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When your furry friend’s had a bump, you rely on your vet to find out what’s causing that limp, swelling or signs of pain.
Vets can tell a lot from symptoms and physical examinations, but sometimes only an X-ray can get to the bottom of what’s going on under your pet’s skin.
For a relatively quick procedure, X-rays can be surprisingly expensive in some cases. We’ve looked at what’s involved, what can push the cost up and how your pet insurance can help cover the bill for X-rays.
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What are veterinary X-rays?
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X-rays, or radiographs, use invisible electromagnetic radiation to create images of the inside of bodies. The radiation is absorbed at different rates by different materials, so when X-rays pass through bones and tissue, an X-ray detector can create a detailed image of internal structure.
Pet X-rays use an extremely low dose of radiation and are non-invasive, so they’re considered a very safe procedure for your cat or dog.
When does my pet need an X-ray?
X-ray images are extremely useful for diagnosing fractures, spotting foreign objects that curious pets have swallowed, or even detecting more serious conditions like tumours or heart disease.
Your vet might suggest an X-ray if your pet:
Is limping or showing signs of pain
Has been involved in an accident or trauma
Has symptoms of an internal issues, like difficulty breathing or abdominal pain
Needs a dental examination (yes, pets get dental X-rays, just like us!)
How much does an X-ray cost for a dog or cat in the UK?
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We found prices for X-rays listed at 11 vets up and down the country. The average basic X-ray price for pets was £311.74, but there was huge variation.
For example, the cheapest pet X-ray price we found was £83.15 in Sussex, but no information was given on the size of animal or number of images that included.
The most expensive we found was a referral vet charging £595, but that was including sedation, for any size of pet and as many images as needed.
Some prices were for just one or two images, others had a fixed price for as many as needed. Lots of vets priced according to size and weight but others had a single fixed cost. Most vets had a price for the first image or two, then charged around £50-75 for each additional one.
The cost of pet X-rays varies, depending on:
Number of views needed – Multiple angles of a pet’s body are almost always necessary to get the full picture of their condition.
Size of pet – Larger cats and dogs may need more time for an X-ray procedure, or may need larger X-ray plates.
Location of clinic – Veterinary practices in larger cities are sometimes more expensive. If you need to be sent to a specialist vet for X-rays, that’ll cost more too.
Sedation – An anxious pet, or one in pain, may need to be sedated during their X-ray to get clear images. In the UK, most pets are given at least mild sedation during X-rays.
There are a few other options for scanning your pet, like MRI or CT scans. These usually cost significantly more than X-rays.
Peace of mind with pet insurance
Pet insurance can help cover the cost of X-rays. Our cat insurance and dog insurance is designed to be there for you when you need it and it’ll cover diagnostic tests like X-rays when they’re recommended by a vet.
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