Dog Spay Surgery Cost
Dog spay prices vary widely between low-cost clinics and full-service hospitals. Your dog's size, whether she is in heat, and optional add-ons like bloodwork and pain medication all affect what you'll pay.
- Written by:
- Pet Surgery Estimate
- Published:
- Jun 17, 2026
- Last updated:
- Nov 12, 2026
- Clinic prices checked:
- Nov 6, 2026
Cost guide, not veterinary advice. This page helps you budget and ask good questions. It cannot tell you whether your pet needs this procedure — only your veterinarian can. Disclaimer
Typical cost
Medium-sized dog, general practice, scheduled, no location adjustment.
Typical cost: Dog Spay (Ovariohysterectomy)
Dog Spay (Ovariohysterectomy)
Estimate confidence: Medium · Wide educational estimate
Low
$300
Average
$550
High
$1,200+
Estimate in U.S. dollars for U.S. clinics, not a quote. How it's calculated
Estimate confidence: Medium
- Location not provided — national average used
How we calculated this
- Base rangeSpay
- UrgencyScheduled / planned (×1)
- Vet typeGeneral practice vet (×1)
- SizeMedium (×1)
- AgeAdult (×1)
- LocationNot specified (×1.00)
Figures are rounded broad ballparks, not a quote.
Understanding the cost of spay
A spay is the most predictable surgery on this site to price, but published prices still range from under $100 at nonprofit clinics to several hundred dollars at full-service hospitals. The difference is mostly what the price includes, not the surgery itself.
The AVMA describes two common approaches: ovariohysterectomy (removing the ovaries and uterus) and ovariectomy (removing only the ovaries). It also notes there is no one-size-fits-all age for spaying dogs; timing depends on breed, size, health and lifestyle, so that decision belongs to you and your vet. This page only covers what it might cost.
Size matters for price: larger dogs need more anesthetic and surgical time, and several clinics publish weight tiers. Some clinics also add a fee if a dog is in heat or pregnant.
What is in a spay quote — and what is not
What moves the price
- Your dog's size and weight
- Whether she is in heat or pregnant at the time
- Clinic type (low-cost clinic vs full-service hospital)
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork and pain management add-ons
Usually included in the quote
- Surgery and anesthesia
- Basic monitoring
Often billed separately
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork
- Take-home pain medication and e-collar
- Recheck or suture removal (clinic dependent)
Extra costs to ask about
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork
- Pain medication and e-collar
- Larger size or in-heat / pregnant surcharge
General practice, specialist or emergency hospital?
General practice
Full-service practices usually include or offer pre-anesthetic bloodwork, IV fluids, pain medication to go home and a recheck. Their quotes are higher but often more complete.
Specialist / referral hospital
Specialists rarely perform routine spays. A board-certified surgeon may be involved for laparoscopic spays or complicated cases, at a higher price.
Emergency hospital
Routine spays are not done at emergency hospitals. Emergency spays are usually for pyometra, which is priced very differently — see our pyometra guide.
Estimated cost by clinic type
Medium adult pet, no location adjustment.
| Scenario | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| General practice vet | $300 | $550 | $1,200+ |
| Specialty surgeon | $420 | $770 | $1,700+ |
| Emergency clinic | $770 | $1,400 | $3,050+ |
Estimated cost by urgency
Medium adult pet at a general practice.
| Scenario | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled / planned | $300 | $550 | $1,200+ |
| Urgent (soon) | $380 | $690 | $1,500+ |
| Emergency | $480 | $880 | $1,900+ |
These are our model's estimates, not published prices. See how the multipliers work.
What clinics actually publish
These are prices U.S. clinics list on their own websites for dog spay (ovariohysterectomy) or a closely related service. Each one covers something different, so read the "Covers" note before comparing it with the range above or with your own quote.
Gentle Vet Animal Hospital · Green Bay, WI
$723
Dog spay, under 65 lb (over 65 lb: $812) · General practice
Covers: Listed as a complete price with anesthesia, pre-surgical bloodwork and pain control; a prior exam is required and the e-collar is extra. Prices stated as current October 2026.
View the clinic's price page · accessed Nov 6, 2026
ValueCare Veterinary Clinic · Chaska & Richfield, MN
$425 (under 30 lb) – $610 (111+ lb)
Dog spay, by weight · General practice
Covers: General fee guide, not an itemized estimate; exam listed separately.
View the clinic's price page · accessed Nov 6, 2026
Humane Society of South Mississippi · Gulfport, MS
$70 (3–39 lb) – $150 (100+ lb)
Dog spay or neuter, by weight · Nonprofit community clinic
Covers: Surgery fee; bloodwork (required for pets 6+), pain medication and e-collar are listed as add-ons.
View the clinic's price page · accessed Nov 6, 2026
Listed prices are shown for reference only. We are not affiliated with these clinics, prices may have changed since we checked, and many exclude the exam, diagnostics, hospitalization, or medications. See Sources for the full list.
Does location change the price?
The published prices above come from 3 places (Green Bay, WI; Chaska & Richfield, MN; Gulfport, MS). That is not enough to show a reliable regional pattern for spay, and the prices cover different things, so we do not adjust our range from them. The calculator's location step uses general price levels (BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024). For spay, that moves our typical average of $550 to about $610 in California and $480 in Arkansas. Prices between clinics in the same city often differ by more than that.
Questions to ask your vet about spay
Bring these to the appointment or ask for the answers in writing with your estimate. They are about cost and what is included, not about whether your pet needs treatment.
- Is the price an ovariohysterectomy or an ovariectomy, and is a laparoscopic option available?
- Which weight tier is my dog in, and is there a fee if she is in heat?
- Are bloodwork, IV fluids, pain medication and an e-collar included?
- Is an exam required before the surgery date, and is it charged separately?
- Is a recheck or suture removal included?
Frequently asked questions
Why are low-cost spay clinics so much cheaper?
Are low-cost spay clinics safe?
Sources and references
Medical background on this page is paraphrased from the sources below. Price ranges come from our cost model; the published clinic prices above link to each clinic's own page.
- Spaying and neutering — American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Accessed Nov 12, 2026.
- Gonadectomy resources for veterinarians — American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Accessed Nov 12, 2026.
- Ovariohysterectomy — American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). Accessed Nov 12, 2026.
Related procedures
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Estimating: Spay for a dog