A large part of responsible pet ownership revolves around financial commitments. From food to veterinary care to grooming and boarding, creating a budget gives you a clearer image of the true costs of owning a pet. Union Lake Veterinary Hospital is here to help you figure out how much money you really need to properly take care of an animal and avoid surprises after adoption.
Factors that Affect Budgets
Your cost of owning a pet can vary greatly depending on what kind of animal you have, where you live, how you live, and the needs of your specific pet. A pocket pet needs different kinds of food and supplies than dogs do. But there is no one answer for a type of pet since some dogs require more grooming or medical care than other dogs.
As you start to determine your pet budget, do some research to see the basic costs in your area for the following:
- Veterinary visits
- Food
- Toys
- Grooming
- Local pet registration fees
This preliminary research will give you a good baseline of what you can expect to pay each month for your pet. Some pet owners pay hundreds of dollars a year for their special friend, while some pay in the thousands.
Costs of Owning a Pet: Initial Costs
No matter what kind of pet you get, there will be a host of initial costs you have to pay to set them up comfortably in your home. From preliminary vet visits to vaccinations, microchipping, collars, leashes, food bowls, beds, and licenses, bringing a pet (especially a dog or cat) into your home can be very pricey at first. Some new dog owners pay between $1,000 and $4,000 just in the first year with their furry friend.
Costs of Owning a Pet: Recurring Costs
There are certain recurring pet costs that you can automatically factor into your monthly or yearly budget. These include:
- Food
- Waste removal (poop bags, litter, rocks for a cage, etc.)
- Flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats
- Toys
- Treats
- Grooming
- Wellness visits
The costs of these necessities should not vary too much from month to month, so you can feel secure budgeting for them before you actually spend money on them.
Costs of Owning a Pet: Unexpected Costs
As much planning as you can do when it comes to creating a budget for owning a pet, there are always unexpected costs that can drastically increase the amount you spend annually. A pet emergency could set you back thousands of dollars, for example.
You should always set aside extra funds for unexpected expenses you might face with your pet. It’s not just health emergenicews. You may need to pay animal deposits for apartments or boarding costs during vacations. The costs of owning a pet that you do not budget for could be the ones that really put a dent in your wallet.
Pet insurance can help you avoid huge unexpected vet bills (or hard decisions) in case of a pet emergency, and might be a worthwhile monthly cost to add into your budget.
Union Lake Veterinary Hospital wants to help you set your pets up with the best lives. With a variety of payment options, we do what we can to make veterinary care costs as easy on you as possible. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call (248) 363-1508.