Our Pricing
Transparent, published pricing for specialty consultations and advanced imaging.
What we charge and why
The cost of specialty veterinary care has significantly risen in recent years. We built Summit to serve our region — communities across the Front Range and the families who travel to us from beyond — and part of what that means is working to keep specialty care within reach of more of the families who need it. That starts with what we charge, and with being open about what things cost.
Below you’ll find published pricing for specialty consultations and advanced imaging (CT and MRI). For surgical and procedural pricing, please give us a call — those conversations are best had in the context of your specific pet, and we’re happy to walk you through them. In many cases, we’ll need to examine your pet before we can give you an accurate estimate — what looks like one procedure sometimes turns out to need a different approach, and sometimes doesn’t need surgery at all.
Transparency is one of our five core values. Being clear about what we can publish and honest about what needs a conversation is how we act on it.
Consultation pricing
Please see below for the cost of each consultation with us. The visit includes a full examination by the specialist, a review of records from your referring veterinarian, a discussion of diagnostic and treatment options, and a written estimate for any next steps before anything is scheduled.
*Ophthalmology consultations include a Schirmer Tear Test, fluorescein stain, and tonometry — the three standard diagnostic tests performed at nearly every eye exam.
When we recommend a CT scan
A CT scan gives us a level of detail that X-rays and ultrasound can’t match. For a lot of the decisions that we make in specialty surgery and oncology — where a tumor sits in relation to a major blood vessel, whether cancer has spread to the lungs, how a complex fracture should be approached — CT is the standard of care.
Cancer staging. CT can pick up lung nodules as small as 1 mm. X-rays typically miss anything smaller than 7 to 9 mm. That difference matters when we’re deciding whether surgery is the right next step.
Surgical planning for the abdomen and chest. Liver, lung, pancreatic, kidney, and adrenal surgeries all rely on knowing exactly where the mass sits relative to the vessels and adjacent organs around it. CT also allows us to determine the safest possible way to perform the surgery, or in other situations, know that surgery is not the right answer before we go in.
Head and neck surgery. When we’re operating in the head and neck, the airway, esophagus, blood vessels, and nerves all sit right next to each other. CT shows us where every one of them is before we make the first incision.
Lymph node evaluation. For some cancers — anal sac tumors are the clearest example — CT sees lymph nodes deep in the pelvis that ultrasound simply cannot reach reliably. CT also detects lymph node spread more reliably than ultrasound or X-rays — which means better staging and a clearer picture of your pet’s prognosis before you decide on treatment.
Complex orthopedic problems. Elbow dysplasia, shoulder OCD, and angular limb deformities are cases where surgical planning needs a level of 3D detail X-rays don’t provide.
Complex fractures — not routine ones. Most fractures are diagnosed and treated with X-rays alone. CT is reserved for fractures with multiple fragments, joint surface involvement, or overlapping bone, where seeing the fracture in 3D changes the surgical approach.
Spinal and pelvic trauma. When bones overlap on an X-ray, small but important fractures get missed. CT sees them.
Two-site CT: chest and abdomen in one visit
For staging a cancer, working up a sick patient, or checking on a known condition, a two-site CT covers the chest and abdomen at the same time — one visit, one event, one report. It’s more sensitive than combined chest X-rays and abdominal ultrasound, and we’ve priced it to make it a practical option for routine staging.
Published CT rates
Before imaging: Every CT patient is first evaluated by one of our specialists. See Specialty Consultations above for pricing.
The CT scan, interpretation by a board-certified radiologist, light general anesthesia and monitoring, and hospital care on the day of the scan through anesthesia recovery.
IV contrast (added based on your pet’s size — most patients need contrast for a diagnostic study), and pre-anesthetic bloodwork if it isn’t already on file.
No abdominal shave required. For patients having a CT rather than an ultrasound, we don’t need to shave the belly. Families appreciate this more than we expected — it comes up in conversation often.
One appointment can replace two. When CT is the right next step, going straight to CT often means we don’t need to run an ultrasound first — saving your family time, money, and a second visit.
Light general anesthesia, not heavy sedation. For CT we use light general anesthesia rather than deep sedation. It sounds like the bigger option, but it’s actually gentler: we control your pet’s airway, use short-acting medications, and avoid the long recovery that comes with sedation protocols. Your pet also holds still perfectly, which gives us better images.
Brain and spinal cord imaging
MRI is our first choice for imaging the brain and spinal cord. Where CT is best for bone, lungs, and abdominal organs, MRI shows soft tissue detail that is unmatched by any other imaging modality — which is why MRI is recommended for many neurology cases.
Before imaging: every MRI patient is first evaluated by one of our specialists. See Specialty Consultations above for pricing.
The MRI scan, interpretation by a board-certified veterinary specialist, light general anesthesia and monitoring, and hospital care on the day of the scan through anesthesia recovery. For MRI with CSF tap, the fluid analysis is included.
IV contrast (added based on your pet’s size), and pre-anesthetic bloodwork if it isn’t already on file.
A note on our approach to spinal cases
When an MRI shows a disc rupture that needs surgery, our neurologist will routinely go straight from the MRI into surgery under the same anesthetic. Faster spinal decompression means better outcomes for the patient, and only one anesthetic episode means lower anesthetic risk and a lower total cost — you’re not paying for a second anesthesia set-up. Not every case is right for this pathway, but when it is, we’ll talk you through it before we scan.
If cost is on your mind
Specialty care can be a financial stretch, and we know that. Our specialists will work with you to build a treatment plan that fits both your pet’s needs and your family’s situation — from a comprehensive workup to a more targeted approach. Call us and we’ll walk you through it.
Have questions about pricing?
Call us and we’ll walk you through it — no obligation, no pressure.
Phone: 720.991.3040 ·
Email: [email protected]
6600 Firestone Blvd, Firestone, CO 80504