Blood tests can be used as a preventive or diagnostic measure when your pup goes to the vet. Whether it’s an expected or unexpected trip, knowing the cost can help you budget. Blood work for dogs can cost up to $200 or more, depending on a few factors.1 So let’s go over what can impact the cost, the types of blood tests your dog can get, and how pet insurance can help you save money.
How Much Does a Dog Blood Test Cost?
The average cost of a routine full blood panel for a dog can be around $100 to $200.1 However, there are factors that can affect the total cost:
- The type of test needed: Special blood tests may cost more than a routine blood panel.
- The frequency: Monitoring a condition or your dog’s age may increase the frequency at which tests are needed.
- Your location: Where you live and where the test is performed and analyzed — in-house, emergency vet, or in a lab — can affect cost.
If your pup has routine blood work coming up, ask your vet for a breakdown of the costs so you can be financially prepared. It may also be a good idea to ask what their prices are for other blood tests, so you can build an emergency fund if your dog gets sick or injured.
Additional Costs You May Encounter
If your dog’s blood tests are for diagnosing or monitoring a health condition, you may need to pay for additional tests based on the results. These additional tests can include more blood work, X-rays, ultrasounds, a urinalysis, and more. You may also need to prepare to pay for treatment, which can include prescriptions, surgery, therapy, and follow-up appointments.
Need To See a Vet?
Types of Blood Tests
Blood tests can be done for different purposes — for example, to diagnose illnesses, infections, or diseases like parvo, upset stomach, or heartworm. They can also be used to routinely check your dog’s health or as a pre-operative measure if they require surgery. Additionally, blood tests can help monitor chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, allergies, or kidney disease.
Some of the common types of blood work your vet may perform include:2
- Complete blood count (CBC): Typically the most common test panel, this shows the levels of platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells.
- Thyroid panel: This shows certain hormone levels and can help identify thyroid problems, such as hypothyroidism.
- Biochemistry profile: This can provide information on the health of internal organs and tissues.
Outside of these common tests, veterinarians may recommend special blood tests to help diagnose or monitor specific health conditions.
Why dog blood tests are important
Routine blood tests for your dog may be worth it because they can help spot potential health issues. This can be crucial in preventing conditions from getting worse or for maintaining them earlier on. And when your dog isn’t feeling well, blood tests can help a vet figure out what’s wrong so you can get your pet feeling better.
How Often Do Dogs Need Blood Work Done?
It’s a good idea to bring your dog to the vet regularly to help maintain their health. Regular wellness tests allow you and your vet to spot anything abnormal — even when your dog isn’t displaying symptoms.2 How often your pup needs blood work done can depend on your dog’s age, health, and your vet’s recommendations. Your vet may recommend routine blood work with your dog’s annual checkups. They may also advise that older dogs be tested more often to either maintain their health or monitor health conditions.
If your pet has a health condition, this can be another factor in how often they need blood work. A newly diagnosed condition may require frequent blood work for a short time to ensure treatment is working. A chronic condition may require regular blood work to ensure proper maintenance of it.
Pet Insurance Can Help Cover Vet Costs
MetLife Pet Insurance provides coverage that can help with the costs of maintaining your dog’s health. Blood work for diagnostic purposes is typically covered under a dog insurance policy. And if you opt into our preventative care add-on plan, routine blood work during wellness checkups may be covered as well.3 Take a look at these pups who got their blood work covered.
Kola, a mixed-breed puppy from California, went in for blood work. It cost almost $325, but her pet parents had a MetLife Pet policy and were reimbursed over $255. Then, you have Beema, an 11-year-old dog from Pennsylvania. She went to the vet for blood tests that cost nearly $250. Thanks to her owners’ MetLife Pet policy, they were reimbursed for over $220 — almost the entire bill.4
Keeping your pup healthy and vet visit costs lower can be easier with the help of MetLife Pet. Enroll in a customizable dog insurance policy and receive other benefits, like an easy-to-use mobile app with 24/7 vet chat, grief counseling5 for tough times, and the only family plan that can cover up to three pets with a shared deductible.6 Start by getting your free personalized quote today.
A MetLife Pet Policy May Help Cover Blood Work Costs
**As with any insurance policy, coverage may vary. Review our coverage and exclusions.
1 “How Much Does Blood Work for a Dog Cost? 2023 Update,” Hepper, 2023
2 “Wellness Testing for Dogs,” VCA Animal Hospitals
3 For IAIC policies, optional Preventive Care coverage is based on a Schedule of Benefits. For MetGen policies, optional Preventive Care coverage is included in the annual limit.
4 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife internal claims data from October 2022. Story altered for illustrative purposes.
5 Grief Counseling services are provided through an agreement with TELUS Health, an unaffiliated third-party service provider. Grief counseling services provided by TELUS Health are separate and apart from the insurance provided by MetLife. Not available to NY residents.
6 Based on a March 2023 review of publicly available summary information about competitors’ offerings. Competitors did not furnish copies of their policies for review. If you have questions about a particular competitor's policy or coverage, please contact them or their representative directly.
Coverage issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, and Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”), a Delaware insurance company, headquartered at 11333 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste 160, Scottsdale, AZ 85454. Coverage subject to restrictions, exclusions and limitations and application is subject to underwriting. See policy or contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC (“MetLife Pet”) for details. MetLife Pet is the policy administrator. It may operate under an alternate or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota) and MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois).
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