Dogs can certainly steal our hearts away and become treasured members of our family, but that love and loyalty come at a very real price. Before taking on the responsibility of making a dog part of your family, be sure to consider these points from our Seymour Veterinary Hospital vets.
Expenses to Consider
When you are considering whether owning a dog is within your budget it's important to remember that different types of expenses occur with dogs.
One-Time Expenses
- Purchasing your dog
- Spaying or neutering your pup
- Cost of breed-specific surgeries such as tail docking
Recurring Annual Expenses
- Once or twice yearly routine exams
- Vaccines
Monthly Expenses
- Parasite protection
- Medications
- Food
Emergency Expenses
- Accidents
- Injuries
- Chronic Illness (diabetes, cancer, etc)
- Sudden Illness (Diarrhea, breathing difficulties, vomiting)
Calculating The Average 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, the health risks of your dog's breed, and the services needed to keep your dog looking and feeling they're 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.
You should also take into account where you live. The cost of services like veterinary care, grooming, and dog sitting varies greatly between locations. You should think about the breed you want, the likelihood that the dog will develop a chronic illness, and the cost of the pet services your dog will require in your area to get an accurate estimate of costs.
Ways to Make Dog Ownership More Affordable
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.
Set Aside a Money Just For Pet Care
This might be a good option for you if you are good at budgeting and saving. Regardless of whether you use a separate bank account or a container hidden away in a secure location. Work out a reasonable amount to set aside each pay period based on how much you would need if your pet experienced a medical emergency. Veterinarian emergencies might be less stressful if there is money set aside for them.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance might be a good option for you if you're worried about the high cost of emergency care or taking care of a pet with a chronic illness. Uncovering the specifics of your pet's policy before signing the dotted line is crucial if you want to make an informed decision about pet insurance and how it can help you pay for unexpected medical expenses.
Wellness Plans
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 payments. At Seymour Veterinary Hospital, our pet wellness plans for dogs include annual core vaccines, 2 routine exams per year, 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.