Medical Care
Every rescue dog arrives with medical needs — from a first vet visit to life-saving treatment. Here's what that care really costs, and how your gift covers it.
What it costs to give one rescue dog a healthy start
Every dog who comes through Little Light Rescue gets a full medical foundation — an exam, core vaccines, deworming, a microchip, and a year of flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. Here is what that costs, using current U.S. national averages.
| Intake vet exam | ~$60 | $50–$150 |
| Core vaccines (rabies, DHPP, bordetella) | ~$105 | $70–$140 |
| Deworming | ~$40 | $25–$50 |
| Microchip | ~$48 | $25–$87 |
| Flea & tick prevention (1 year) | ~$225 | $120–$360 |
| Heartworm prevention (1 year) | ~$125 | $72–$216 |
| First-year medical, per dog | ~$600 | $360–$1,000 |
The costs we can’t predict
Heartworm treatment
When a dog arrives heartworm-positive, treatment averages ~$1,500 (a full protocol of injections, x-rays, and medication). Severe cases can reach $6,000.
Emergency & injury care
Wounds, infections, and accidents average ~$650 per event — and a true surgical emergency can run $2,000–$5,000 or more.
Dental care
A cleaning under anesthesia averages ~$400–$700, climbing to $700–$1,300+ when extractions are needed.
What it adds up to
Little Light House is being built to shelter up to 100 dogs. Here is what routine first-year medical care alone looks like at scale — before any heartworm treatment or emergencies.
Figures are 2024–2025 U.S. national averages from veterinary cost sources (GoodRx Pet, PetMD, CareCredit, American Heartworm Society, Pumpkin). Actual costs vary by region, dog size, and the severity of each dog’s needs.
Cover a dog’s medical care
Your gift gives a rescue dog the exam, vaccines, prevention, and treatment they need to start over. Every dollar goes straight to their care.