Vet Cost Guide

What do vet costs in Quebec look like in 2026?

By PetAssured Editorial Team Last reviewed : July 19, 2026 8 min read

This page is cost information, not veterinary advice. It cannot diagnose your pet or tell you what treatment is right. Only your veterinarian can do that — and if your pet may be in distress, call a vet or an emergency clinic now rather than reading on.

Quick Answer

Vet costs in Quebec are set by each clinic, not regulated, so they vary widely — a routine exam runs about $60–$110, core vaccines $80–$200, a dental cleaning $400–$1,200, and an after-hours emergency $150–$250 just to walk in before diagnostics and treatment. Montreal and Quebec City trend higher than smaller towns, and emergencies compound fast: a blocked cat can reach $1,500–$3,000+ and major emergency surgery $3,000–$8,000+. (Figures are estimates compiled from public Canadian sources — see how we estimate costs. They are not quotes.)

Quebec has no province-wide veterinary price schedule — fees are set clinic by clinic and regulated for conduct (not price) by the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec. That means the same procedure can cost noticeably more in Montreal than in a regional clinic. Below are realistic CAD ranges for the services Quebec pet owners search for most, with links to the detailed cost breakdown for each.

What it costs in Canada

ScenarioTypical cost (CAD)
Routine exam / consultation~$60–$110
Core annual vaccines~$80–$200
After-hours / emergency consultation fee~$150–$250 (before diagnostics)
Bloodwork panel~$100–$250
X-rays (may need sedation)~$150–$400
Spay / neuter~$150–$400 (cat) · ~$250–$800 (dog)
Dental cleaning (under anesthesia)~$400–$1,200
Urethral obstruction (blocked cat)~$1,500–$3,000+
Major emergency surgery (foreign object, bloat)~$3,000–$8,000+

These figures are estimates compiled from publicly available Canadian veterinary pricing and are for general guidance only — they are not quotes. Montreal, Laval, and Quebec City clinics trend toward the higher end; smaller and regional markets are typically lower. After-hours emergency clinics add a surcharge. Always confirm with your own vet. See how we estimate costs.

With insurance vs paying out of pocket

ScenarioYou payInsurer pays
No insuranceFull bill, usually paid up-front$0
Comprehensive policy (80% reimbursement, after deductible)Deductible + 20% of eligible bill80% of eligible bill, reimbursed to you
Comprehensive policy with direct vet payDeductible + your co-pay at checkoutPays the clinic directly

Why vet costs vary so much across Quebec

Vet costs in Quebec are market-set: the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (OMVQ) licenses and oversees veterinarians' conduct, but it does not set prices. Clinics price according to their overhead, equipment, and location, so:

The costs Quebec owners search for most

Each of these has a detailed CAD breakdown — including what drives the bill up and how insurance changes the math:

How to plan for it in Quebec

Two things blunt the risk of a big bill: knowing your nearest 24/7 emergency hospital before you need it (they cluster around Montreal and Quebec City), and deciding early between a dedicated savings fund and insurance. For a single catastrophic event — a blocked cat, a swallowed object, an accident — comprehensive coverage is what stops one visit from erasing years of savings.

How we estimate these costs

Ranges are compiled from publicly available Canadian veterinary pricing, provincial averages, and clinic-published fee information, then cross-checked against the individual procedure guides on this site. They are planning estimates in Canadian dollars, not quotes — your clinic's actual fees depend on your pet, the case, and your location in the province.

Take this to your appointment

The ranges above are national estimates, not a quote. Print this and fill in your own clinic’s numbers — the gap between the two is the conversation worth having.

Scenario Typical cost (CAD) Your clinic’s quote Difference
Routine exam / consultation ~$60–$110
Core annual vaccines ~$80–$200
After-hours / emergency consultation fee ~$150–$250 (before diagnostics)
Bloodwork panel ~$100–$250
X-rays (may need sedation) ~$150–$400
Spay / neuter ~$150–$400 (cat) · ~$250–$800 (dog)
Dental cleaning (under anesthesia) ~$400–$1,200
Urethral obstruction (blocked cat) ~$1,500–$3,000+
Major emergency surgery (foreign object, bloat) ~$3,000–$8,000+

What to ask before you agree

These are billing and planning questions, not medical ones. Treatment decisions belong with your veterinarian.

Download the 46-procedure price list (PDF)

Estimate your own bill →

Considering insurance?

Because Quebec vet fees aren't capped and emergencies compound quickly, comprehensive illness-and-accident coverage is what protects you from the rare $3,000+ visit. Compare Canadian insurers side by side before you need them.

Read in-depth reviews of each insurer →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a vet visit cost in Quebec?
A routine exam or consultation in Quebec typically runs about $60–$110, before any vaccines, tests, or treatment. An after-hours emergency consultation is higher — roughly $150–$250 just to be seen — and diagnostics and treatment are added on top. Montreal and Quebec City clinics trend higher than regional ones. These are estimates, not quotes.
Are vet prices regulated in Quebec?
No. The Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (OMVQ) licenses veterinarians and regulates their professional conduct, but it does not set or cap prices. Each clinic prices its own services, which is why the same procedure can cost meaningfully more in one city than another.
Why are emergency vet costs higher in Quebec?
Emergency and after-hours hospitals carry the cost of 24/7 staffing, on-call specialists, and advanced diagnostic equipment, so their fees run above a daytime appointment for the same care. A serious emergency — a blocked cat, bloat, or a swallowed object — can reach several thousand dollars once surgery and hospitalization are included.
Does pet insurance help with vet costs in Quebec?
Yes — because Quebec vet fees aren't capped and emergencies compound quickly, a comprehensive accident-and-illness policy reimburses a large share (commonly 80%) of eligible bills after your deductible. It's most valuable for the rare, catastrophic visit rather than routine care. Compare Canadian insurers before you need them.

What the data actually shows for Quebec

The only public, peer-reviewed per-province figures come from Veterinary care across Canada: Average provincial fees in 2017 (Can Vet J. 2018 Mar;59(3):303-305), drawn from the CVMA's provincial economic surveys. In Quebec, the average companion-animal exam fee was $58.55 in 2017 — 18% below the national average of $71.01. Aged forward with Statistics Canada CPI to June 2026, that is roughly $76, against about $92 nationally. A feline spay — the only surgery the study covers — ran $179.57 in 2017 (about $233 adjusted).

What that index does not tell you. The study covers three line items: an exam, an exam with vaccines, and a cat spay. It anchors what a consultation costs here. It is not evidence that every procedure in the table below runs 18% lower in Quebec — the ranges below are national, and emergency, specialist and imaging fees vary far more by clinic than by province.

Costs by procedure

Every row links to a detailed guide with its own workings, sources, and what drives the bill up. Ranges are national, in Canadian dollars, and are estimates — not quotes.

Procedure National range
Routine / sick vet visit ~$55–$500+
Cat vet costs (overview) Exam ~$60–$110; big bills $1,500+
Dog vet costs (overview) Exam ~$60–$120; big bills $4,000+
Spay / neuter Dog ~$200–$600; cat ~$100–$300
C-section (dog) Planned ~$700–$2,000; emergency ~$1,500–$4,000+
Dental cleaning ~$650–$1,300 (city: $1,500–$3,500+)
Emergency vet visit ~$500–$5,000
X-ray / radiograph ~$200–$800 (with sedation)
Hospitalization Ward ~$200–$600/day; ICU ~$500–$2,000/day
Endoscopy ~$1,000–$3,000
Foreign-object surgery ~$2,000–$10,000
Bloat (GDV) surgery ~$2,500–$7,500+ (preventive gastropexy ~$800–$2,500)
ACL / cruciate (TPLO) surgery ~$3,000–$6,500/knee ($4,000–$8,000 all-in)
Hip dysplasia surgery FHO ~$1,200–$2,500; THR ~$6,000+/hip
Luxating patella surgery (dog) ~$1,500–$5,000/knee
IVDD (disc) surgery ~$4,000–$10,000 all-in
Broken bone / fracture repair Splint ~$300–$1,000; surgery ~$2,000–$5,000+
Cataract surgery (dog) ~$3,500–$6,000/eye
Cataract surgery (cat) ~$2,500–$5,500/eye
Cherry eye surgery ~$500–$1,200/eye
Dog eye surgery (overview) ~$500–$6,000/eye by procedure
Feline urinary blockage ~$1,500–$4,000
UTI treatment ~$150–$500
Ear infection ~$150–$400/episode
Kennel cough ~$50–$300
Parvovirus treatment (puppy) ~$1,000–$5,000
Snake bite treatment ~$2,000–$5,000+
Cancer treatment ~$3,000–$15,000+ per protocol
Biopsy (dog & cat) ~$400–$2,500 (+ lab fees)
Pet allergy treatment ~$80–$200/month ($1,000–$3,000+/yr)
Diabetes treatment ~$100–$300/month
Cushing's disease treatment Trilostane ~$80–$250/month; ~$1,500–$5,000+ yr 1
Heart disease treatment Diagnosis ~$500–$2,500; meds ~$50–$300/month
Glaucoma treatment Meds ~$50–$200/month; surgery ~$1,500–$4,000/eye
Cat hyperthyroidism Methimazole ~$20–$35/month; radioiodine ~$1,400–$2,000
Radioiodine (I-131) therapy (cats) ~$2,000–$3,250 all-in
Cat kidney disease (CKD) Early ~$600–$1,500/yr; advanced ~$3,000–$6,000+/yr
Cat diabetes ~$100–$300/month; first year ~$500–$1,500
Cat tooth extraction ~$50–$300+/tooth; with cleaning ~$1,500–$3,000+
Kitten vaccinations & first-year vet care Vaccine series ~$150–$250; first year ~$400–$900
Puppy vaccinations & first-year vet care Vaccine series ~$150–$300; first year ~$600–$1,500
Pyometra surgery (emergency spay) ~$2,000–$6,000+
Epilepsy / seizure treatment Meds ~$50–$200/month; diagnosis ~$1,000–$3,000+
Pancreatitis treatment Mild ~$800–$2,000; severe ~$2,500–$5,000+
Lump / mass removal Small ~$300–$800; larger ~$800–$2,500+ (+ lab)
Arthritis / osteoarthritis treatment ~$50–$250/month (Librela/Solensia ~$40–$120/mo)
Ultrasound / echocardiogram ~$300–$800 (echo/specialist $400–$900+)
Wound / laceration repair Minor ~$200–$600; deep ~$1,500–$2,500+

See all 153 vet-cost guides →

Vet costs in other provinces

Cite this page — free to reference with attribution and a link:

PetAssured Editorial Team. "What do vet costs in Quebec look like in 2026?" PetAssured.ca, updated July 19, 2026. https://petassured.ca/vet-costs/quebec/

Figures are estimates compiled from public pricing — not quotes. This page's sources are listed above; the site-wide bibliography is at our sources. Journalists and researchers: get in touch for a regional angle or a bilingual quote.