Chronic conditions

Arthritis treatment cost

Arthritis is managed for the rest of a pet's life, so monthly medication and injections make up most of the cost.

Updated October 15, 2026 · US prices · 3 sources · see sources

Typical US prices
Item	Typical US price	Src
Dog Arthritis Treatment: typical owner bill	$500–$2,500 total	[1]
Arthritis Injections for Dogs & Cats: typical owner bill (13 bills)	$60–$190	[2]
Rimadyl (Carprofen) for Dogs: typical owner bill (103 bills)	$15–$50	[3]
On the bill: Exam (The first visit, then rechecks)	$50–$100	[1]
On the bill: X-rays (2 to 3 views)	$150–$330	[1]
On the bill: Blood count (CBC) (Before starting medication, then for monitoring)	$85–$230	[1]
On the bill: Chemistry panel	$105–$185	[1]
On the bill: Carprofen or Rimadyl	$12–$50 a month	[1]
On the bill: Meloxicam (At a pharmacy)	$4–$15 a month	[1]
On the bill: Gabapentin (At a pharmacy)	$4–$10 a month	[1]
On the bill: Joint supplements	$20–$50 a month	[1]
On the bill: Librela injection (Given at the vet)	$65–$110 a month	[1]

Ranges come from the sources below, and each one measures something slightly different (published prices, owner invoices or planning budgets). Your vet's estimate is what counts. Older figures, like the ASPCA's 2021 table, are probably lower than today's prices.

What affects the cost

Your dog’s size Bigger dogs need a larger dose, so the same medication costs more each month. [1]
Where you fill prescriptions Meloxicam is $4–$15 a month at a pharmacy and $25–$50 at the vet. [1]
Brand name or generic Generic carprofen costs less than brand-name Rimadyl. [1]
Which treatments are used Pills are the cheapest part. Librela adds $65–$110 a month and laser therapy $30–$75 a session. [1]
How often rechecks happen Each round of monitoring blood work is $75–$200, plus a $50–$100 exam. [1]
Your pet’s weight All three are priced by weight. A larger pet can need a second vial at each visit. [2]
Which injection Librela and Solensia are monthly. Adequan starts with a series of injections, then fewer. [2]
The exam fee An exam is $40–$70. Charged every month, it adds $500 or more a year. [2]

Ways to save

Ask for written prescriptions to fill at a pharmacy Meloxicam and gabapentin together cost $8–$25 a month at a pharmacy, against $40–$95 or more at the vet. [1]
Ask if a generic is available Generic carprofen is $12–$25 a month online, against $15–$50 at the vet. [1]
Buy joint supplements online The same products usually cost less online than at the clinic. [1]
Ask how often monitoring blood work is needed Each panel is $75–$200. Your vet sets the schedule for your dog. [1]
Ask what Librela costs each month before starting It runs $70–$100 a month for as long as your dog is on it. [1]
If your dog is insured, check what the plan pays Plans bought before arthritis was diagnosed usually pay 70–90% of ongoing costs. [1]
Ask about injection-only visits Many practices let a technician give the monthly injection without a $40–$70 exam fee. Over a year that is $500 or more. [2]
For Adequan, ask your vet about a multi-dose vial Online pet pharmacies sell vials for about $250–$330 with a prescription. Your vet decides whether injections at home suit your pet. [2]

Questions to ask your vet

Print this or bring it on your phone.

Ask for written prescriptions to fill at a pharmacy
Ask if a generic is available
Ask how often monitoring blood work is needed
Ask what Librela costs each month before starting
Ask about injection-only visits

Common questions

How much does it cost to treat arthritis in a dog?

Based on 555 real line items, the individual components of arthritis treatment range from $40 to $225 each. Initial diagnosis (exam + X-rays): $200–$500. Monthly medication: $15–$100/month depending on drug and pharmacy. Monitoring blood work every 6–12 months: $75–$200 per panel. First-year total: $600–$2,500. Ongoing annual cost: $400–$1,500 with NSAIDs, or $1,200–$2,400+ with Librela injections. (Source: VetReceipt)

How much does a Librela injection cost for dogs?

Librela (bedinvetmab) costs $65–$110 per monthly injection at the vet, with most owners paying $75–$95 per shot. It is only available as a vet-administered injection — there is no take-home or pharmacy option. Annual cost: $780–$1,320. Librela is a monoclonal antibody that targets nerve growth factor (NGF) to block arthritis pain. Many owners report significant improvement in mobility within 1–2 weeks. Your vet may recommend a trial of 2–3 injections to see if your dog responds before committing long-term. (Source: VetReceipt)

What do the most common arthritis medications cost?

Carprofen (Rimadyl): $12–$25/month on Chewy, $15–$50 at the vet. Meloxicam (Metacam): $4–$15/month at a human pharmacy with GoodRx, $25–$48 at the vet. Gabapentin: $4–$10/month at a human pharmacy, $14–$47 at the vet. Librela (monthly injection): $65–$110/month at the vet only. The biggest savings come from filling meloxicam and gabapentin at a human pharmacy. (Source: VetReceipt)

How much does an arthritis injection cost for a dog or cat?

In VetReceipt's data (13 real vet bill line items), arthritis injections run $60–$190 per injection depending on the drug and your pet's weight. Librela (dogs) and Solensia (cats) are monthly injections; Adequan is given as a series. The injection price usually does not include the exam fee ($40–$70), so ask whether your clinic offers technician-only injection visits after the first appointment. (Source: VetReceipt)

How much does Librela cost for dogs?

In VetReceipt's invoice data, Librela injections ran $103–$138. Industry pricing spans $65–$250 per monthly injection, and weight is the biggest factor — dosing is weight-based, so a 70 lb dog costs meaningfully more per shot than a 15 lb dog. Over a full year of monthly injections, that's roughly $780–$3,000 including visit fees, so it's worth asking your vet for the per-injection price and whether an exam fee applies every visit. (Source: VetReceipt)

How much does Solensia cost for cats?

In VetReceipt's data, Solensia injections ranged from $56 to $359 per visit, with most between $56 and $187 — the high end reflects larger cats needing more than one vial and visits with added services. Industry pricing typically runs $60–$190 for the injection itself. Like Librela, it's a monthly injection given at the vet, so annual cost is the number to plan around: roughly $700–$2,300 with visit fees. (Source: VetReceipt)

How much does Rimadyl / carprofen cost for dogs?

Based on 103 real vet invoices, carprofen at the vet typically costs between $15 and $50 per dispensing. The price varies significantly by brand vs generic, dog size (larger dogs need higher doses), and whether you buy at the vet or from an online pet pharmacy. (Source: VetReceipt)

Is there a generic version of Rimadyl?

Yes — carprofen is the generic name. Brand names include Rimadyl (Zoetis), Novox (Putney), Quellin, and Vetprofen. Generic carprofen costs 30–60% less than brand-name Rimadyl. At Chewy, generic carprofen runs about $0.40 per tablet vs $1–$2+ for Rimadyl brand. Ask your vet to prescribe "carprofen" instead of "Rimadyl" — the active ingredient is identical. (Source: VetReceipt)

Can I buy carprofen at a human pharmacy?

No — carprofen is a veterinary-only NSAID. It was briefly available for humans in the 1980s but was withdrawn from the human market. You cannot fill it at Walmart, Costco, or any human pharmacy. Your options are: buying from the vet, online pet pharmacies (Chewy, 1-800-PetMeds, Petco, PetCareRx), or a compounding pharmacy with a vet prescription. (Source: VetReceipt)

Breeds with related health issues

These breed pages mention a related health issue, based on AKC, CFA and PetMD breed information. It doesn't mean every pet of the breed will need this.

🐕 Dachshund 🐕 Rottweiler 🐕 Havanese

Sources

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