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How much does bladder stone surgery (cystotomy) cost?
CareCredit publishes cystotomy — surgical removal of bladder stones — at from about $586.95 to upwards of $4,000 in general practice, and its emergency guide puts the average at $2,331 for dogs ($2,096 for cats). At a university referral center the same operation is published at $3,500–$4,800 before a $1,300–$1,900 workup. Setting, more than anything, is the price.
| Cystotomy — published figures | Figure |
|---|---|
| General range — CareCredit (2024) | $586.95 to upwards of $4,000 |
| Average — CareCredit emergency guide (2026) | dogs $2,331 · cats $2,096 |
| Traditional cystotomy — Univ. of Tennessee referral | $3,500–$4,800 (not including workup) |
| Required internal-medicine workup — Univ. of Tennessee | $1,300–$1,900 |
| Cystoscopic-assisted cystotomy — Univ. of Tennessee | $2,800–$4,000 |
| Laser lithotripsy — Univ. of Tennessee | $3,300–$4,500 |
| Percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL) — Texas A&M | $4,000–$5,000 (pre-op evaluation extra) |
| Urohydropropulsion (non-surgical flushing) — CareCredit | $1,000–$2,800 |
What drives the price
CareCredit names location, the number of stones, the health of the bladder, and the sex of the dog (male anatomy complicates several of the alternatives; the University of Tennessee adds $615–$1,228 when a urethrostomy is also needed). The university documents are the clearest illustration on this site of the referral premium: their figures exclude the workup, exclude emergency charges, and still sit at the top of the general-practice range — the price of a specialist team and minimally invasive options (laser lithotripsy, cystoscopic assistance) that general practice does not offer. Diagnosis is separate everywhere: the stones are found and characterized by X-ray, ultrasound, blood and urine tests before any of the figures above apply.
See the published prices for the X-ray and ultrasound that usually identify bladder stones.
Read the imaging cost guideSources: CareCredit / Synchrony — Bladder Stones in Dogs (2024) · University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center — Urolithiasis estimate (updated 2026, valid to 3/31/27) · Texas A&M Small Animal Hospital — PCCL information sheet. Researched October 2026 — prices change; confirm with your clinic.