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In this article: Average Vet X-ray Cost | Cost Factors | Why Your Pet May Need X-rays | The Bottom Line | FAQs | Methodology

Your pet may need X-rays at some point during its life. Though your primary concern might be your furry friend’s well-being, you may also want to know about the cost.

Vet X-rays cost an average of $103 to $383* but can fluctuate based on various factors. In this guide, the Home Media reviews team breaks down these factors and recommends pet insurance companies to help you save money.

*All cost ranges calculated as averages from various 2021 reports, including Canine Journal, PetKeen and Pawlicy Advisor.

Vet X-rays cost $103 to $383. Dog X-rays cost $126 to $300, while cat X-rays cost $100 to $267.* These are just base points, though. The cost of your pet’s X-ray can vary depending on the injury’s severity, location and the type of vet office you visit.

Below are some of the most common factors affecting X-ray costs. 

The location and severity of your pet’s injury have two of the most significant impacts on cost. The price depends on how easy it is for the vet to reach the body parts being X-rayed. For example, your pet’s paw or leg is more accessible to X-ray than its head or tail. Dental X-rays cost less, ranging between $50 and $90. 

The type of vet office you visit and its location also influences X-ray cost. For example, an emergency clinic or animal hospital will charge more than your routine vet office. On the other hand, you may find local animal organizations that offer low-cost dog and cat X-rays .

Some pets may be in extreme pain or incredibly nervous, so they won’t sit still long enough for the vet to conduct the X-ray. If this occurs, your vet might recommend sedation or anesthesia. Your pet may also need its muscles relaxed for a clear image of its skull or teeth, in which case your vet may also recommend anesthesia. Sedation or anesthesia costs an additional $50 to $220.

The reasons your pet might need an X-ray vary. X-ray machines and radiographs are standard tools for diagnostic imaging for common health problems, such as bladder stones. Below are some of the most common reasons cats and dogs need X-rays.

The most common reason cats and dogs need X-rays is broken bones. Vets often see broken bones in the animal’s legs. An X-ray is the best procedure to confirm the fracture’s location and severity.

X-rays can help vets spot certain types of tumors. It is a low-cost procedure to determine whether your pet has cancer, though not all tumors appear on an X-ray scan. 

X-rays are standard for pet dental care. Both dogs and cats usually need sedation for a dental X-ray. Even if your pet has no dental problems, many vets still recommend annual X-rays.

If your dog or cat swallows a nondigestible object, it can become a severe health problem. A stomach X-ray gives your vet a visual image of this object in your pet’s intestinal tract. Intestinal blockage can be life-threatening, so if you believe your pet ate a foreign object, we suggest contacting your vet immediately.

If your pet develops strange breathing habits or problems, you may want to get a chest X-ray. It will help your vet identify conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia or fungal infection.

X-rays aren’t just an emergency procedure; they’re common diagnostic tools for your pet’s health care. Your dog or cat will need dental X-rays during routine vet visits, and you never know when a broken bone, hip dysplasia or severe intestinal issues can occur. 

We recommend considering a pet insurance policy to cover the costs of X-rays and any associated procedures that may follow, such as blood work or treatment for orthopedic issues. Learn about our top recommended pet insurance providers below. 

Lemonade is an excellent option for pet parents looking to save money. The company provides some of the most affordable pet insurance plans, including X-ray coverage. Lemonade also offers a user-friendly smartphone app to manage your claims and keep track of your policy coverage and billing. The company covers X-rays as part of its diagnostic coverage in its standard accident-and-illness plan, including blood tests, urinalysis, MRIs, labwork, CT scans and ultrasounds.

To learn more: Lemonade Pet Insurance review

We recommend Spot Pet Insurance for those interested in personalized coverage. The company’s policies are more customizable than many competitors, with annual limit options ranging from $2,500 to unlimited. Spot’s policies also cover a few items that many other pet insurance providers don’t, such as exam fees and microchipping.

To learn more: Spot Pet Insurance review

Trupanion is a nationwide pet insurance provider that offers unlimited annual coverage caps, customizable deductibles and direct payments. Though pet insurance typically requires you to pay your entire vet bill and get reimbursed later, Trupanion’s $0 deductible option allows you to pay only your percentage of the bill at checkout. Trupanion provides one comprehensive pet insurance plan with accident-and-illness coverage—including X-rays—for dogs and cats up to 14 years old.

To learn more: Trupanion Pet Insurance review

Based on our calculations, X-rays for dogs with sedation cost $153 to $603. This price will vary depending on factors such as the location of the area your dog is being X-rayed.

Yes, pet insurance companies typically cover X-rays under their standard accident-and-illness plans.

Like human health care, pet health care prices vary according to the type of vet office and emergencies. 

Our review of pet insurance companies is based on in-depth industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, simulating the quote and purchasing process, speaking to representatives on the phone to assess the customer service experience and surveying 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage.

We scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements. We then divided the points earned for each provider’s final score on a 5-point scale.

Here are more details about each factor and how they’re weighted:

We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company against key factors to help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. Additionally, we keep our research up to date and revisit our reviews on a regular basis.

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