Arthritis Injection Costs for Dogs & Cats
Typical cost: $60 – $190 based on 13 real vet invoices. Median: $130.
What's Included in the Bill
Based on 13 real vet bill line items, arthritis injections cost $60–$190 per injection. The charge covers the drug and administration. Librela (bedinvetmab, dogs) and Solensia (frunevetmab, cats) are once-monthly injections given at the clinic. Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) follows a series schedule — a loading phase, then maintenance. Exam fees ($40–$70) are typically separate, though many clinics offer technician-only injection visits between exams.
Cost Breakdown
Based on 13 real vet bill line items, arthritis injections run $60–$190 per injection. These are recurring medications — Librela and Solensia monthly, Adequan on a series schedule — so the annual total matters more than any single visit.
Typical Line Items
The injection itself ($60–$190) — weight-based dosing, larger pets cost more. Exam fee ($40–$70) — usually required at the first visit and periodically after; many clinics allow technician-only visits in between. Larger pets may need a second vial per injection, which adds meaningfully to the per-visit cost.
Follow-Up Costs
Librela and Solensia repeat monthly for as long as treatment continues — 12 injections per year plus any exam fees. Adequan's loading series (label schedule: 8 injections over 4 weeks) is the expensive phase; maintenance dosing after that costs less, especially with a vet-approved home-injection arrangement using a multi-dose vial.
Why Costs Vary
In our data, per-injection prices ranged from $60 to $190. Weight is the biggest driver — all three drugs dose by body weight, so larger pets need more drug per injection and sometimes an extra vial. Clinic type and region matter: urban and specialty practices price higher. Whether an exam fee applies at every visit (vs technician-only injection appointments) can swing annual cost by several hundred dollars. And Adequan bought as a multi-dose vial for vet-approved home injection costs less per dose than per-visit injections.
Does Pet Insurance Cover This?
Librela, Solensia, and Adequan are covered by most accident-and-illness plans at 70–90% after deductible when prescribed for diagnosed arthritis that isn't pre-existing. Because these are recurring monthly costs, reimbursement compounds — 80% of a $130 injection is over $1,200 back per year. Some policies handle injectable medications under a prescription add-on rather than the base plan, so confirm medication coverage before starting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an arthritis injection cost for a dog or cat?
In our 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.
How much does Librela cost for dogs?
In our 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.
How much does Solensia cost for cats?
In our 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.
How much does Adequan cost for dogs?
Adequan pricing in our data ranged from $44–$116 per injection visit, with whole multi-dose vials at $117–$319. Unlike Librela and Solensia, Adequan is a series: the label schedule is twice-weekly injections for 4 weeks (8 injections), then maintenance. Some vets allow home injection after training, which turns the cost into the vial price rather than per-visit charges — ask whether that's an option and what a vial costs at your clinic.
Why is there an exam fee on top of the injection price?
Most clinics require an exam before starting any of these medications and periodically while on them ($40–$70). Between those checkpoints, many clinics offer technician appointments for the injection alone — no exam fee. Whether your clinic does this is one of the biggest drivers of annual cost: a $50 exam fee on 12 monthly visits is $600/year by itself.
Can I buy Librela, Solensia, or Adequan online to save money?
Librela and Solensia are vet-administered only — they are not sold through online pet pharmacies, so the vet's price is the price. Adequan is different: it's sold by online pet pharmacies with a prescription (typically $250–$330 for a 5 mL multi-dose vial), and if your vet approves home injection, buying the vial online and administering at home is usually the cheapest route for long-term maintenance.
Does pet insurance cover arthritis injections?
Accident-and-illness plans generally cover Librela, Solensia, and Adequan at 70–90% after deductible when prescribed for diagnosed arthritis — but only if the arthritis wasn't pre-existing at enrollment. Because these are ongoing monthly costs, coverage matters more than for a one-time treatment: 80% back on a $130 monthly injection is over $1,200/year. Some insurers also require a prescription-medication add-on, so check your policy's medication coverage specifically.
What does a year of arthritis injections cost in total?
Monthly injections mean the per-shot price times 12, plus visit fees. Using our data and industry ranges: Librela for dogs roughly $780–$3,000/year; Solensia for cats roughly $700–$2,300/year; Adequan after the loading series often lands lower, especially with vet-approved home injection from a multi-dose vial. Manufacturer rewards programs (like Zoetis Petcare Rewards for Librela and Solensia) can return a portion as rebates — ask your clinic.
How to Save
- Ask whether your clinic offers technician-only injection appointments after the initial exam — skipping a $40–$70 exam fee on monthly visits saves $500+ per year.
- For Adequan, ask your vet about home injection from a multi-dose vial — with a prescription, online pet pharmacies sell vials for ~$250–$330, which works out cheaper per dose than per-visit pricing.
- Enroll in the manufacturer rewards program — Zoetis Petcare Rewards gives rebates on Librela and Solensia purchases that add up on a monthly medication.
- Get the per-injection price for your pet's exact weight before starting — dosing tiers mean the price can jump at weight thresholds, and clinics in the same area can differ by $30–$80 per injection.
- If your pet is insured, confirm injectable medication coverage before the first injection — recurring monthly claims at 70–90% reimbursement are where insurance pays off most.
- Compare the total annual cost across clinics, not just the injection price — exam-fee policy on repeat visits often matters more than the drug price itself.