Pet care is expensive. The first year of owning a pet can be one of the most expensive, but can truly help you understand the costs associated with owning a furry friend.

It is important to understand these costs as you want to be prepared to care for your pet as best you can. Like humans, pets can have routine medical obligations and it’s best to plan ahead for those types of situations when possible.    

10 things you can expect to pay for as a pet parent include:

1. Vaccinations
2. Baseline blood work and other routine screenings
3. Parasite prevention
4. Physical exams
5. Leash, collar, and ID tags
6. Litter and litter boxes for cats
7. Food, Toys, Treats and Food Storage Container
8. Grooming / Nail Trims
9. Boarding
10. Spays & Neuters

Important to note: This is not a complete list, however the above are some of the most common pet care costs you’ll encounter while owning a pet.

First Year Costs - Dog or Cat

In general, a dog parent can expect to spend anywhere between $395 and $2,455 for their dog’s first year. Just adopt a new puppy? Give your puppy the perfect start!

Similar to that of a dog parent, a cat parent can expect to spend between $405 and $2,285 for their cat’s first year. Just adopt a new kitten? Give your kitten the perfect start!

These numbers may come as a surprise, however, we believe that it’s best to plan ahead than be blindsided by pet-care costs.

3 Tips to Help You Budget for Pet-Care Costs:

1. Open a separate savings account and set up a recurring deposit either weekly or monthly to help build up an emergency fund. 
2. If you like to travel or your job requires you to, be sure to research the costs associated with traveling alongside your pet. If your pet is unable to join you during your travels, consider how much it will cost to board them while you’re away.
3. Investigate other options like pet insurance. There are many companies that offer pet insurance at affordable rates so it’s important to do your research to see which one fits you and your pets needs the best.

Wellness Care

Like humans, our pets have a lot of yearly medical expenses that can add up. It’s important to remember that your pet will require an annual or semi-annual examination, vaccinations, heartworm and intestinal parasite testing, preventative medication and flea and tick control products. If you’re a new pet owner consider the fact that dental cleaning, wellness testing, microchipping, spaying or neutering may also be added to this list.  The above expenses are NOT unexpected charges so you’ll want to plan for them the best you can when owning a pet.

Accident or Illness

On the other hand, accidents and illnesses are much harder to predict and tend to be something we can’t necessarily plan ahead for. For example, your pet may become accidentally exposed to a toxic or poisonous substance in your home and need medical attention. They may have ingested a foreign object, broke a bone and need surgery, got into a fight with another animal and have lacerations that need to be cleaned and sutured. For all of these examples, it is clear that they were unplanned and unexpected. In these scenarios having money set aside for your pet’s care can be very helpful as emergency treatment can add up rather quickly.

Proactively Talk to Your Vet About Pet Insurance 

At Brook Farm Veterinary Center we are all pet parents, so we understand the costs of veterinary care as well as the expected costs associated with owning a pet in general. We are here for you and your pet - we’ve seen it all and are happy to help guide you on the right path that is best for your pet.

As an AAHA accredited hospital, you can trust our team to take care of every detail and make you feel right at home! 

If you have any questions or concerns about pet-care costs, confide in your Veterinarian. It’s  best to be prepared in worst case scenarios than it is to be underfunded in desperate times of need.   There are many options for pet insurance, so do some research and then give us a call to discuss. 

Together we can find a solution that will benefit both you and your pet.

Call us today to discuss your pet’s options (845) 878-4833 or visit our website for more information.

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Sources:

https://www.tidmorevet.com/the-true-cost-of-pet-ownership-how-to-prepare-for-unexpected-expenses/

https://www.petinsuranceguideus.com/2019/01/how-to-plan-for-your-pets-healthcare-expenses.html