Dog Spaying
Cost UK
Dog spaying (female neutering) costs £200 to £400 in the UK in 2026. Keyhole (laparoscopic) spaying costs £300-£500 but offers faster recovery. Open spaying costs £200-£400. Price depends on dog size and surgical method.
What You Will Pay
Spaying is a major abdominal surgery that removes the ovaries (and sometimes uterus) to prevent pregnancy and heat cycles. It also significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer and eliminates the risk of pyometra (a life-threatening uterine infection).
| Component | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open spay (small dog) | £200 – £280 | Traditional surgery, midline incision |
| Open spay (medium dog) | £250 – £350 | Most common, 10-25kg dogs |
| Open spay (large dog) | £300 – £400 | 25kg+, longer surgery time |
| Keyhole spay (laparoscopic) | £300 – £500 | Smaller incisions, faster recovery |
| Pre-operative blood test | £60 – £100 | Recommended for all dogs |
| Post-op medication & collar | £20 – £50 | Pain relief, antibiotics if needed |
open spay on a small dog at an independent vet
medium dog open spay, UK average
keyhole spay for a large dog at a specialist
Factors That Affect
the Price
Keyhole vs open surgery
Keyhole (laparoscopic) spaying uses 2-3 tiny incisions instead of one larger one. Recovery is faster (3-5 days vs 10-14 days), less painful, and complications are fewer. However, it costs £100-£200 more and is not available at all practices.
Dog size
Larger dogs require more anaesthesia, longer surgical time, and more suture material. A Great Dane spay costs roughly double a Chihuahua spay.
Timing
Spaying before the first season (around 6 months) is a simpler operation than spaying an older, larger dog mid-cycle. Some large breeds benefit from delayed spaying (after first season). Discuss timing with your vet.
Pyometra emergency
If spaying is needed as an emergency due to pyometra (infected uterus), the cost rises to £1,500-£4,000 including hospitalisation and intensive care. Elective spaying prevents this entirely.
How to Save Money
Consider keyhole spaying
While £100-£200 more upfront, keyhole spaying means faster recovery, less time off work looking after your dog, and fewer complications. The total cost difference may be smaller than it appears.
Check charity subsidies
Dogs Trust, PDSA, and Blue Cross offer subsidised or free spaying for eligible owners. The Dogs Trust has subsidised over 100,000 neutering operations.
Compare prices for open vs keyhole
Some practices charge similar prices for both. Others have a large premium for keyhole. Get quotes for both options from multiple practices.
Time it right
Spaying between seasons is safest and cheapest. Spaying during or just after a season increases bleeding risk and surgical time, potentially increasing cost.
Would insurance have covered this?
On a typical lifetime policy an owner pays the excess (usually £60–£200) and, on some policies, 10–20% of the rest. Pre-existing conditions are never covered, so the time to compare is before something goes wrong.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Open spaying costs £200-£400 depending on dog size. Keyhole (laparoscopic) spaying costs £300-£500. Small dogs are cheapest, large and giant breeds most expensive. London prices are 20-40% higher than the national average.
For most dogs, yes. Keyhole spaying has smaller incisions, faster recovery (3-5 days vs 10-14 days), less pain, and fewer complications. The premium is typically £100-£200 and many owners find it worthwhile.
Traditionally at 6 months (before first season). However, for large breeds, some vets recommend waiting until after the first season (around 12-18 months) to allow full development. Discuss timing with your vet.
Spaying prevents unwanted puppies, eliminates pyometra risk (a life-threatening emergency costing £1,500-£4,000 to treat), reduces mammary cancer risk by 90% if done before the second season, and stops messy heat cycles.
Open spay: 10-14 days of restricted exercise, buster collar, and wound monitoring. Keyhole spay: 3-5 days of rest, with most dogs back to normal within a week. A post-op check is usually at 3 and 10 days.
Compare spaying prices near you
Find local vets offering open and keyhole spaying. Compare prices and book with confidence.