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How much does it cost to amputate a cat's broken or injured tail?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | unneutered | 20 lbs

My cat got into a fight and his whole tail is broken and died how much on average does it cost to get his tail amputated

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 5th, 2017

This is a question that I would call around local vet clinics to find out as pricing is different at every clinic. At the clinic I work at, I would normally charge $800-1000 for the procedure. There can also be post op complications with healing which can add on additional costs. Tail amputations can be difficult to manage so I would expect additional costs beyond the initial procedure. Sometimes we have to go back in multiple times to repair the tail as this area does not receive the best circulation.

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Ann Dion, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 2nd, 2018
Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Prices of surgeries will vary greatly depending on clinic, location, country, state, etc. In general, you get what you pay for, so if a surgery is very low cost at one clinic, and more expensive at all the other clinics, you have to be wary of where they are cutting corners. In general, I would say that 700$ for an amputation is a good price, it's not scary low, but defenitely not a high price. You can call around the clinics in your area to get a general price estimate. If the tail is getting infected and not healing (which it appears it is by the pictures), then amputation is required. Tails can often need more than one surgery, especially if a quick stitch up is the first attempt, as they wag the tail, don't let it heal, and also just the anatomy of the tail. It is not surprising given the history that the surgery is required. If left alone, infection can get into the bones and the spinal canal of the tail, and cause an ascending infection up the spine, which as you can imagine can be very very bad. I recommend going ahead with the surgery. Best of luck with Reyki.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My cat's tail broke. Should we amputate? Will it affect her mentally?

Ouch! Without seeing the x-rays, it's difficult to provide a terribly accurate opinion regarding Luna's tail. In general, if there is a small fracture near the tip of the tail, these can heal quite well without any lasting problems. However, if there is a fracture closer to the tail base, these can cause more problems when healing (i.e. holding the tail up while using the litter box) and be more painful. Tail amputations do not cause any significant stress beyond the stress caused by any surgical procedure. Most cats recover uneventfully after 10-14 days with the help of some pain medication. To my knowledge, there is not emotional distress caused by tail amputations because cats do not experience the social pressures that people will feel. In most cases of tail fractures, I lean towards amputation. I hope this helps you to confirm your decision!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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How much to treat a stray cat with a tail injury that looks dislocated?

How lovely of you to want to help Choco! The vet visit would be between $45-$55, and I imagine the vet will want to do x-rays to determine if her tail is broken which can cost a couple of hundred dollars. The vet can give you an estimate for treatment when she sees the vet. If she is a stray and you don't want to assume financial responsibility, you can take her to the local SPCA. They can get her treatment and find her a home. I hope this helps.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My cat has a painful tail injury after a fight. What should I do?

I'm so sorry this happened to Gibson. Unfortunately, she likely needs just the last portion of her tail amputated, especially if it is broken. I do not think euthanasia is indicated and many veterinarians are capable of doing a tail amputation. I see there are 3 local vets in your area. I would recommend finding one you trust and making an appointment ASAP. She needs pain medication, appropriate antibiotics, and surgical treatment. Luckily it's not a major procedure and she likely could come home right after.

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What are vet costs for a stray cat with a broken or injured leg?

It is difficult to give an estimate for cost without knowing the extent of his injury. Veterinary costs also vary by location. The best thing would be to call some local vets and get an estimate for an examination and x-ray of his injured leg. That would be a good starting point and then the vet can give you an estimate to treat the condition once it is diagnosed.

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My cat's tail is injured. Is it broken? How do I clean the wound?

Unfortunately, only an x-ray or a bone sticking out of the skin will tell you if it is broken. Tail injuries can be very serious, even if there is not a broken bone. Since they are very far away from the body, there is less blood flow that creates a condition for poor healing. I would strongly recommend seeing a vet. Depending on the amount of skin that is damaged, the vet may recommend amputation of the damaged part of the tail to help with healing. If you choose to treat at home, you need to try to clip the hair away from the wound so it can stay clean. You will need to prevent all licking, since this will delay healing and spread bacteria. You should clean it 2-3 times per day with water and a mild chlorhixidine wound soap. You can apply neosporin after cleaning the wound. Do not use alcohol or peroxide.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My kitten's tail is broken with bone exposed. What's the vet plan?

You should have a vet take a look at his tail to determine the best way to treat. It may need to be amputated and your vet can make that decision after an examination. He will also need an antibiotic and pain medications to help treat.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat's tail is bleeding from fleas. Should I take him to the vet?

Prince may have caused damage to his tail from the itching with the fleas, or some other reason. Whatever the cause was, now that there is a bleeding wound on his tail, I would recommend that you have it treated by a vet as soon as possible. Tip of the tail wounds can be very hard to heal because there is not much blood flow to help with healing. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are often needed to help with healing, as well as special bandages to keep the tail protected. Prince may need to wear an e-collar if he is seen licking the tip of his tail, since licking spreads bacteria and decreases the rate of healing. The cost of veterinary care ranges drastically depending on your area and the clinic chosen. You may be able to call different clinics and ask for the cost of an exam, wound treatment, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories for cats to see what the average cost would be. I have worked in clinics where this treatment could range from $120-300.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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