Dog Budget
Pets are a long-term commitment - in terms of love, attention,
exercise, grooming, medical care, obedience classes, and much more.
Needless to say, they are also an expensive long-term
commitment! Before you adopt a pet take a look at the budget below.
Prices have been left out, since they can vary widely depending
on where you live. Take a trip to a local pet store and call a local
vet to get estimates.
One-Time Costs
- Leash and collar. May eventually need to be replaced -
especially if you have a puppy that chews through them!
- Food and water bowls.
- Doggy bed. High-quality beds can last a long time; even
if the cushion wears out, those are easily replaced.
- Puppy shots. Puppies will require several sets of shots
to protect them until their immune system is fully developed. Once
they are adults, they only require an annual booster.
-
Spay/neuter surgery. There are simply not enough homes for
all of our homeless pets. Keep the pet population down by spaying or
neutering your pet.
- Permanent identification.
Have your pet tattooed or microchipped
just in case he or she gets lost. Tattooing can be done at the same time
as the spay/neuter surgery, and microchipping is a quick and painless
process done by injection.
- Brush/comb, nail clippers.
- A kennel. Purchase a high-quality kennel. This is
handy for a couple of reasons: first, it's nice to be able to
kennel-train a puppy so that you don't have messes all over the
house; and second, kennels are great for keeping your dog safe
when you travel or move.
Recurring Costs
- Dog food (dry/moist). Dry kibble is best for their teeth and health,
but some people mix in a few teaspoons of moist food.
- Treats. This can include dog cookies, jerky treats, rawhide chews,
and so on.
- Toys. It's always good to have a toy or two lying around for your
dog to play with. Toys will eventually wear out and need to be replaced.
- Annual booster shot. Every year once your dog has matured into an
adult, he or she will need an annual shot to keep healthy.
- Heartworm medication. If you live in an area where heartworm is a
problem, your dog's vet can prescribe medication to prevent him from contracting it.
- Flea or tick medication. Some sort of thing: some areas are prone to
ticks and fleas. Your vet can tell you more.
- Licensing fees. Check with your city offices to determine if you
need to purchase a license for your dog. Many cities require you to renew your
licenses every year. They also often offer lower rates for dogs that are
spayed or neutered.
- Kennel care. Call a few local kennels to get an idea of what
they charge per day. When you go on vacation or out of two for any other
reason you may need to leave your dog in a kennel.
- Grooming. Budget for a half dozen tips to the vet or groomer
for bathing, brushing, shaving, or nail clipping if you don't plan to do
this yourself.
Other Costs
- "Destroyed-by-the-puppy" expenses. If you have a
puppy, it is practically inevitable that it will destroy something.
This can range from shoes or sofa cushions, to carpets and walls!
- Unforeseen medical expenses, including dental care. Like people,
our pets can sometimes get sick or require dental care. And yes, sometimes
it can be serious and require hospitalization or specialized treatment.
If you are worried about these types of costs, you may want to look into
purchasing pet insurance for peace of mind.
Related Articles:
| |
|
|
|
Pet Adoption:
How to Select the Right Pet for You
Purebred or Mixed Breed?
Can You Give a Loving Senior a Second Chance?
Giving Pets as Surprise Gifts
The Tragedy of Pets in Media
The Sad Reality of Puppy Mills
Why You Should Adopt from an Animal Shelter
Can You Afford to Have a Pet? Read the
Dog Budget or
Cat Budget
|
