How much does it cost to neuter a dog?

It can cost between £110 to £230 to castrate a male dog and between £154 to £397 to spay female dog, based on our research.

As a percentage, it's around 40% to 73% more expensive to neuter a female dog than a male. This is because the surgery is more intrusive for a female.

The cost of neutering your dog can vary depending on your dog's gender, weight and your chosen vet practice.

In males, neutering is known as castration and it involves removing both testicles.

In females, it's known as spaying, and it involves removing both the ovaries and the womb, this is the traditional method of ovariohysterectomy. There is a newer method of ovariectomy, which is the removal of just the ovaries, and this is usually done with laparoscopic spay, rather than the traditional way.

How much does neutering cost around the UK?

To find out how much it costs to neuter a dog, we spoke to seven vet practices across the UK. The research was carried out on 19 March 2019.

How much does it cost to have a dog neutered in Swansea?

At Lakeside Vet Surgery in Swansea, Wales, prices start from £128 to castrate a male dog weighing under 10kg. There are four price bands, based on your dog's weight, with the highest being £195 for dogs weighing over 40kg.

To spay a female dog, prices start at £154 for dogs weighing under 10kg. Again there are four price bands, with prices increasing up to £278 for a dog weighing over 40kg.

Dog neutering cost at Vets4Pets

Crossing over to Vets4Pets in Hove, Sussex, it costs £110 to neuter  a male dog weighing under 20kg, and £140 for dogs weighing over 20kg.

For female dogs, a spay again is more expensive. Prices start at £155 for a dog weighing under 20kg, and increase up to £170 for a dog weighing over 20kg.

Dog neutering costs in Bristol

Heading towards the Bristol channel, it will cost £142.50 to castrate a male dog weighing under 10kg, with Zetland Vets, Bristol. There are five weight bands with Zetlands, with prices increasing to £197.50 for a male dog weighing over 50kg.

For female dogs, a spay will cost £210 for a dog under 10kg. Prices go up to £285 for a dog weighing over 50kg. Again, there are five weight bands for females.

Keyhole Spay

Some vet practices offer keyhole surgery as a spaying option for female dogs. The surgery involves removing your dog's ovaries via a few small incisions, and the vet is guided using a small camera. It's less intrusive, which can mean a quicker recovery time for your pet.

This option is available through Zetland Vets, and costs £167.50 on top of the Spay costs.

Vets4pets also offer this, although not in every branch.

How much does it cost to neuter a dog at PDSA?

If you are on eligible benefits and live within the postcode catchment area of a PDSA clinic you may be able to get vet treatment at a reduced cost at the PDSA.

The cost of castrating a male dog with the PDSA is £86. This can increase up to £113 if your dog's testes are inside his body, as more intrusive surgery will be required to remove them.

The weight of your male dog does not affect the price of castration, with the PDSA.

The cost of spaying a female dog under 10kg with the PDSA is £98.

For a female dog over 10kg the cost is £113, and for a dog over 40kg the cost is £129.

The cost of neutering does not vary by PDSA practice. This means that you can be assured that where ever you live in the UK, as long as you meet the PDSA criteria, you'll pay the same price.

Because the PDSA already offer a heavily discounted neutering vet service for your pet, they are unable to accept vouchers towards payment.

Dog neutering Streatham, London

Representing the London area in our research were Norbury vets near Streatham.

They charge between £130 to £230 for a castration, and between £185 to £315 for a spay.

They don't segment pricing by weight, when providing information over the phone. Instead you'll need to visit the vet, who will calculate a price at consultation.

Remember prices will vary, depending on the vet practice you visit.

Dog neutering Worcester

Heading further north, towards Birmingham, we spoke to Brentknoll Vet Centre in Worcester.

To castrate a dog under 10kg they charge £160, with prices increasing up to £230 for a dog weighing over 34kg.

To spay a female dog, the prices start at £217.01 for a dog under 10kg, increasing up to £397.01 for dogs over 34kg.

There are four price bands, depending on the weight of your dog.

Price to neuter a dog in Scotland

Heading much further north, to Scotland, we spoke to ICR Vets that serve Edinburgh and the Lothians

For a castration they charge £180 for a dog under 10kg, up to £220 for a dog weighing over 25kg. There are three price bands.

For a spay they charge £210 for a dog under 10kg, up to £285 for a dog weighing over 50kg. There are four price bands for females.

The price includes a pre-castration or spay check, the operation itself, and two post operative checks.

ICR also offer a separate price list for keyhole surgery.

The cheapest vet for neutering your dog

The cheapest neuter with a private practice was Vets4Pets based in Hove.

This is based on a medium size dog weighing between 10-20kg, when comparing the same weight band and prices, for most of the practices we spoke to.

We didn't include Norbury vets in this comparison, as we didn't have a specific weight band related to pricing for the dogs. Nor did we include the PDSA as the service is heavily subsidised.

Vets4Pets has multiple vets across the country, and for this reason, are likely to be able to keep their costs down, due to sourcing services and equipment more cheaply.

More independent practices such as some of those in our list, are more likely to be expensive, simply because its harder for them to keep their costs down.

The price of chemical castration in dogs

Not all vet practices offer chemical castration for dogs, therefore you may need to travel to a vet further afield to get the procedure done. This can add to the costs.

We asked a few of the practices if they offered the service, and they were not able to confirm or offer any pricing.

Dog neutering costs of a small dog

The cost of neutering is usually based on the size of your dog, and gender, so if you own a smaller breed like Shih Tzu's it shouldn't cost you as much as a larger breed.

For dogs under 10kg the cheapest neuter was with Vets4Pets Hove, priced at £110 for a male, and £155 for a female. They have only two price bands – under 20kg or over 20kg.

Should I neuter my dog?

Always check with your vet about neutering your pet. There may be different risks and benefits depending on the age, health and breed of your pet.

Neutering your dog can have positive benefits.

For males these are:

  • It reduces the risk of prostate cancer, and other cancer types
  • It reduces 'humping' behaviours
  • It reduces urine marking and roaming
  • It reduces the risk of more unwanted pups being introduced into the world.

The positives of neutering (spaying) a female dog are that:

  • It prevents unwanted pregnancy
  • Removes the risk of womb infections known as pyometra
  • It reduces the risk of mammary cancer
  • It prevents ovarian tumours
  • And prevents phantom pregnancies
  • Also, your dog will also be less moody, as her hormones won't be affected by coming into season

What age should a dog be neutered?

A male dog can be castrated between six to seven months, but it can vary depending on the breed. Speak to your vet for clarification.

A female dog can be spayed at around six months old, however, this can differ if you have a larger dog.

Large dogs like Labrador Retrievers, for example, can be neutered from up to 18 months of age, however, this is dependent on size and gender.

Always speak to your vet for advice and clarification.

Delaying your dog's spay un-necessarily could lead to more problems, such as the increased risk of breast cancer after she's had her third season.

Find out what breed of dog you should consider for your family.

Does pet insurance cover neutering?

Pet insurance usually doesn't cover routine or preventative procedures such as neutering.

However, if the procedure is recommended by a vet as essential treatment for another health problem, Bought By Many can consider a claim for it.

Additionally, should any complications arise during your dog's routine neuter, Bought By Many pet insurance can cover the cost of the vet treatment caused by the complication.

Dogs Trust help with neutering

The Dogs Trust run a scheme whereby if you are on eligible benefits and your dog is an eligible breed, you can qualify for help towards the cost of vet care.

You can visit the Dogs Trust website to find out more information.

Find out the average cost of dog insurance, and what influences this in: What does dog insurance cost?

In conclusion

Most vets and pet charities recommend getting your dog neutered. Although it's not cheap, it's a responsible procedure to consider.

We would suggest speaking to your vets before going ahead, so that you're fully aware of the benefits and risks.