Heartworm treatment for dogs cost in 2026
Heartworm treatment for dogs costs $500 to $3,000 per full course of treatment in 2026, and most people pay about $1,500.
What moves the price
- Larger dogs need more medicine, so they cost more.
- How sick the dog is changes how many tests and checks are needed.
- Where you live matters, and city and coastal clinics cost more.
- Nonprofit and teaching clinics often charge much less than private or emergency clinics.
- Dogs with severe disease may need hospital care or surgery.
What is included
A course usually covers testing, chest X-rays, an antibiotic, steroids, a monthly preventive and a series of three shots with hospital time. A recheck test about nine months later is often part of the plan. Emergency surgery for severe cases is far more and is not part of the usual price.
Heartworm treatment cost by part
| Part of treatment | Price range |
|---|---|
| Heartworm antigen test | $35 to $75 |
| Chest X-rays | $125 to $250 |
| Doxycycline | $30 to $150 |
| Steroids | $10 to $40 |
| Three shot series (melarsomine) with hospital care | $500 to $1,500 |
| Emergency surgery for severe cases | $3,000 to $6,000 |
Average prices in US dollars. Source: PetMD.
Total heartworm treatment cost by clinic type
| Clinic type | Total price |
|---|---|
| Private vet | $1,000 to $3,000 or more |
| Nonprofit low cost clinic | $225 to $2,000 |
| Emergency or specialty hospital | Several thousand dollars |
Average prices in US dollars. Source: PetMD.
Ways to pay less
- Ask for a written, itemized estimate and ask if payments can be spread out.
- Contact nonprofit clinics, teaching hospitals, shelter medical funds and breed rescues for lower cost help.
- Give heartworm prevention every month, which costs about $60 to $240 a year and avoids this bill.
What price guides say
We checked 4 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.
Common questions
How much does this cost in 2026?
Heartworm treatment for dogs costs $500 to $3,000 per full course of treatment in 2026, and most people pay about $1,500. Most people pay about $1,500 per full course of treatment. The low end is $500 and the high end is $3,000.
What changes the price the most?
The biggest factors are: Larger dogs need more medicine, so they cost more; How sick the dog is changes how many tests and checks are needed; Where you live matters, and city and coastal clinics cost more.
How can I pay less?
Ask for a written, itemized estimate and ask if payments can be spread out. Contact nonprofit clinics, teaching hospitals, shelter medical funds and breed rescues for lower cost help. Give heartworm prevention every month, which costs about $60 to $240 a year and avoids this bill.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 4 named price guides: PetMD, Webvet, GoodRx, Vetster. Each one is linked on this page with the date we read it.
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