How Much Does It Cost to Spay or Neuter a Pet in Los Angeles in 2026?
If you're trying to figure out how much it costs to spay or neuter a dog or cat in Los Angeles, you may find prices that look completely different from one clinic to another. A nonprofit or high-volume spay/neuter clinic may charge around $100 to $300, while some full-service veterinary hospitals can quote several hundred dollars more.
That doesn't necessarily mean you're comparing the same service. Your pet's species, sex, weight and health can affect the price, and clinics don't always include the same things in their surgery packages. Pre-operative bloodwork, pain medication, an e-collar, IV fluids, vaccines and follow-up care may be included at one clinic and charged separately at another.
Los Angeles also has something many pet parents don't realize: low-cost and potentially free spay/neuter programs. That can make the difference between paying several hundred dollars and paying very little, depending on where you live and whether you qualify.
How Much Does Spay or Neuter Cost in Los Angeles?
For planning purposes, pet parents in Los Angeles may encounter prices around:
Procedure | General Los Angeles Planning Range |
Cat neuter | $100–$250+ |
Cat spay | $100–$300+ |
Small dog neuter | $200–$500+ |
Large dog neuter | $250–$600+ |
Small dog spay | $200–$550+ |
Large dog spay | $275–$700+ |
Full-service/private hospital | $400–$1,000+ in some cases |
These are planning ranges rather than guaranteed prices. Los Angeles has unusually wide variation because pet parents can choose among nonprofit clinics, high-volume spay/neuter programs and traditional full-service veterinary hospitals.
One useful current example is CAMP Clinic Los Angeles. CAMP publishes regular prices of $140 for either a cat spay or neuter, $225 for dogs under 40 pounds, and $275 for dogs weighing 40 pounds or more. A $10 service fee applies. Qualified households earning under $40,000 can access lower prices.
Those prices demonstrate why looking around Los Angeles before booking can matter.
Want to See Spay and Neuter Prices Near You?
The Los Angeles market includes clinics with very different pricing models. Instead of relying only on a citywide average, FareVet can help you research available veterinary costs around your area.
Compare Spay & Neuter Costs Near You on FareVet →
How Much Does It Cost to Spay a Dog in Los Angeles?
Spaying a female dog can vary substantially in price. At lower-cost Los Angeles programs, prices can start around $200 to $300, while a private full-service veterinary hospital may charge several hundred dollars more.
CAMP currently charges $225 for a dog spay under 40 pounds and $275 for dogs weighing 40 pounds or more. Qualified-income pricing lowers those amounts to $195 and $220 respectively. CAMP also charges an additional $100 for dogs weighing more than 100 pounds.
But those numbers shouldn't automatically be compared with a $600 or $800 quote from another veterinary hospital without checking what's included.
The private-practice estimate may include pre-anesthetic bloodwork, IV catheter placement, fluids, monitoring, medication and other services. Alternatively, you may discover that a lower-cost clinic includes more than you expected.
The price only becomes useful when you understand the package.
How Much Does It Cost to Neuter a Dog in Los Angeles?
Dog neuter prices also vary according to the clinic and the dog's size. CAMP currently uses the same base pricing for dog neuters as dog spays: $225 for dogs under 40 pounds and $275 for dogs 40 pounds and over, before its $10 service fee. Lower qualified-income prices are available.
Other clinics may use more weight categories. For example, a clinic could have separate prices for dogs under 25 pounds, 25 to 50 pounds, 50 to 75 pounds and over 75 pounds.
This means asking “How much does it cost to neuter a dog?” isn't always enough.
You may need to tell the clinic your dog's approximate weight before receiving an accurate quote.
How Much Does It Cost to Spay a Cat in Los Angeles?
Cats can often be spayed for considerably less through Los Angeles nonprofit and high-volume spay/neuter programs.
CAMP currently lists its regular cat spay price at $140, plus its $10 service fee. Qualified-income households can receive a $120 surgery price.
Other Los Angeles-area programs may offer subsidized or free surgeries to qualifying residents, which means the actual amount a cat owner pays can vary dramatically.
This is one area where checking assistance programs before paying a full private-practice price can be particularly worthwhile.
How Much Does It Cost to Neuter a Cat in Los Angeles?
CAMP also currently charges $140 for a cat neuter, or $120 under its qualified-income pricing, plus the service fee.
Male cat neuters are generally less surgically involved than female cat spays, but individual clinics don't necessarily price the procedures the same way. CAMP, for example, currently charges the same amount for both.
So don't assume the price based only on whether your cat is male or female. Check the individual clinic.
Why Does Dog Weight Affect the Price?
One of the biggest differences you'll notice when researching dog spay and neuter prices is weight-based pricing.
A 12-pound Chihuahua and a 95-pound German Shepherd don't require exactly the same amount of medication, anesthesia and surgical resources. Larger dogs may therefore cost more.
CAMP's published pricing demonstrates this clearly. Dogs below 40 pounds currently cost $225 at the regular rate, dogs 40 pounds and over cost $275, and dogs over 100 pounds have an additional $100 charge.
If you're calling clinics for prices, have your dog's approximate weight available. Otherwise, the quote you receive may not reflect what you'll actually pay.
Why Can One LA Clinic Charge $200 and Another Charge $800?
This is where spay and neuter price comparison becomes especially important.
Imagine one clinic quotes $225 while another quotes $650. It's easy to assume that the second clinic is simply much more expensive.
But first find out what's included.
Does the $225 package include pain medication? Does the $650 package include pre-operative bloodwork, IV fluids, anesthesia monitoring, medications and follow-up care? Does either clinic charge extra for an e-collar? Are there separate examination fees?
You may still discover a major price difference after comparing everything. But at least you'll be comparing the same service.
What Is Usually Included in a Spay or Neuter Price?
There isn't one standard package used by every veterinary clinic.
At CAMP, published surgery prices currently include pain medication and an e-collar for dogs. Cats receive a long-acting injectable pain medication at the time of surgery. CAMP also states that it does not charge extra when pets are pregnant or in heat.
Another clinic may structure its package differently.
That's why before booking you should ask whether the quote includes the examination, anesthesia, surgical monitoring, pain medication, e-collar, IV fluids, pre-operative bloodwork and follow-up care.
A lower starting price can become less attractive if several required items are added later.
Does Pre-Surgical Bloodwork Cost Extra?
It can.
Some veterinary hospitals recommend or require bloodwork before anesthesia. The purpose is to give the veterinarian additional information about your pet's health before the procedure.
Depending on the clinic and blood panel, this could add around $100 to several hundred dollars to your total.
If one clinic quotes $300 and another quotes $450, ask whether bloodwork is included in either estimate before concluding that one is significantly more expensive.
What Other Fees Can Increase the Price?
Several factors can increase a spay or neuter bill. Larger dogs may cost more. Some clinics charge additional fees for pets with certain surgical circumstances or medical needs. Pre-operative bloodwork, vaccines, microchipping, medications, IV fluids and e-collars can also appear as separate charges.
CAMP, for example, currently charges an additional $113 for an inguinal cryptorchid procedure and $180 for an abdominal cryptorchid procedure. It also charges an additional $100 for dogs weighing over 100 pounds.
The important point isn't memorizing every possible extra charge. It's understanding that the advertised surgery price may not always be your final bill.
Can You Get a Free Spay or Neuter in Los Angeles?
Potentially, yes.
Los Angeles Animal Services operates spay and neuter assistance programs for eligible City of Los Angeles residents. CAMP notes that LA City programs provide assistance with sterilization costs, although voucher availability can be limited and pet parents are encouraged to obtain vouchers before their appointments.
The city increased reimbursement rates for its free spay/neuter vouchers in 2025 to $120 for cats and $195 for dogs, according to CAMP. Funding remains limited, so availability isn't guaranteed.
The ASPCA Los Angeles Spay/Neuter Clinic also provides subsidized spay/neuter services for eligible Los Angeles residents, including free services for residents of certain qualifying ZIP codes.
Before paying full price, it's worth checking whether you qualify for a city, county or nonprofit assistance program.
\
Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Options Around Los Angeles
Los Angeles has several organizations focused specifically on making sterilization more accessible.
CAMP Clinic Los Angeles operates a nonprofit clinic on 11th Avenue, and CAMP also operates spay/neuter services through locations including CAMP Clinic - East Valley in Van Nuys, CAMP Clinic Northridge and CAMP Clinic San Pedro (spay/neuter). CAMP currently lists seven clinic locations across its network.
Spay4LA is another program focused on low-cost spay/neuter, vaccines and microchips for dogs and cats in lower-income areas of Los Angeles City and County. Eligibility depends on the owner's address.
There are also other nonprofit and lower-cost providers throughout the greater Los Angeles area, so checking multiple options can be worthwhile if the procedure isn't urgent.
Low-Cost Doesn't Automatically Mean Lower Quality
A nonprofit clinic charging $140 for a cat spay and a private hospital charging several hundred dollars are operating under different models.
High-volume spay/neuter organizations may perform these procedures frequently and structure their operations specifically around sterilization and preventive care. Private veterinary hospitals may provide broader medical services, longer individual appointments or different levels of pre-operative testing and monitoring.
Price alone doesn't tell you which option is appropriate for your pet.
The better question is: What does this price include, and does this clinic provide the level of care my pet needs?
What Are You Actually Getting for Your Money?
Imagine Clinic A quotes $225 to spay your dog.
Clinic B quotes $500.
Clinic A includes the surgery, anesthesia, pain medication and an e-collar. Clinic B includes those services plus pre-operative bloodwork, IV fluids and additional monitoring.
The $275 difference now has context.
Now imagine both clinics include essentially the same services and one still costs $275 more. That's useful information too.
This is why veterinary price transparency isn't simply about finding the lowest number.
It's about understanding what you're actually getting for that number.
Compare Spay and Neuter Prices Around Los Angeles
Los Angeles is one of those markets where researching before booking can make a particularly large difference. You may encounter nonprofit pricing under $300, income-qualified discounts, city vouchers and private-practice estimates several times higher.
FareVet helps pet parents research available veterinary prices and understand what different services may cost before making a decision.
Compare Spay & Neuter Prices Around Los Angeles on FareVet →
Questions to Ask Before Booking the Surgery
Before scheduling, ask the clinic for the total estimated price based on your pet's species, sex and weight. Find out whether the quote includes anesthesia, monitoring, pain medication, an e-collar and follow-up care. Ask whether pre-operative bloodwork is required, whether there are additional charges based on weight or surgical complexity, and whether your pet qualifies for any current discount or voucher program.
These questions are particularly useful when comparing a nonprofit spay/neuter clinic with a full-service veterinary hospital because the two facilities may package their services very differently.
So, How Much Should You Budget for Spay or Neuter in Los Angeles?
If you're using a Los Angeles nonprofit or high-volume spay/neuter clinic, roughly $100 to $300 can be a realistic starting range for many cats and dogs, although large dogs and pets requiring additional services can cost more. CAMP's current regular pricing, for example, ranges from $140 for cats to $275 for dogs 40 pounds and over, before applicable service or additional fees.
At a full-service veterinary hospital, the total can be substantially higher. CAMP itself has cited $600 to $1,000 as a range pet owners may encounter for spay/neuter surgery outside subsidized programs, which helps explain why Los Angeles maintains voucher and nonprofit options.
But don't compare a $150 procedure with a $700 procedure based on the headline price alone. Find out what's included, whether bloodwork is required, whether medications and follow-up care are included, and whether your pet's weight or medical circumstances affect the quote.
And before paying full price in Los Angeles, check whether you're eligible for a city, county or nonprofit spay/neuter program.
Because the most useful question isn't only “How much does it cost to spay or neuter my pet?”
It's “What am I getting for that price, and are there programs available that can help me pay less?”
Comments