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How much does allergy testing for dogs cost?
There are two veterinary allergy tests, and they are priced differently. CareCredit figures, published by Great Pet Care, put a blood (RAST/serum) test at $80–$200 and a skin (intradermal) test at $195–$350 — with most testing landing somewhere in an $80–$350 band overall. A second source, Synchrony’s 2025 cost study (reported by Dutch), found the average cost of dog allergy testing is about $296, excluding exam fees.
| Allergy testing — published figures by source | Figure |
|---|---|
| Blood (serum/RAST) test (CareCredit, via Great Pet Care) | $80–$200 |
| Skin (intradermal) test (CareCredit, via Great Pet Care) | $195–$350 |
| Average test cost, exam excluded (Synchrony 2025 study, via Dutch) | about $296 |
| Sedation for a skin test (Great Pet Care) | $75–$200 |
| At-home test kit (Great Pet Care) | $100–$250 |
| Allergy shots (immunotherapy), if prescribed (Great Pet Care) | $40–$80 / month |
What drives the price
Who performs the test is the first driver: intradermal testing is usually done by a veterinary dermatologist, and Dutch notes specialty practices can charge much more — one animal hospital it cites lists intradermal testing at $600–$800 and serum testing at $200–$300. Then the add-ons: the exam or dermatology consult itself, sedation (skin testing usually needs it), and any tests run first to rule out other causes of itching. The test is also only the start of the bill if it leads to immunotherapy — the shots or drops are formulated from the results and billed monthly, on top of the usual visit costs.
Veterinary dermatology guidance is that neither blood nor skin testing reliably diagnoses food allergies — the accepted method is a strict elimination diet trial. What these tests identify is environmental allergens, for immunotherapy. Whether testing is worth it for a particular dog is a veterinary decision. This page prices the tests; it does not recommend them.
Allergies sit behind many ear hematomas — see what that surgery costs.
Read the ear hematoma cost guideSources: Great Pet Care (Chewy) — Dog Allergy Testing: Benefits, Types, and Costs (CareCredit estimates) · Dutch — Dog Allergy Testing: How It Works, Cost & Is It Worth It? (Synchrony 2025 study). Researched October 2026 — prices change; confirm with your clinic.