While including a dog as a part of your family can be incredibly rewarding there are also various concerns to keep in mind such as the financial responsibility that comes with pet ownership. Our Westfield vets discuss the cost of owning a dog and ways that you can help manage that cost.
The Financial Responsibility of Owning Dogs
If you decide to bring a new pup into your family then you will have many factors to take into consideration. One of the biggest factors will be finances. You will not only need to consider the monthly cost of owning a dog such as food and preventive care as well as year routine care there is also emergency care to think about.
What Expenses Do You Need To Consider With 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
- Spaying or neutering your pup
- Cost of breed-specific surgeries such as tail docking
Monthly Expenses
- Parasite protection
- Medications
- Food
Recurring Annual Expenses
- Once or twice yearly routine exams
- Vaccines
Emergency Expenses
- Accidents
- Injuries
- Chronic Illness (diabetes, cancer, etc)
- Sudden Illness (Diarrhea, breathing difficulties, vomiting)
From the start, it is important to be prepared for these types of expenses and plan accordingly so that you don't face any unpleasant surprises along the way.
How To Determine The Cost of Owning a Dog
Of course when it comes to estimating how much a dog costs the numbers vary wildly since there are so many factors to consider including the size and breed of the dog, health risks of your dog's breed and the services needed to keep your dog looking and feeling their very 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.
How You Can Help Manage The Cost of Owning a Dog
If you have your heart set on having a dog as part of your family, there are ways to help make the annual cost of owning a dog more affordable.
Be Proactive in Saving Money For Veterinary Care
If you are good at saving and budgeting this may be a good solution for you. 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.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance may be right for you if you are concerned about the high cost of emergency care or caring for a pet with a chronic illness. 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 signing on the dotted line.
Wellness Plans
Many veterinarians offer wellness plans to help pet parents budget for their pet's annual preventive care. These plans take annual of recommended preventive care and divide that cost into 12 easy-to-manage payments. At Westfield Animal Hospital our pet wellness plans for dogs include annual core vaccines, 2 routine exams per year, your dog's Bordetella vaccine, 12 months of flea and tick prevention and 12 months of essential heartworm protection.
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.
