Pet ownership can be viewed much like taking care of a child for the next 15 years or so.
One of the first costs to consider is the amount for adoption or purchase of the animal. Some pets you can find for free, while other pets such as a purebred English Bulldog can run you thousands of dollars.
After the initial purchase of the animal, in this case, we are focusing on dogs but these tips can be used for almost any animal, is typical monthly costs to keep the pet happy and healthy.
Monthly Costs
- Food
- Toys
- Treats
- Grooming - depending on the dog
- Flea & Heartworm Preventative
As far as food - do your research. Get a good food. Do not buy something like 'Kibbles & Bits', or what many who know their dog food call 'crap in a bag' I will post another blog entry later entirely about dog food.
Toys and treats will need to be purchased on an as needed basis. Be sure with toys that you buy ones that are size appropriate for your specific dog. You don't want to buy a toy that is too small that they can swallow. Also always supervise your dog when they have toys.
One Time Expenses
There are also one time expenses to consider, such as some vet fees like sterilization. This is an important step for any responsible pet owner to take in order to prevent unwanted litters of puppies ending up with irresponsible owners, or in shelters, or worse - dead. Spaying and neutering can also prevent certain cancers in dogs. This is an expense you will only incur once. It is best to have this done around six months of age to prevent the dog from reaching sexual maturity. This helps in stopping certain hormones from entering the bloodstream which helps to prevent certain cancers.
Unexpected Expenses
Another expense to consider is emergency expenses - you never know when the dog will get into something they aren't supposed to or will come down sick from an illness or something like cancer. Surgeries can be quite expensive for dogs running into the thousands in some cases. You can never be prepared for an emergency to happen with your pet, but it does help to have some money set back just in case.
Occasional Expenses
Other expenses to consider are those that you initially use before adopting a dog and may incur periodically throughout the dog's life. Some of these expenses include collars, leashes, food and water bowls, and a crate. The crate can actually be a one time expense if you purchase a sturdy crate that will accommodate the dog once it is fully grown.
Yearly Expenses
Being a responsible pet owner means taking the dog to the vet, just like you would go to the doctor for a checkup. There are certain shots that a dog needs to have every year like the rabies shot (which is required in all states). Other shots - such as puppy shots can fall under a one time occurrence, and other shots fall under occasional expenses such as kennel cough. The only time I personally recommend that shot is if your dog will be staying in a doggy daycare, kennel, or will be around other dogs that do not live in the same household frequently.
Next up - Potty Training.
