Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common illnesses in older cats. It is not cured, it is managed, so the spending is recurring: bloodwork, ultrasound scans and, during a crisis, hospitalisation. At the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Zaragoza a renal panel costs €30 and a day of hospitalisation with fluid therapy and medication for a cat costs €90.
Key facts
- Diagnosis combines blood and urine: renal panel €30, SDMA €32 and urinalysis with UP/C €45.
- A kidney crisis that needs admission costs €90 a day, or €165 if it includes full bloodwork.
- Petplan reimburses 100% up to €3,100 a year, with a €45 co-payment, and each illness is covered for 12 months.
Reference prices (2026)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Internal medicine consultation | €40 |
| Internal medicine follow-up | €20 |
| Renal panel: BUN, creatinine, phosphorus and electrolytes | €30 |
| SDMA | €32 |
| Complete blood count with differential | €35 |
| 15-parameter biochemistry with electrolytes | €55 |
| Feline panel: blood count, 10-parameter biochemistry, electrolytes and total T4 | €100 |
| Urinalysis (dipstick and sediment) with UP/C | €45 |
| Abdominal ultrasound | €60 |
| Subcutaneous fluid therapy without admission | €35 |
| 24 h hospitalisation with fluid therapy and medication (cat) | €90 |
| 24 h hospitalisation with fluid therapy, medication and full bloodwork (cat) | €165 |
What makes the price vary?
The stage of the disease makes the difference: a stable cat needs €20 follow-ups and periodic bloodwork, while a decompensated cat needs admission. How many tests the vet orders at each check also counts, because a renal panel costs €30 and a 15-parameter biochemistry with electrolytes costs €55. And where the fluids are given matters: €35 for a subcutaneous session without admission, against €90 for a day of hospitalisation with fluid therapy and medication.
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 Veterinary Fees section covers the veterinary treatment needed to treat accidents and illnesses, which includes the consultations, the bloodwork, the ultrasound scans and the hospitalisation of a cat with kidney disease. Each illness is covered for 12 months from the date it was first observed, which matters in a chronic disease. A cat can be insured for the first time up to the age of 7 and stays insured at any age while the policy is renewed, and claiming does not raise the price of the policy.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to diagnose kidney disease in a cat?
At this hospital, the internal medicine consultation costs €40, the renal panel €30, SDMA €32, urinalysis with UP/C €45 and the abdominal ultrasound €60. Those five tests add up to €207.
Does the policy cover kidney disease that has already been diagnosed?
No. No condition that is pre-existing at the policy start date is covered, that is, no illness that began to develop before cover started, even if it had not yet shown clinical signs. Nor is any illness that begins to develop in the first 30 days of the first policy year.
Sources
- Veterinary Hospital of the University of Zaragoza, 2026 public prices (VAT included).
- Petplan, health insurance general conditions (in Spanish).
See also: cost of a blood test, cost of a urine test, cost of an ultrasound 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.
