Expenses to Consider When Owning A Dog
When you are considering whether owning a dog is within your budget it's important to remember that there are different types of expenses that occur with dogs.
One-Time Expenses
- Purchasing your dog
- Having your dog spayed or neutered
Recurring Annual Expenses
- Once or twice yearly routine checkups
- Vaccinations
Monthly Expenses
- Parasite preventive medications
- Medications for illnesses
- Food
Emergency Expenses
- Accidents
- Injuries
- Chronic Illness (diabetes, cancer, etc)
- Sudden Illness (Diarrhea, breathing difficulties, vomiting)
Calculating The Average Cost of Owning a Dog
It is nearly impossible to estimate how much you will spend on your dog. The amount will vary since there are an unbelievable number of factors to consider including your dog's size, the breed-specific health concerns, and the services needed to keep your dog looking and feeling their best.
Beyond veterinary care and prevention, to get to a realistic cost of owning a dog you will also want to look at the cost of food (based on how much your chosen dog breed will eat), grooming sessions, toys, treats, beds, collars and leashes, obedience training, boarding for vacations, and possibly the price of hiring a dog walker.
Another variable to consider is where you live. Services from veterinary care to grooming and dog sitting range widely in price between locations. For a true estimate of costs, you will need to consider the breed you are looking at getting, that breed's risk of chronic illness, and how much the pet services your dog will need cost in your area.
Making Dog Ownership More Affordable
If you are actively looking for a dog to bring into your home, there are a number of things that you can do to help you alleviate some of the financial concerns.
Set Aside Money For Your Dog's Care
If budgeting and saving your money comes easily to you, this can be a good solution. Whether you use a separate bank account or a jar tucked away somewhere safe. Calculate how much you would need if your pet suffered a veterinary emergency then work out a reasonable about to tuck away each payday. Having that money put aside may help to make veterinary emergencies less stressful when they strike.
Get Pet Insurance
If you are concerned about the cost of emergency care or caring for a pet with a chronic illness, pet insurance may be able to help make those costs a little easier. Pet insurance can certainly help to relieve the burden of emergency care costs, but it's important to understand what your pet's policy covers before you assume your pet is fully convered.
Sign Up for Your Vets Wellness Plan
Many veterinarians offer wellness plans to help pet parents budget for their pet's annual preventive care. These plans take annual recommended preventive care and divide that cost into 12 easy-to-manage monthly payments.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.