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What is the Monthly Cost of Owning a Dog?
As a dog owner, you will find that you need to account for your canine’s monthly expenses when making your budget. The fact is, owning a pup can occasionally be an expensive proposition. Just like their human our four legged best friends need to eat good food, take the occasional trip to the doggie spa for nail trims, as well as an emergency fund for veterinary care, a few toys and even a leash replacement or two.
It’s important to keep in mind that your monthly pet budget will depend on the breed of the dog you own, what quality products you plan to buy, your dog’s health, and more. Additionally, your budget will go up if you use professional grooming and dog walking services rather than doing things yourself.
Monthly Dog Ownership Costs
While costs will always be variable, as mentioned above, you can expect the average cost of owning a dog to be between $100 and $1000. However, this number does not account for any one-time costs you will have to pay when you get a dog or for the cost of emergency care if your pet is injured.
In my personal experience for my small rescue dog I average 130- 150 a month for food, treat and a toy ever now and then. But that covers the basics you need to consider. For a large breed dog – it run you anywhere from 200- $300 a month for the basic needs.
Additionally, if you’re someone who prefers to buy premium products whenever possible, you can expect prices to be two to three times the numbers mentioned above.
You can also spend less than $100 on your pet each month, but that will usually mean compromising on their quality of care (such as buying them poor-quality dog food due to the lower price). Alternatively, you will be forced to buy low-quality products that you will have to replace soon, which will end up being more expensive in the long term.
Let’s look at some common monthly expenses you will have to budget for, as well as some other expenses that are a part of dog ownership.
Dog Food Quality Meals Can Save Money in the Long Run
One of the essentials when it comes to budgeting for a pet, your dog food costs will be variable depending on the brand of food you buy, as well as what breed your pup is. Some breeds require more food, which, in turn, means spending more money.
When buying dog food, make sure to keep a close eye on the ingredients in the mixture. Some ingredients you should avoid include:
- Artificial preservatives and coloring
- Propylene glycol
- Rendered products with the term “meal” in the ingredient names (such as chicken meal)
In general, you can expect to spend between $30-$80 per month on dog food.
Routine Vet Care and Preventative Medication
Even the healthiest pets will need to see the vet for routine check-ups, so you can be sure that they are healthy. Additionally, there are also some preventative medications and products that dogs should take, including:
- Heartworm medication
- Flea/tick prevention
- Parasite medication
- Enzymatic dog toothpaste (your dog should have his teeth brushed regularly)
In general, you can expect to spend between $15-$30 per month on routine vet care and up to $42 per month on preventative medications.
Pet Insurance
This is something that many pet owners overlook. While you may not see the point of pet insurance when your dog is healthy, it can come in useful if your pet ever gets injured or develops a serious illness.
The fact is, emergency medical care is not only expensive for humans, it’s also expensive for pets. This price only goes up if your dog needs to undergo surgeries, all of which can really add up.
Pet insurance provides you the confidence of knowing you have a safety net and will be able to afford care if anything unfortunate happens. Additionally, monthly premiums are relatively affordable. You can shop around to find the perfect plan and coverage for your needs, but in general, you should expect to pay between $30 and $80 monthly.
Variable Cost Of Owning a Dog
Dog grooming, dog walking, and doggie daycare can all be expensive parts of your monthly pet budget. However, you may never need to spend money on these services, as you can handle both grooming and walking yourself, and daycare is only necessary if you won’t be at home for days on end.
If you do find that you need professional help, you can expect to spend anywhere up to $650 per month, depending on your dog’s breed, needs, and how many services you need.
Additionally, you will likely have to pay for dog toys, beds, and other similar equipment. However, these items will not usually require a monthly investment – for example, you won’t need to buy a new dog bed until your pet’s old one has been worn out, so most people consider these needs as part of their yearly pet budget, rather than their monthly one.
One-Time Costs
Aside from constant monthly costs, you will also have to pay certain one-time costs for your pet, especially right after you adopt them. These will include:
- The cost of adoption or purchase
- Initial vet visit and vaccinations
- Dog licenses
- Microchipping
- Spaying or neutering (many rescue and shelter dogs are payed and neutered)
- Startup supplies, including a collar and leash, toys, a dog bed, and so on
In general, your one-time expenses for a dog can be anywhere between $250 to $1800,. This depends on your dog’s breed, whether they have been vaccinated, whether you’re adopting your pet from a shelter or buying from a breeder and so on.
Lifetime Costs of Dog Ownership
While many people may think that the monthly costs of dog ownership are reasonable, they often balk when they realize the lifetime costs of dog ownership.
Before you adopt a pup, it’s important to be clear on how much you should expect to spend on your pet, assuming you raise them from a puppy to adulthood.
One estimate looks at lifetime costs by dog size, putting ownership costs at:
- $15,000 for small dogs
- $15,800 for medium dogs
- $14,500 for large dogs
However, it’s essential to note that this estimate is at the lower end. Other estimates put costs as ranging from $17,500 to $93,500, depending on:
- Breed
- Dog size
- Services required, and whether you choose budget or premium providers
- Quality of products bought
- Lifespan
While dog ownership isn’t necessarily cheap, it’s also a fact that the unconditional love and affection you get from your pet in return is truly invaluable. However, before you bring a dog into your household, you should be confident that you’ll be able to pay for their requirements and standard of care.
Read: Tips for New Dogs Owners <<
Concluding the Cost Of Owning a Dog
As mentioned, breed and size play a major role in determining what your monthly and lifetime budget for taking care of your pet should be. While you may have your heart set on a dog of a particular breed, make sure you can afford to pay for a pup before committing to introducing them to your household.
PPS – If you have not yet have settled on a breed, the consider adopting a beautiful rescue dog or one from your local shelter. The adoptions fee tend to be less, which will give you more money in your bank to pay for your new canine besties monthly expenses.
Remember, you’re responsible for your pet BFF for their life – and it’s essential to make sure you’ll be able to meet their needs!
Sources:
https://pawp.com/bad-dog-food-ingredients-you-should-avoid/
https://www.moneyunder30.com/the-true-cost-of-pet-ownership
https://pawp.com/how-much-does-owning-a-dog-cost/