A hernia is an organ or fat pushing through a weak point in the body wall. The price of surgery changes a lot with where the hernia is and which technique it needs.
Key facts
- At a university veterinary hospital, an umbilical hernia costs €60 and a ventral hernia €100; a scrotal or inguinal hernia on one side is €250.
- A perineal hernia is the most expensive: from €350 with a simple herniorrhaphy to €800 with bilateral muscle transposition.
- Petplan reimburses 100% up to €3,100 a year if the hernia is not pre-existing.
Reference prices (2026)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Umbilical hernia | €60 |
| Ventral hernia | €100 |
| Scrotal or inguinal hernia (one side) | €250 |
| Perineal hernia: simple herniorrhaphy, one side | €350 |
| Perineal hernia: simple herniorrhaphy, both sides | €650 |
| Perineal hernia: mesh, one side | €350 |
| Perineal hernia: mesh, both sides | €650 |
| Perineal hernia: muscle transposition, one side | €450 |
| Perineal hernia: muscle transposition, both sides | €800 |
| Pre-operative assessment (without lab tests) | €30 |
| General inhalation anaesthesia up to 2 hours (dog of 10 to 24 kg) | €120 |
What makes the price vary?
Where the hernia is and whether it affects one side or both. In a perineal hernia, the technique: mesh and simple herniorrhaphy cost €350 on one side, muscle transposition €450. The dog’s weight changes the price of the anaesthesia, and this hospital adds 25% for emergency surgery.
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 covers the surgery the vet performs to treat an injury or illness. If the hernia was already there before you took out the policy, it is a pre-existing condition and is not covered. Castration is excluded unless it is carried out when your pet has an injury or illness and is essential, and anything related to breeding, pregnancy and birth is excluded.
Frequently asked questions
How much does perineal hernia surgery cost in total?
With muscle transposition on one side, €450 for the surgery, €120 for inhalation anaesthesia of up to 2 hours in a dog of 10 to 24 kg and €30 for the pre-operative assessment. That is €600 in total, without prior tests.
Is a puppy’s umbilical hernia covered?
Only if it appears after you take out the policy. A hernia that was already there is a pre-existing condition and is not covered. There are also waiting periods of 30 days for illness and 15 days for accidents.
Sources
- Veterinary Hospital of the University of Zaragoza, 2026 public prices (VAT included).
- Petplan, health insurance general conditions (in Spanish).
See also: cost of anaesthesia, cost of spaying or neutering, cost of hospitalisation 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.
