Australian pet owners are being warned to brace for the soaring cost of veterinary care after new data revealed some households faced bills of more than $56,000 this year for a single animal.
Figures released by pet insurer Petsy show that in 2025 the most expensive dog claim reached $56,320, while the largest cat claims exceeded $16,000 – reigniting debate about how families would cope financially with a major pet emergency.
The data, drawn from Petsy’s highest claims of the year, found dog owners were hit hardest. Among the top 10 dog cases, the average vet invoice was close to $20,000, with even the lowest still around $12,500. For cats, the top 10 claims averaged about $11,000, with none falling below $8,000.
Petsy said the most expensive canine case involved a small dog that suffered complications following a limb fracture and endured a prolonged critical illness. Other high-cost cases included emergency surgery after dogs swallowed foreign objects, and specialist orthopaedic procedures following serious fractures.
For cats, severe gastrointestinal illness, respiratory emergencies requiring intensive care, and complications from ingesting non-food items were among the most expensive treatments.
The findings come as pet ownership reaches record levels. Industry research shows about 73 per cent of Australian households, or roughly 7.7 million homes, now have at least one pet, with an estimated 31.6 million pets nationwide. Dogs live in nearly half of all households, while cats are in more than a third.
Yet despite Australians spending more than $21 billion a year on their pets, insurance coverage remains low. Studies suggest fewer than one in four dogs and cats are insured, with some estimates putting coverage closer to one in 10 pets overall.
Petsy founder Monica Limanto said the figures highlight a major financial blind spot for pet owners.
“That leaves the majority of Aussie pet owners exposed to the full cost of veterinary care,” Limanto said.
“For millions of households, the real question is whether they could realistically cover a substantial vet bill at short notice.”
Petsy estimates that lesser extreme emergencies can quickly add up, with after-hours vet visits costing $250 to $500 or more, surgeries such as foreign-object removal running between $3,000 and $10,000, and cancer treatments reaching $15,000 without insurance.
The warning is particularly timely heading into the Christmas period, traditionally one of the busiest, and riskiest, times of year for vets. Clinics regularly see spikes in pets swallowing decorations, bones or toys, suffering food poisoning from festive treats such as chocolate and grapes, or developing heat-related illnesses. Increased holiday travel also leads to more road trauma and accidents.
“For households already juggling higher living costs, an unexpected $10,000 vet bill during the festive season can mean draining savings, taking on debt, or facing seemingly impossible decisions about a pet’s care,” Limanto added.
Petsy recommends pet owners speak with their vet about common risks for their pet’s breed and age, put a financial back-up plan in place, and review any insurance cover before an emergency occurs.
“For many households, pet insurance is one of the few tools that can turn a lifesaving but unaffordable vet bill into a manageable expense spread over time,” Limanto said.
One example highlighted by Petsy is Willow, a three-year-old border collie, whose total vet bills in 2025 reached $16,692.
In January, Willow was rushed to emergency care after suddenly becoming critically ill with severe gastrointestinal symptoms. She required several days of hospitalisation, extensive diagnostic testing, IV fluids, medication and continuous monitoring. Two months later, she also needed sedation and surgery to treat a traumatic dewclaw injury.
Her case, Petsy said, is a reminder that serious and costly pet illnesses can strike without warning – even in young, otherwise healthy animals.