expect to pay $150–$250 on average. Vet costs can fluctuate outside this range. More important than cost, however, is getting your pet the vet care it needs as soon as possible. If the issue seems dire, take your pet to an emergency animal hospital right away.
If your pet shows signs of a health issue, such as appetite changes, whining, lethargy, vomiting, or limping, contact your veterinarian to see if your furry friend needs an X-ray. Take a look at our recommendations for the cheapest pet insurance providers to help you save money on this procedure.
FAQs About Vet X-Rays
Are dog X-rays expensive?
Dog X-rays typically range from $150–$250. X-rays can cost as little as $75 or as much as $500, depending on the injury or issue. The use of sedation will increase the price.
How long does a vet X-ray take?
A single vet X-ray typically takes 10 minutes to perform. The image is instantly available for your vet to view and share with you.
What does a vet X-ray show?
Vet X-rays show diagnostic imaging of bones, joints, major organs, and muscles. X-rays can sometimes be used to detect issues in soft tissue, but work best for diagnosing bone-related issues.
Is an X-ray at the vet the same as an X-ray at the hospital?
The cost of an X-ray at a routine vet office will likely be less expensive than an X-ray at an animal hospital or emergency clinic.
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