Moderate health risk small · 15-25 lbs · 13-yr lifespan

Shetland Sheepdog Vet Costs: What You'll Actually Pay

$400 to $950 per year at the vet. Over a 13-year lifespan, that's $6,000 to $14,000 total. 1-2 visits/year.

Annual Vet Cost

$400-$950

Lifetime Vet Cost

$10,000

13-year avg

Insurance

$32-$60/mo

$384-$720/yr

Annual Vet Cost Breakdown

Where your Shetland Sheepdog vet budget actually goes.

Preventive care (vaccines, exams, prevention) $300

Breed-specific health risk reserve $350

Spay/neuter (one-time, amortized) $175-$400

Annual total range $400-$950

Shetland Sheepdog Health Issues: What to Watch For

Collie eye anomaly (CEA)

10-25% of breed

Inherited eye defect. Ranges from mild (no vision loss) to severe (retinal detachment). Test puppies early.

Treatment cost: $100-$500

Hip dysplasia

8-10% of breed

Common in herding breeds. Manageable with medication early; surgical correction in severe cases.

Treatment cost: $1,500-$6,000

MDR1 gene mutation

15% homozygous of breed

Drug sensitivity. Some common medications are toxic to affected dogs. $60 DNA test tells you.

Treatment cost: $50-$200

Recommended Procedures & Screenings

Procedure	Frequency	Cost
CERF eye exam	Annual	$50-$150
MDR1 DNA test	Once	$60-$100
Hip screening	Once at age 2	$200-$400

The Bottom Line on Shetland Sheepdog Vet Bills

Shelties are generally healthy. The MDR1 mutation is the most actionable item — a cheap DNA test prevents accidentally giving a toxic drug dose.

Compare With Other Breeds

Mastiff $800-$2,200/yr Bulldog $700-$2,000/yr Saint Bernard $750-$2,000/yr Cane Corso $700-$1,800/yr Bernese Mountain Dog $650-$1,800/yr French Bulldog $650-$1,800/yr Bloodhound $650-$1,700/yr Persian $600-$1,600/yr Sphynx $580-$1,600/yr Scottish Fold $550-$1,500/yr Great Dane $600-$1,500/yr Bull Terrier $580-$1,500/yr Akita $620-$1,500/yr Boston Terrier $550-$1,400/yr Boxer $550-$1,400/yr Cavalier King Charles Spaniel $550-$1,400/yr Doberman Pinscher $520-$1,400/yr Chow Chow $520-$1,300/yr German Shepherd $500-$1,300/yr Rottweiler $500-$1,300/yr Great Pyrenees $530-$1,300/yr Basset Hound $500-$1,300/yr Alaskan Malamute $550-$1,300/yr Golden Retriever $500-$1,200/yr Maine Coon $450-$1,200/yr Dalmatian $500-$1,200/yr Weimaraner $490-$1,200/yr Ragdoll $440-$1,150/yr Pembroke Welsh Corgi $450-$1,100/yr Miniature Schnauzer $430-$1,100/yr British Shorthair $420-$1,100/yr Bengal $430-$1,100/yr Samoyed $450-$1,100/yr Siamese $400-$1,100/yr Irish Setter $480-$1,100/yr Labrador Retriever $480-$1,100/yr Maltese $420-$1,050/yr Abyssinian $400-$1,050/yr West Highland White Terrier $420-$1,000/yr Dachshund $400-$1,000/yr Cocker Spaniel $420-$1,000/yr Pomeranian $400-$1,000/yr Poodle (Standard) $450-$1,000/yr Australian Shepherd $420-$1,000/yr Siberian Husky $420-$1,000/yr Vizsla $410-$980/yr Havanese $390-$950/yr Border Collie $420-$950/yr Yorkshire Terrier $380-$900/yr Standard Schnauzer $380-$900/yr American Shorthair $350-$900/yr Shih Tzu $380-$900/yr Bichon Frise $380-$900/yr German Shorthaired Pointer $400-$900/yr Shiba Inu $380-$880/yr Beagle $380-$850/yr Whippet $360-$850/yr Jack Russell Terrier $350-$850/yr Australian Cattle Dog $350-$800/yr Chihuahua $300-$700/yr

More Vet Cost Resources

Vet Cost Calculator All Breeds Compared Emergency Vet Costs Procedure Cost Guide Pet Insurance Costs Preventive Care Costs