Vet Cost Index 2026: Which Dog Breeds Cost the Most at the Vet?
Modeled non-routine vet costs at age 1, U.S. average prices. 100 = the median of 121 breeds.
Model engine-v1.3-2026-10 · Updated 2026-10-12
Most expensive
- #1 Pug: index 170, $1,442/yr
- #2 French Bulldog: index 156, $1,323/yr
- #3 Boston Terrier: index 141, $1,193/yr
- #4 Bulldog: index 139, $1,173/yr
- #6 Yorkshire Terrier: index 136, $1,152/yr
- #7 Irish Wolfhound: index 128, $1,079/yr
- #8 Maltese: index 124, $1,051/yr
- #9 Saint Bernard: index 123, $1,043/yr
- #10 Rottweiler: index 123, $1,043/yr
- #11 Australian Cattle Dog: index 120, $1,019/yr
Least expensive
- #121 Siberian Husky: index 87, $739/yr
- #120 Xoloitzcuintli: index 89, $753/yr
- #119 Kooikerhondje: index 90, $761/yr
- #116 Chinese Crested: index 91, $773/yr
- #115 Australian Shepherd: index 92, $776/yr
- #114 Kerry Blue Terrier: index 92, $776/yr
- #113 Italian Greyhound: index 92, $777/yr
- #112 Brittany Spaniel: index 92, $777/yr
- #111 Icelandic Sheepdog: index 92, $777/yr
- #110 Basenji: index 92, $778/yr
Highlights include only breeds with high or medium data coverage. All 121 breeds are in the full table.
All 121 breeds
| Rank | Breed | Index | Year-1 vet cost | Standard plan /mo | Lifetime | Top cost driver | Data coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pug | 170 | $1,442 | $102/mo | $20,244 · 13–15 yrs | BOAS (breathing problems) | High |
| 2 | French Bulldog | 156 | $1,323 | $92/mo | $13,491 · 10–12 yrs | BOAS (breathing problems) | High |
| 3 | Boston Terrier | 141 | $1,193 | $81/mo | $14,267 · 11–13 yrs | Wedge-shaped vertebrae | High |
| 4 | Bulldog | 139 | $1,173 | $80/mo | $10,860 · 8–10 yrs | BOAS (breathing problems) | High |
| 5 | Stabyhoun | 138 | $1,172 | $82/mo | $18,407 · 13–15 yrs | Seizures | Low |
| 6 | Yorkshire Terrier | 136 | $1,152 | $77/mo | $18,403 · 11–15 yrs | Heart murmur / MVD | High |
| 7 | Irish Wolfhound | 128 | $1,079 | $72/mo | $7,181 · 6–8 yrs | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | High |
| 8 | Maltese | 124 | $1,051 | $70/mo | $16,910 · 12–15 yrs | Liver shunt | High |
| 9 | Saint Bernard | 123 | $1,043 | $69/mo | $10,573 · 8–10 yrs | Hip dysplasia | High |
| 10 | Rottweiler | 123 | $1,043 | $70/mo | $11,801 · 9–10 yrs | Bone cancer | High |
| 11 | Australian Cattle Dog | 120 | $1,019 | $66/mo | $17,941 · 12–16 yrs | Elbow dysplasia | High |
| 12 | Clumber Spaniel | 120 | $1,013 | $65/mo | $13,458 · 10–12 yrs | Slipped disc (IVDD) | High |
| 13 | Cairn Terrier | 119 | $1,007 | $65/mo | $18,107 · 12–15 yrs | Pigmentary glaucoma risk | Medium |
| 14 | Pekingese | 119 | $1,006 | $65/mo | $16,878 · 12–14 yrs | BOAS (breathing problems) | Medium |
| 15 | Bullmastiff | 118 | $1,003 | $65/mo | $8,766 · 7–9 yrs | Subaortic Stenosis (SAS) | High |
| 16 | Black Russian Terrier | 117 | $993 | $65/mo | $13,332 · 10–12 yrs | Elbow dysplasia | Medium |
| 17 | Boykin Spaniel | 116 | $986 | $64/mo | $15,462 · 10–15 yrs | Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC) | High |
| 18 | Chow Chow | 116 | $984 | $64/mo | $11,538 · 8–12 yrs | Elbow dysplasia | High |
| 19 | Havanese | 116 | $982 | $64/mo | $20,513 · 14–16 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 20 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 116 | $978 | $63/mo | $18,962 · 12–15 yrs | Slipped disc (IVDD) | High |
| 21 | Basset Hound | 115 | $970 | $62/mo | $16,153 · 12–13 yrs | Slipped disc (IVDD) | High |
| 22 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 115 | $970 | $63/mo | $12,847 · 10–12 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 23 | Entlebucher Mountain Dog | 115 | $970 | $64/mo | $14,247 · 11–13 yrs | ACL/CCL tear | High |
| 24 | Newfoundland | 113 | $958 | $61/mo | $12,143 · 9–10 yrs | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | High |
| 25 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 113 | $954 | $60/mo | $8,964 · 7–10 yrs | Malignant histiocytosis | High |
| 26 | Mastiff | 112 | $952 | $61/mo | $8,269 · 6–10 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | High |
| 27 | Golden Retriever | 112 | $950 | $60/mo | $13,926 · 10–12 yrs | Lymphoma | High |
| 28 | Bloodhound | 110 | $933 | $59/mo | $13,189 · 10–12 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | High |
| 29 | Great Dane | 110 | $933 | $60/mo | $10,314 · 7–10 yrs | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | High |
| 30 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 109 | $926 | $59/mo | $18,548 · 12–15 yrs | Slipped disc (IVDD) | High |
| 31 | Dachshund | 109 | $923 | $58/mo | $18,653 · 12–16 yrs | Slipped disc (IVDD) | High |
| 32 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 107 | $910 | $57/mo | $20,332 · 12–16 yrs | Heart disease | High |
| 33 | Dalmatian | 107 | $909 | $57/mo | $14,746 · 11–13 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 34 | Shih Tzu | 107 | $906 | $56/mo | $21,427 · 10–18 yrs | Heart murmur / MVD | High |
| 35 | Cane Corso | 107 | $904 | $57/mo | $12,736 · 9–12 yrs | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | High |
| 36 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 107 | $904 | $57/mo | $9,898 · 8–10 yrs | Malignant histiocytosis | High |
| 37 | Leonberger | 106 | $902 | $57/mo | $7,916 · 7–9 yrs | Bone cancer | High |
| 38 | Bull Terrier | 106 | $901 | $56/mo | $16,573 · 12–13 yrs | Heart disease | Medium |
| 39 | English Setter | 106 | $900 | $56/mo | $15,166 · 11–12 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 40 | Ibizan Hound | 106 | $896 | $56/mo | $15,429 · 11–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 41 | Bearded Collie | 106 | $893 | $56/mo | $17,309 · 12–14 yrs | Addison's disease | High |
| 42 | Pomeranian | 105 | $885 | $55/mo | $18,637 · 12–16 yrs | Luxating kneecap | High |
| 43 | Beagle | 104 | $879 | $54/mo | $16,073 · 10–15 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 44 | Weimaraner | 103 | $876 | $54/mo | $13,543 · 10–13 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | High |
| 45 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 103 | $871 | $54/mo | $16,811 · 12–14 yrs | Allergies / itchy skin | High |
| 46 | Doberman Pinscher | 102 | $867 | $54/mo | $16,920 · 10–12 yrs | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | High |
| 47 | German Shepherd | 102 | $867 | $54/mo | $9,033 · 7–10 yrs | DM (progressive paralysis) | High |
| 48 | Gordon Setter | 102 | $867 | $53/mo | $15,575 · 12–13 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | High |
| 49 | Giant Schnauzer | 102 | $866 | $54/mo | $12,917 · 10–12 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 50 | Airedale Terrier | 102 | $865 | $53/mo | $16,308 · 11–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 51 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 102 | $865 | $53/mo | $20,591 · 10–14 yrs | Heart murmur / MVD | High |
| 52 | Boxer | 102 | $861 | $53/mo | $14,627 · 10–12 yrs | Boxer cardiomyopathy | High |
| 53 | Alaskan Malamute | 102 | $861 | $52/mo | $14,262 · 10–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 54 | Swedish Vallhund | 102 | $859 | $53/mo | $17,165 · 12–15 yrs | Slipped disc (IVDD) | High |
| 55 | Cocker Spaniel | 101 | $857 | $52/mo | $14,755 · 10–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 56 | Brussels Griffon | 101 | $854 | $52/mo | $18,957 · 12–15 yrs | Fluid cavities in spinal cord | High |
| 57 | Border Collie | 101 | $853 | $52/mo | $19,416 · 12–15 yrs | Heart murmur / MVD | High |
| 58 | Spinone Italiano | 101 | $853 | $53/mo | $12,750 · 10–12 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 59 | Labrador Retriever | 100 | $849 | $52/mo | $12,613 · 10–12 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | High |
| 60 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 100 | $847 | $52/mo | $14,987 · 10–14 yrs | Lupoid dermatosis | High |
| 61 | Sussex Spaniel | 100 | $847 | $53/mo | $15,057 · 11–13 yrs | Heart murmur / MVD | High |
| 62 | Great Pyrenees | 100 | $846 | $51/mo | $12,551 · 10–12 yrs | Bone cancer | High |
| 63 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 99 | $841 | $50/mo | $15,640 · 10–14 yrs | Addison's disease | High |
| 64 | Vizsla | 99 | $841 | $52/mo | $18,477 · 12–14 yrs | Muscle inflammation | Medium |
| 65 | American Eskimo Dog | 99 | $838 | $50/mo | $17,606 · 13–15 yrs | Cataracts | High |
| 66 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 99 | $836 | $51/mo | $13,948 · 10–13 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 67 | Poodle | 99 | $835 | $51/mo | $23,100 · 10–18 yrs | Heart murmur / MVD | High |
| 68 | Schipperke | 99 | $835 | $51/mo | $18,810 · 13–15 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 69 | Tibetan Mastiff | 98 | $833 | $51/mo | $12,783 · 10–12 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 70 | Scottish Terrier | 98 | $832 | $50/mo | $14,714 · 11–13 yrs | Bladder cancer | Medium |
| 71 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 98 | $831 | $50/mo | $20,435 · 12–15 yrs | PLN/PLE | Medium |
| 72 | Anatolian Shepherd | 98 | $831 | $51/mo | $14,642 · 11–13 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 73 | Border Terrier | 98 | $826 | $50/mo | $18,279 · 12–15 yrs | Heart disease | High |
| 74 | Keeshond | 98 | $826 | $50/mo | $17,813 · 12–15 yrs | Diabetes | High |
| 75 | Shetland Sheepdog | 97 | $824 | $49/mo | $17,638 · 12–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 76 | Tibetan Terrier | 97 | $824 | $50/mo | $21,705 · 15–16 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 77 | Old English Sheepdog | 97 | $823 | $49/mo | $13,396 · 10–12 yrs | PCD (chronic respiratory infections) | High |
| 78 | Saluki | 97 | $822 | $50/mo | $17,033 · 12–14 yrs | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | Medium |
| 79 | Whippet | 97 | $820 | $50/mo | $18,573 · 12–15 yrs | Heart murmur / MVD | High |
| 80 | Lhasa Apso | 97 | $820 | $49/mo | $18,377 · 12–15 yrs | Sebaceous adenitis | Medium |
| 81 | West Highland White Terrier | 97 | $819 | $49/mo | $19,436 · 12–16 yrs | Allergies / itchy skin | High |
| 82 | Afghan Hound | 97 | $819 | $50/mo | $17,601 · 12–15 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 83 | Norwegian Lundehund | 96 | $816 | $49/mo | $24,166 · 12–15 yrs | Lundehund syndrome | Low |
| 84 | English Springer Spaniel | 96 | $816 | $49/mo | $16,295 · 12–14 yrs | Elbow dysplasia | High |
| 85 | Kuvasz | 96 | $816 | $49/mo | $13,104 · 10–12 yrs | Underactive thyroid | Medium |
| 86 | Norwegian Elkhound | 96 | $816 | $49/mo | $18,518 · 12–15 yrs | Fanconi syndrome | High |
| 87 | Chihuahua | 96 | $814 | $49/mo | $28,666 · 14–20 yrs | Heart murmur / MVD | High |
| 88 | Puli | 96 | $814 | $49/mo | $18,611 · 12–16 yrs | DM (progressive paralysis) | Medium |
| 89 | Samoyed | 96 | $814 | $49/mo | $18,630 · 12–14 yrs | Inherited kidney disease | High |
| 90 | Finnish Spitz | 96 | $813 | $49/mo | $17,113 · 12–15 yrs | Seizures | High |
| 91 | Wirehaired Vizsla | 96 | $811 | $48/mo | $16,293 · 12–14 yrs | Seizures | Medium |
| 92 | Shiba Inu | 96 | $810 | $48/mo | $20,906 · 13–16 yrs | Allergies / itchy skin | High |
| 93 | Komondor | 96 | $810 | $47/mo | $11,935 · 10–12 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | Medium |
| 94 | Redbone Coonhound | 96 | $809 | $49/mo | $13,322 · 11–12 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | Medium |
| 95 | Jack Russell Terrier | 95 | $802 | $47/mo | $18,429 · 13–16 yrs | Hip bone degeneration | High |
| 96 | Portuguese Water Dog | 95 | $802 | $48/mo | $15,301 · 10–14 yrs | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | High |
| 97 | Bluetick Coonhound | 95 | $801 | $48/mo | $13,444 · 11–12 yrs | Coonhound paralysis | Medium |
| 98 | Canaan Dog | 95 | $801 | $48/mo | $16,916 · 12–15 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 99 | Akita | 94 | $798 | $47/mo | $14,908 · 10–13 yrs | Sebaceous adenitis | High |
| 100 | Bichon Frise | 94 | $795 | $47/mo | $19,300 · 14–15 yrs | Allergies / itchy skin | High |
| 101 | Field Spaniel | 94 | $793 | $47/mo | $15,011 · 12–13 yrs | Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) | High |
| 102 | Irish Setter | 94 | $792 | $47/mo | $15,883 · 11–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 103 | Miniature Schnauzer | 94 | $792 | $47/mo | $17,768 · 12–15 yrs | MAC infection | High |
| 104 | Papillon | 93 | $790 | $46/mo | $18,545 · 13–16 yrs | Luxating kneecap | High |
| 105 | Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | 93 | $789 | $47/mo | $16,163 · 12–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 106 | Belgian Malinois | 93 | $789 | $47/mo | $16,399 · 12–14 yrs | Seizures | High |
| 107 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 93 | $788 | $47/mo | $22,059 · 15–17 yrs | Seizures | High |
| 108 | Cesky Terrier | 93 | $784 | $46/mo | $17,949 · 12–15 yrs | Heart disease | Medium |
| 109 | Pharaoh Hound | 92 | $782 | $47/mo | $16,361 · 12–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
| 110 | Basenji | 92 | $778 | $46/mo | $18,442 · 13–14 yrs | Fanconi syndrome | High |
| 111 | Icelandic Sheepdog | 92 | $777 | $45/mo | $15,655 · 12–14 yrs | Luxating kneecap | High |
| 112 | Brittany Spaniel | 92 | $777 | $46/mo | $17,295 · 12–15 yrs | Seizures | High |
| 113 | Italian Greyhound | 92 | $777 | $45/mo | $18,428 · 13–15 yrs | Seizures | High |
| 114 | Kerry Blue Terrier | 92 | $776 | $46/mo | $16,868 · 12–15 yrs | Elbow dysplasia | Medium |
| 115 | Australian Shepherd | 92 | $776 | $45/mo | $17,112 · 12–15 yrs | Seizures | High |
| 116 | Chinese Crested | 91 | $773 | $45/mo | $20,563 · 13–18 yrs | Luxating kneecap | High |
| 117 | Plott Hound | 91 | $770 | $45/mo | $15,785 · 12–14 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | Low |
| 118 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 91 | $767 | $45/mo | $14,608 · 12–13 yrs | Bloat (GDV) | Low |
| 119 | Kooikerhondje | 90 | $761 | $44/mo | $17,456 · 12–15 yrs | Muscle inflammation | Medium |
| 120 | Xoloitzcuintli | 89 | $753 | $44/mo | $20,537 · 13–18 yrs | Elbow dysplasia | High |
| 121 | Siberian Husky | 87 | $739 | $43/mo | $15,345 · 12–14 yrs | Underactive thyroid | High |
Lifetime totals include lifespan; we rank by year-one cost so breeds are compared at the same age. Modeled premium = standardized plan ($500 deductible, 80%, $10k limit), not a quote. See methodology.
Our modeled results, free to use with attribution under CC BY 4.0: TheDogs.app Vet Cost Index, with a link to this page.
Cite this
TheDogs.app (2026). Vet Cost Index 2026. https://thedogs.app/vet-cost-index
Statistical estimates, not quotes or insurance advice.