Hip surgery is one of the highest vet bills a family can face. The price changes a lot depending on the technique the dog needs.
Key facts
- At a university vet hospital, femoral head excision costs €600 and a triple osteotomy €1,300.
- The price includes up to 24 hours of observation and two check-ups, but not the anaesthetic or the pre-operative assessment.
- Petplan reimburses 100% up to €3,100 a year if the problem is not pre-existing.
Reference prices (2026)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Femoral head excision | €600 |
| Hip luxation: closed reduction | €450 |
| Hip luxation | €1,100 |
| Triple osteotomy | €1,300 |
What makes the price vary?
The technique changes the bill most: from €450 for a closed reduction of the luxation to €1,300 for a triple osteotomy. On top of those amounts you add the anaesthetic, €100 for intravenous general anaesthesia, and the pre-operative assessment, €30, because they are not included. If the surgery is an emergency, this hospital adds a 25% surcharge.
How much does Petplan cover?
Petplan Spain reimburses 100% of the invoice up to €3,100 a year, with a €45 co-payment per illness or accident, at the vet of your choice. It does not cover pre-existing conditions or preventive care, and there are waiting periods of 15 days for accidents and 30 days for illness.
The policy includes surgery carried out by the vet to treat an injury or illness. The conditions exclude the cost of any prosthesis, with the exception of hip, knee or elbow replacement. If the hip already had a problem before you took out the policy, it is a pre-existing condition and is not covered.
Frequently asked questions
How much does femoral head excision cost in total?
At this hospital: €600 for surgery, €100 for intravenous general anaesthesia and €30 for the pre-operative assessment. €730 in total, without prior tests.
Why are there two prices for hip luxation?
The list has one row for closed reduction at €450 and another for hip luxation at €1,100. The hospital does not state which technique the second price covers.
Sources
- Veterinary Hospital of the University of Zaragoza, 2026 public prices (VAT included).
- Petplan, health insurance general conditions (in Spanish).
See also: cost of an X-ray, cost of anaesthesia, cost of a hip replacement and real cost of the vet in Spain 2026.
Indicative prices. Spain has no official price scale and each clinic sets its own fees: these are the public prices of a university veterinary hospital, and other clinics may charge differently.
