How much is a CT scan for my dog? The prices, explained
If a scan has been mentioned for your dog, it is completely natural to want to know the cost first. We have set the prices out plainly below, along with what is included, so there are no surprises.
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The short answer
- We will see your dog here in Eastwood first, and when a scan is needed it is done at our sister practice, Advanced Vet Care in Lane Cove.
- A CT scan starts at $2,500. That covers the general anaesthetic, the day at Lane Cove, and a scan of one area of the body, including contrast.
- Each extra area is $500. Checking the chest and abdomen for the spread of cancer, for example, is $3,000 in total.
- Contrast is used in almost every scan, at no extra cost.
- The only extra is for flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs, about $300 to $400 for the additional care they need around an anaesthetic.
What does a CT scan cost for a dog?
These are the prices at Advanced Vet Care Lane Cove, where the scan is done.
| What it is | What it covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| First area | The general anaesthetic, the day at Lane Cove, and a CT scan of one area, including contrast. | $2,500 |
| Each additional area | Another area scanned under the same anaesthetic. | $500 |
| Flat-faced dogs Brachycephalic breeds |
Oxygen before and after the anaesthetic, and medication to reduce the risk of vomiting and pneumonia afterwards. | About $300 to $400 extra |
What counts as an area?
There are four main areas: the chest, the abdomen, the head and the pelvis. Legs work slightly differently, because a whole leg counts as two areas while a single joint, such as an elbow or a shoulder, counts as one.
| Common scans | Areas | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chest | 1 | $2,500 |
| A single joint, such as an elbow or a shoulder | 1 | $2,500 |
| Chest and abdomen, to check whether cancer has spread | 2 | $3,000 |
| Chest and head | 2 | $3,000 |
| A whole leg | 2 | $3,000 |
You decide on the day how many areas you want scanned, once we have talked through what each one would tell us.
Would you like to talk about the cost first?
You are very welcome to. We can go through the prices with you, look at your dog, and help you decide what is right for your family, with no pressure at all.
Is there anything else on top?
Usually not. The anaesthetic is included in the price, and its cost doesn't really vary from dog to dog.
The one exception is flat-faced dogs, such as French bulldogs, pugs and British bulldogs. They have a higher risk of breathing problems under an anaesthetic, so we give them oxygen before and after it, plus medication to reduce the risk of vomiting and pneumonia afterwards. That adds about $300 to $400.
Why the anaesthetic is not optional
A CT scan is always done under a general anaesthetic, never just sedation. That is not a comfort question but an image-quality one, because scans taken on a moving animal are difficult to interpret and can be worth nothing at all.
Many of the dogs we see for a scan are older, or already unwell, and that is often the reason the scan came up in the first place. It is not in itself a reason to avoid an anaesthetic. Modern veterinary anaesthetics are very safe, and older pets, and pets with heart or kidney disease, can be anaesthetised safely with the right precautions.
Contrast is included
Contrast is a dye given through a drip. It makes soft tissue and blood vessels stand out, so that a lump and the normal tissue around it no longer look the same. We use it in 99% of scans, and it is part of the price rather than an extra.
How long does it take, and when do we get the results?
The scan itself takes minutes, although your dog will be with us for several hours on the day.
Every scan is sent to a specialist radiologist for a report. That takes anywhere from four hours to two business days, depending on how urgent the case is. Spinal scans are reported within four hours, because those cases are often racing the clock. Less urgent questions, such as checking whether cancer has spread, can take a couple of days.
Is a scan actually worth the money?
Sometimes it is not, and we will tell you so. A scan earns its cost when it changes what happens next, either by turning a maybe into a plan or by sparing your dog a treatment that was never going to work.
The clearest example is cancer, where the question before treatment is whether it has already spread to the lungs. A CT scan finds small lung deposits that a chest x-ray simply cannot see. Fewer than one in ten of them show up on an x-ray at all.
What that changes
Knowing that before committing to surgery or chemotherapy can change the decision entirely, and it can change what you choose to put your dog through. It is a hard conversation to have, and we would rather have it with you than let you have it alone.
The rest of the time the honest answer is that it depends on the case, and that is what the appointment is for. What a scan is and when it changes the answer is covered on our guide to CT and diagnostic imaging for pets.
X-ray and ultrasound are on site here at Eastwood Veterinary Hospital, and they answer most imaging questions without an anaesthetic at all. The scan itself is done at Lane Cove. Your dog's history and imaging travel with them, so nothing is repeated unnecessarily and the plan comes back to us, the team who already know your dog.
Will pet insurance help with the cost?
Cover differs a great deal from policy to policy, and some policies treat investigation differently from treatment, so it is worth a call to your insurer before the scan is booked. We are happy to put together a written estimate for you to send them, with the details they will ask for.
We want you to feel comfortable with the decision
Money is a real part of any decision about your pet's care, and it should never feel awkward to ask. We are always happy to talk about the cost, and if a scan will not help your dog, we will tell you honestly.
Book an appointment →Common questions
How is the price worked out?
By the number of areas scanned: $2,500 for the first and $500 for each extra one, and you choose on the day how many areas that is. The only addition is about $300 to $400 for flat-faced dogs. Nothing beyond the agreed plan happens without us ringing you first.
Does my dog have to be anaesthetised, and does that cost extra?
Yes, a CT scan is always done under a general anaesthetic, because the images are unusable if a patient moves. The anaesthetic is included in the $2,500.
Does contrast cost extra?
No. We use contrast in almost every scan because it is usually what makes the difference between an image and an answer, and it is included in the price.
How quickly will we get the results?
A specialist radiologist reports every scan, within four hours to two business days depending on how urgent it is. Spinal scans are reported within four hours.
My dog is old. Should we just not put them through it?
That deserves a proper conversation rather than a web page. Veterinary anaesthesia is very safe, and older dogs, and dogs with heart or kidney disease, can be anaesthetised safely with the right precautions. Whether the scan is right for your dog is exactly what we work out together at the appointment.
We've tried a few vets in the area but Eastwood Vet Hospital has been the best so far. Super caring staff, patient and create a calming environment for the animals. Front of house staff were very helpful and quick. Love ya work guys!
Andrew Parnham, Google review · 5 stars
A real review, quoted as written. Read our Google reviews →
We do orthopaedic surgery here in Eastwood, and our team speaks Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese.
References
Our approach to diagnostic imaging follows Australian and international veterinary guidance, including RSPCA Australia and the Merck Veterinary Manual.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Computed Tomography in Animals. Reviewed August 2024, updated April 2025.
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: How should I take care of my cat or dog's teeth? Quoted here for its statement on the safety of modern veterinary anaesthesia.
- Nemanic S, London CA, Wisner ER. Comparison of thoracic radiographs and single breath-hold helical CT for detection of pulmonary nodules in dogs with metastatic neoplasia. J Vet Intern Med. 2006.
Medically reviewed by Dr Mirko Spidalieri · updated October 2026. This guide is general information, not a quote and not a substitute for examining your individual dog.
We are happy to talk it through
If it would help to sit down with the prices before deciding anything, that is exactly the kind of visit we are glad to make time for. Ring us on 02 7258 9900 and we will find a moment that suits.
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