Puppy vet costs
What vet care costs in your puppy's first year, and how to plan for it
Puppies are babies. Their immune systems are still developing and their bodies are growing fast, and just like human babies, they come with medical care.
No living thing is perfect. A trip to the vet is not a flaw in your puppy. It is simply part of having a living thing in your family.
This page shows what that care typically costs, so you can plan ahead and feel ready. Every figure is a typical published range with its source and year, not a price quote. Your own vet's estimate will differ.
First-year puppy vet costs
The predictable part: routine care in the first year
Routine care is the part you can plan for. Your own vet finishes the puppy vaccine series. Your puppy's vaccination and deworming records are separate documents that travel with your puppy. Bring them, with the Veterinary Health Report, to your first visit so your vet starts from the same record.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routine vet visit A routine visit is a checkup, when your vet looks your puppy over and answers your questions. This range is for the visit itself; vaccines are listed on their own below. | $56–$129 | per visit | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2026 |
| Wellness vet visit A wellness visit is also a checkup, when your vet looks your puppy over and answers your questions. This range is for the visit itself; vaccines are listed on their own below. | $75–$171 | per visit | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2025 |
| Puppy core vaccines, per visit Puppy vaccines come as a series of shots spread over several visits. This range is for one visit's core vaccines. Ask your vet how many visits your puppy still needs. | $34–$77 | per visit | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2025 |
| One vaccine shot Some vaccines are given one shot at a time, and the price depends on the brand of vaccine and the type of clinic. | $27–$96 | per vaccine | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2025 |
| Stool (fecal) test for parasites A stool (fecal) test checks a small sample of your puppy's stool for worms. | $43–$107 | per test | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2024 |
| Deworming Deworming is a medicine that treats worms. Your puppy may need more than one treatment, and the dose depends on its size. | $26–$63 | per treatment | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2024 |
| Heartworm prevention Heartworm prevention is a dose your dog takes every month to keep heartworm disease away. | $11–$25 | per month | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2025 |
| Spay surgery A spay is the surgery that stops a female dog from having puppies. When to do it is a conversation with your vet. | $361–$829 | per surgery | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2025 |
| Neuter surgery A neuter is the surgery that stops a male dog from fathering puppies. Your vet can talk you through the timing. | $385–$885 | per surgery | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2025 |
| Microchip A microchip is a small ID chip placed under the skin, so a lost dog can be matched to you. | $38–$87 | per microchip | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2025 |
| Dental cleaning A dental cleaning is done while your dog is asleep under anesthesia. Your vet will tell you when your dog is due for one. This range is for a cleaning with no teeth pulled. | $307–$702 | per cleaning | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide | 2025 |
Treatment and emergency vet costs
When surprises happen: what they typically cost
This part is about planning, not worry. Here are some surprises a dog can run into, with typical published costs, so an unexpected bill does not have to be a shock. Each range shows where it comes from and when.
Cherry eye is when a gland in the third eyelid slips out of place. It shows up as a red bump in the inner corner of the eye.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry eye surgery | $431–$991 | CareCredit the surgery; in-office visit fees may be extra | 2025 |
Pet insurance is highly recommended.
The cranial cruciate ligament is a key ligament inside the knee, much like the ACL in people. When it tears, one surgery used to fix it is TPLO, short for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPLO surgery, per knee The price depends a lot on where you live. | $2,793–$6,417 | per knee | CareCredit the surgery only; rehabilitation, medications and in-office visit fees are extra | 2025 |
Some policies treat knee and ligament problems as affecting both sides. If one knee has a problem before coverage starts, the other knee may not be covered either, which is one more reason to enroll early. Pet insurance is highly recommended.
Hip dysplasia means the hip joint did not form the way it should, so the ball and socket do not fit well. Surgery for it can include removing the ball of the hip joint (FHO).
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHO surgery (removing the ball of the hip joint) | $2,210–$5,078 | CareCredit the surgery; rehabilitation and in-office visit fees may be extra | 2025 |
Hip dysplasia counts as an orthopedic condition, a problem of the bones and joints. Some policies use a longer waiting period for these, and it can vary by state, so check it before you buy.
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a breathing problem in flat-faced dogs. Surgery can open up narrow nostrils and shorten the soft palate at the back of the mouth.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOAS surgery (nostrils and soft palate) These estimates cover the surgery without complications, with the exam, anesthesia and care right after surgery. | $3,120–$5,500 | University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital / University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine the surgery estimate: Illinois's includes the exam, workup, anesthesia and immediate aftercare; Tennessee's is without complications | 2023–2024 |
If you have a flat-faced breed, talk with your vet about breathing at the early checkups, and insure before any signs show up. Pet insurance is highly recommended.
Chocolate, some plants and alcohol are among the things that can poison a dog.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poisoning treatment (average insurance claim) These are average insurance claims for insured pets, dogs and cats together. | $610–$869 | per claim | Nationwide pet insurance the average insurance claim for chocolate, alcohol or plant poisoning, dogs and cats combined | 2023 |
Keep chocolate, alcohol and houseplants out of your puppy's reach, and save your vet's phone number where you can find it fast.
An emergency exam is the fee for an emergency vet to see your dog. These ranges are for the exam itself.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency exam fee | $107–$246 | per exam | CareCredit (Synchrony) veterinary cost guide the emergency exam only, before tests, treatment, a hospital stay or surgery | 2025 |
| Emergency fee at teaching hospitals These are the emergency fees posted at the Colorado State, Kansas State and University of Tennessee teaching hospitals in 2025–2026, for the fee alone, before tests or treatment. | $175–$210 | per emergency visit | Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital / Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center / University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine the emergency fee only (Tennessee's includes triage and a basic blood check); tests and treatment are extra | as posted 2025–2026 |
A policy that is already in place when something happens can pay back part of the covered bills that follow. Pet insurance is highly recommended.
Otitis externa, an infection of the outer ear canal, is one of the most common conditions in insured dogs.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treating an ear infection | $154 | per ear infection | CareCredit treating an ear infection; in-office visit fees may be extra | 2026 |
Ask your vet how to check and clean your puppy's ears at home.
Skin allergies make a dog itchy, and they topped the list of conditions in insured dogs. They are a chronic condition, which means they can be managed but not cured.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin allergy care in the first 30 days after diagnosis (80th percentile of insurance claims) | $265–$286 | per condition, first 30 days after diagnosis | Nationwide pet insurance care in the first 30 days after diagnosis, at the 80th percentile of policyholders' costs (not a typical cost) | 2024–2025 |
| Skin allergy care in the first year after diagnosis (80th percentile of insurance claims) | $841–$891 | per condition, first year after diagnosis | Nationwide pet insurance care in the first year after diagnosis, at the 80th percentile of policyholders' costs (not a typical cost) | 2024–2025 |
Because allergies last, it helps to have a policy before the first itch. If signs show up before coverage begins, some policies leave that condition out for as long as you have the policy. Pet insurance is highly recommended.
Dental disease is one of the most common conditions in insured dogs. Care can mean a cleaning, and sometimes pulling teeth.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental disease care in the first 30 days after diagnosis (80th percentile of insurance claims) | $1,284–$1,420 | per condition, first 30 days after diagnosis | Nationwide pet insurance care in the first 30 days after diagnosis, at the 80th percentile of policyholders' costs (not a typical cost) | 2024–2025 |
| Simple tooth extraction, per tooth The cleaning and anesthesia are billed on top. | $62–$142 | per tooth | CareCredit (Synchrony) cost guide one simple extraction; X-rays, cleaning and anesthesia are extra | 2025 |
Regular cleanings, as your vet advises, are the planned way to look after your dog's teeth.
Sometimes your vet needs a closer look before treating a problem. Imaging tests show the inside of the body, and a specialist may take over for harder cases.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-rays (basic set) | $169–$237 | CareCredit basic X-rays as the page's body states the range; in-office visit fees may be extra | 2025 | |
| Ultrasound | $383–$880 | per ultrasound | CareCredit the scan; sedation and in-office visit fees are not included | 2025 |
| Echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) | $331–$805 | per echocardiogram | CareCredit the echocardiogram; sedation and in-office visit fees are not included | 2025 |
| CT scan | $1,280–$2,941 | per scan | CareCredit the scan; in-office visit fees may be extra | 2025 |
| MRI | $1,811–$4,140 | per MRI | CareCredit the scan; in-office visit fees may be extra | 2025 |
| A specialist's first exam at a teaching hospital This is the exam fee only; tests and treatment are extra. | $198–$350 | per first exam | Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine / University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center / University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine the specialist's first exam fee only; tests, treatment and medications are extra | 2023–2026 |
A test bill can come before any treatment bill, so keep both in mind when you choose a deductible and an annual limit.
Vet exam before travel
How the exam before travel works in your favor
Every puppy is examined by the breeder's licensed vet to PetPay's exam standards before it goes home. The results are recorded in your puppy's Veterinary Health Report (VHR). It is a hands-on exam of your own puppy, not paperwork about its parents.
The timing works in your favor. The exam, a health certificate and a fecal test, which checks the stool for parasites, all happen 3 to 5 days before your puppy leaves. So the report shows how your puppy is doing right before it comes home.
The exam's first job is your puppy's safety. If the vet finds something that could put your puppy at risk during travel, your puppy stays put until it's resolved. Problems that can be treated before travel are treated by the breeder's licensed vet. Anything else the vet notes is shared with you. Nothing is hidden, and nothing about your puppy's health should ever be a surprise.
Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no exam can catch every problem. The exam is a strong early look at your puppy and a written starting point that your own vet builds on.
Examples of unplanned vet bills
What one surprise can cost
Buyers sometimes hesitate over a few hundred dollars. Before you do, look at what one unplanned problem can cost.
Every puppy here comes with a full vet exam before travel, a written Veterinary Health Report and a health guarantee administered by PetPay. That is what those dollars buy.
Neither the Veterinary Health Report nor insurance makes vet costs go away. The report gives you and your vet a clear starting point. Insurance pays back a share of covered bills after your deductible, up to your annual limit.
The costs below are typical published ranges, not quotes, and your own vet's estimate will differ.
Pet insurance for puppies
Insure early: before anything is diagnosed
The best time to insure your puppy is before anything is diagnosed. That is the whole point of insuring early.
Pet insurance can leave out a pre-existing condition. That is a problem that showed signs, was treated or got a vet's advice before coverage began or during a waiting period. It does not need a diagnosis to count: a limp seen before you enroll can be enough, even if the vet never named the cause.
A breed being prone to a condition does not make that condition pre-existing. What matters is whether signs showed up before your coverage and waiting periods. Enrolling sooner leaves less time for something to happen first.
Here is where the exam before travel works in your favor. A finding recorded in the Veterinary Health Report is disclosed to you before your puppy travels, and insurers can treat it as pre-existing. That is exactly why the exam matters: you decide with full information instead of finding out after. New conditions that show up once your coverage is in place are what insurance is for, so enrolling the day your puppy comes home matters.
In NAPHIA's industry report for 2025, the average accident-and-illness premium for a dog was $836 a year, for dogs of all ages, not puppies in particular. Your own quote will differ.
How pet insurance works
- Premium
- The premium is what you pay to keep the policy, usually each month or each year.
- Deductible
- The deductible is the part of each policy year's covered bills that you pay first. The policy starts paying after that.
- Reimbursement percentage
- The reimbursement percentage is the share of covered bills the policy pays back after the deductible, and you pay the rest. With a reimbursement policy, you pay the vet first and then file a claim to be paid back.
- Annual limit
- The annual limit is the most the policy will pay in one policy year.
- Waiting period
- The waiting period is the time after you buy a policy before some or all of the coverage starts. The Pet Insurance Model Act is a model law written by state insurance regulators. Under it, illness waiting periods can last up to 30 days, and waiting periods for accidents are not allowed. Not every state has adopted it, so read your own policy. Waiting periods apply even to very young puppies.
- Pre-existing condition
- A pre-existing condition is a problem a vet gave advice on, treated, or saw signs of before the policy started or during a waiting period. The insurer has to show that the exclusion applies to your claim.
- Cured conditions
- Some policies treat a curable condition as new again once it has been cured. It has to stay free of symptoms and treatment for a set time, such as 180 days or 12 months. Chronic conditions, and knee and ligament problems, are often left out of that rule.
When you are ready to compare plans, here is one option for Pawrade buyers.
MetLife Pet Insurance · 1 month included with every puppy†
Only with Pawrade, you receive a pet insurance policy with no waiting period included for immediate accident or illness coverage, 1 month, with every puppy.† You activate it by calling MetLife; instructions arrive with your travel details, and the call happens after you upload proof of delivery and before any vet visit. Continuing MetLife coverage after the first month is strongly recommended.
††NH, NY, RI, SC and TN residents excluded. Activated by calling MetLife; coverage begins immediately following policy activation. See the offer for full terms.Whichever plan you look at, read the policy before you buy. Check the waiting periods, how it defines a pre-existing condition, and its deductible, reimbursement percentage and annual limit. Under the model act, you can return a new policy within 15 days for a full refund if you have not filed a claim.
Pet insurance waiting periods compared
Waiting periods, compared
A waiting period is how long after you buy a pet insurance policy before a claim counts.
| Wait before a claim counts | Accidents | Illness | Joints |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife policy included with your Pawrade puppy† | None | None | None |
| MetLife, bought directly | None | 14 days | Not listed |
| Industry standard | 0–14 days | 14–30 days | 6–12 months |
| Nationwide | 14 days | 14 days | Not listed |
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Embrace | 2 days | 14 days | 6 months |
| Figo | 1 day | 14 days | Not listed |
Vet costs by state
Where you live makes a difference
Vet costs vary with where you live and which clinic you use. These notes repeat only what each source says. We do not adjust any figure for your area.
Routine vet visit, by state
In CareCredit's 2026 cost guide, state averages for a routine dog vet visit run $94 in California, $83 in New York, $63 in Texas, $70 in Florida and $97 in Washington, DC.
| State | Average |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $59 |
| Alaska | $84 |
| Arizona | $73 |
| Arkansas | $58 |
| California | $94 |
| Colorado | $72 |
| Connecticut | $76 |
| Delaware | $69 |
| District of Columbia | $97 |
| Florida | $70 |
| Georgia | $62 |
| Hawaii | $127 |
| Idaho | $69 |
| Illinois | $64 |
| Indiana | $62 |
| Iowa | $61 |
| Kansas | $58 |
| Kentucky | $63 |
| Louisiana | $63 |
| Maine | $74 |
| Maryland | $79 |
| Massachusetts | $99 |
| Michigan | $61 |
| Minnesota | $64 |
| Mississippi | $57 |
| Missouri | $60 |
| Montana | $70 |
| Nebraska | $64 |
| Nevada | $69 |
| New Hampshire | $76 |
| New Jersey | $77 |
| New Mexico | $63 |
| New York | $83 |
| North Carolina | $66 |
| North Dakota | $62 |
| Ohio | $64 |
| Oklahoma | $58 |
| Oregon | $75 |
| Pennsylvania | $64 |
| Rhode Island | $76 |
| South Carolina | $66 |
| South Dakota | $63 |
| Tennessee | $62 |
| Texas | $63 |
| Utah | $70 |
| Vermont | $78 |
| Virginia | $69 |
| Washington | $77 |
| West Virginia | $57 |
| Wisconsin | $66 |
| Wyoming | $65 |
Emergency exam, by state
In CareCredit's 2025 cost guide, state averages for a dog's emergency exam, the exam only, run $180 in California, $159 in New York, $120 in Texas, $133 in Florida and $183 in Washington, DC.
| State | Average |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $114 |
| Alaska | $160 |
| Arizona | $139 |
| Arkansas | $112 |
| California | $180 |
| Colorado | $137 |
| Connecticut | $146 |
| Delaware | $132 |
| District of Columbia | $183 |
| Florida | $133 |
| Georgia | $118 |
| Hawaii | $241 |
| Idaho | $132 |
| Illinois | $122 |
| Indiana | $117 |
| Iowa | $116 |
| Kansas | $113 |
| Kentucky | $120 |
| Louisiana | $119 |
| Maine | $142 |
| Maryland | $150 |
| Massachusetts | $188 |
| Michigan | $117 |
| Minnesota | $123 |
| Mississippi | $108 |
| Missouri | $115 |
| Montana | $135 |
| Nebraska | $121 |
| Nevada | $131 |
| New Hampshire | $146 |
| New Jersey | $148 |
| New Mexico | $121 |
| New York | $159 |
| North Carolina | $127 |
| North Dakota | $119 |
| Ohio | $122 |
| Oklahoma | $111 |
| Oregon | $144 |
| Pennsylvania | $124 |
| Rhode Island | $146 |
| South Carolina | $125 |
| South Dakota | $120 |
| Tennessee | $117 |
| Texas | $120 |
| Utah | $134 |
| Vermont | $149 |
| Virginia | $131 |
| Washington | $148 |
| West Virginia | $109 |
| Wisconsin | $125 |
| Wyoming | $124 |
TPLO knee surgery, by state
In CareCredit's 2025 cost guide, state averages for TPLO knee surgery run $4,701 in California, $4,182 in New York, $3,126 in Texas, $3,474 in Florida and $4,781 in Washington, DC.
| State | Average |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,948 |
| Alaska | $4,167 |
| Arizona | $3,658 |
| Arkansas | $2,922 |
| California | $4,701 |
| Colorado | $3,576 |
| Connecticut | $3,787 |
| Delaware | $3,465 |
| District of Columbia | $4,781 |
| Florida | $3,474 |
| Georgia | $3,111 |
| Hawaii | $6,332 |
| Idaho | $3,458 |
| Illinois | $3,196 |
| Indiana | $3,055 |
| Iowa | $3,022 |
| Kansas | $2,926 |
| Kentucky | $3,133 |
| Louisiana | $3,122 |
| Maine | $3,691 |
| Maryland | $3,883 |
| Massachusetts | $4,906 |
| Michigan | $3,048 |
| Minnesota | $3,233 |
| Mississippi | $2,830 |
| Missouri | $3,000 |
| Montana | $3,488 |
| Nebraska | $3,170 |
| Nevada | $3,440 |
| New Hampshire | $3,794 |
| New Jersey | $3,875 |
| New Mexico | $3,174 |
| New York | $4,182 |
| North Carolina | $3,277 |
| North Dakota | $3,118 |
| Ohio | $3,192 |
| Oklahoma | $2,889 |
| Oregon | $3,772 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,225 |
| Rhode Island | $3,816 |
| South Carolina | $3,236 |
| South Dakota | $3,126 |
| Tennessee | $3,066 |
| Texas | $3,126 |
| Utah | $3,495 |
| Vermont | $3,887 |
| Virginia | $3,403 |
| Washington | $3,868 |
| West Virginia | $2,834 |
| Wisconsin | $3,259 |
| Wyoming | $3,214 |
MRI, by state
In CareCredit's 2025 cost guide, state averages for a dog MRI run $3,061 in California, $2,693 in New York, $2,027 in Texas, $2,249 in Florida and $3,105 in Washington, DC.
| State | Average |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,914 |
| Alaska | $2,714 |
| Arizona | $2,367 |
| Arkansas | $1,900 |
| California | $3,061 |
| Colorado | $2,314 |
| Connecticut | $2,453 |
| Delaware | $2,240 |
| District of Columbia | $3,105 |
| Florida | $2,249 |
| Georgia | $2,007 |
| Hawaii | $4,072 |
| Idaho | $2,230 |
| Illinois | $2,060 |
| Indiana | $1,979 |
| Iowa | $1,962 |
| Kansas | $1,895 |
| Kentucky | $2,039 |
| Louisiana | $2,022 |
| Maine | $2,391 |
| Maryland | $2,523 |
| Massachusetts | $3,191 |
| Michigan | $1,986 |
| Minnesota | $2,084 |
| Mississippi | $1,828 |
| Missouri | $1,938 |
| Montana | $2,252 |
| Nebraska | $2,058 |
| Nevada | $2,213 |
| New Hampshire | $2,482 |
| New Jersey | $2,499 |
| New Mexico | $2,046 |
| New York | $2,693 |
| North Carolina | $2,142 |
| North Dakota | $2,015 |
| Ohio | $2,070 |
| Oklahoma | $1,873 |
| Oregon | $2,446 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,091 |
| Rhode Island | $2,455 |
| South Carolina | $2,118 |
| South Dakota | $2,031 |
| Tennessee | $1,984 |
| Texas | $2,027 |
| Utah | $2,269 |
| Vermont | $2,508 |
| Virginia | $2,211 |
| Washington | $2,511 |
| West Virginia | $1,849 |
| Wisconsin | $2,127 |
| Wyoming | $2,082 |
Frequently asked questions about puppy vet costs
Frequently asked questions
A routine vet visit for a dog, the exam only, runs $56–$129 per visit in CareCredit's 2026 cost guide, and a wellness visit runs $75–$171 per visit in its 2025 guide. Vaccines are billed on their own: one visit's puppy core vaccines run $34–$77 per visit in CareCredit's 2025 cost guide. Your puppy's vaccination and deworming records are separate documents that travel with your puppy. Bring them, with the Veterinary Health Report, to your first visit so your vet starts from the same record.
Spay surgery runs $361–$829 and neuter surgery $385–$885 per surgery in CareCredit's 2025 cost guide, for the surgery itself. When to spay or neuter is a conversation to have with your vet.
Ask your vet which visits, vaccines and procedures your puppy needs, and use the published range for each. The first-year list on this page includes the stool test, deworming and monthly heartworm prevention.
Cherry eye surgery runs $431–$991 in CareCredit's 2025 cost guide, for the surgery itself. Cherry eye is when a gland in the third eyelid slips out of place and shows as a red bump in the corner of the eye. Insuring early, before any signs appear, is the simplest way to plan for it. Pet insurance is highly recommended.
TPLO surgery for a torn cruciate ligament runs $2,793–$6,417 per knee in CareCredit's 2025 cost guide, for the surgery only; rehabilitation and medications are extra. Where you live makes a big difference to the price. Some insurance policies treat knee and ligament problems as affecting both knees, so enrolling before any knee trouble matters.
An emergency exam for a dog, the exam only, runs $107–$246 per exam in CareCredit's 2025 cost guide. At the Colorado State, Kansas State and University of Tennessee teaching hospitals, the emergency fee alone runs $175–$210 per visit, as posted 2025–2026. Tests and treatment are added on top, and the examples on this page show what a full visit can run.
Call your vet or an emergency vet right away.
The best time is before anything is diagnosed, as early as you can. Policies can leave out problems that showed signs before coverage began or during a waiting period. Waiting periods apply even to very young puppies, so plan for them before your first vet visit.
A pre-existing condition is a problem a vet gave advice on, treated, or saw signs of before the policy started or during a waiting period. It does not need a diagnosis: a limp seen before you enroll can be enough. A breed being prone to a condition does not make it pre-existing on its own.
In NAPHIA's industry report for 2025, the average accident-and-illness premium for a dog was $836 a year, for dogs of all ages, not puppies in particular. Your own quote depends on the plan you choose, including its deductible, reimbursement percentage and annual limit.
Some policies do, once a curable condition has been free of symptoms and treatment for a set time, such as 180 days or 12 months. Chronic conditions, and knee and ligament problems, are often left out of that rule. Read how your own policy words it before you buy.
The Veterinary Health Report (VHR) records your puppy's exam by the breeder's licensed vet, done to PetPay's exam standards before it goes home. It is a hands-on exam of your own puppy, not paperwork about its parents. The exam, a health certificate and a fecal test happen 3 to 5 days before your puppy leaves.
If the vet finds something that could put your puppy at risk during travel, your puppy stays with the breeder until it's resolved. Problems that can be treated before travel, such as giardia, are treated by the breeder's licensed vet first. Anything else the vet notes is shared with you.
No exam can catch every problem, because puppies grow and change quickly and their immune systems are still developing. The exam is a strong early look at your puppy, and your own vet builds on it at every checkup.
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