An in person second opinion consult with a general practice vet costs a standard consult fee, roughly $80 to $150; a specialist consultation commonly runs $200 to $400 before any imaging; and written online opinions, like ours, start at $250 with the records reviewed by a surgeon. Against surgical quotes that run $3,000 to $15,000, every one of those numbers is small.
Which format fits which problem: a GP second opinion suits everyday medicine questions; an in person specialist consult suits cases that need fresh hands on examination or new imaging; and a records based written opinion suits surgical decision making, where the x-rays, history and quote carry the information and you want the reasoning in writing to show your own vet.
One cost that is genuinely zero: your existing records and imaging, which your clinic must provide on request. Whichever format you choose, arriving with the full file is what makes the fee worth paying.
Send what your vet said and quoted. A veterinary surgeon reads it and comes back to you with what they can do and what it would cost, before you pay anything. A written second opinion is from $250.
Send the case, hear back from a surgeon with what they can do and what it costs, and only pay if you go ahead.