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Considering adding a new pet to the family this holiday season? Pets are a great investment that can provide countless hours of joy, entertainment and companionship. However, they do come with a financial commitment.
Ongoing costs should be considered when deciding whether a new pet is right for your family. Before making a long-term commitment to keeping a pet, understand the many costs involved.
Pet care deserves a place in a household’s monthly budget. Fees vary by type and number of pets. It’s a good idea to plan ahead to account for all day-to-day expenses as well as unexpected costs that may arise from time to time.
As the owner of two senior pets, I can tell you from personal experience that as they age, the costs increase, vet visits become more frequent, and pets generally become more maintenance-needy. We currently have three vets – one junior and two specialists – working on two dogs!
Veterinary care: Vet visits will be one of the largest expenses in your pet care budget. Plan for regular checkups and vaccinations, as well as a monthly heartworm and flea prevention.
Puppies and kittens initially require several rounds of vaccinations and neutering. They also need to be implanted with a microchip.
Most rescues and shelters take care of the initial vaccinations, neutering/neutering, and microchipping and add these costs (often at a discount) to the adoption fee.
Remember, just like humans, pets may need unexpected veterinary visits due to illness or injury, so budget for these unplanned expenses as well.
If pets have chronic health problems, they may need medication on a regular basis.
Pet insurance is available and may help budget for veterinary expenses. There are many different plans, and cost factors include the pet’s age, breed, and overall health. Do some research to see if pet insurance is a good option.
food: This is an ongoing expense. Avoid buying the cheapest food, as a poor diet can lead to paying more for veterinary care in the long run.
Also, pets are likely to consume more discounted food if the food contains a lot of filler ingredients, which equates to more consumption overall.
Remember to include hospitality expenses in your budget as well.
Modification: Long-haired dogs need visits to the groomer at least every six weeks. If you have a long-haired dog, such as a Yorkie or Shih Tzu, and you want to grow long hair, visit your groomer as often as once a week.
Grooming fees range from $40 to $200, and can be higher per pet per visit, depending on the size and breed of your dog. When budgeting for this category, be sure to include the cost of brushes, combs, pet shampoo, pet toothpaste, and other items needed for home maintenance between grooming appointments.
Boarding, Pet Sitting: Who will take care of the pets when the family is away from home? Your vacation budget should also include the cost of someone taking care of your pet, whether it’s boarding or home care.
If pets will be traveling with you, consider that pet-friendly hotels, apartments, and vacation homes often charge additional pet fees.
train: Both puppies and adult dogs can benefit from some basic training. This is an expense that should be included in the budget as early as possible, but is not considered a long-term ongoing cost.
Accessories: Pets are like babies and toddlers: they need many things. Plan to purchase items such as travel boxes, kennels, pet toys, leashes, collars, and food and water bowls. For cats, calculate the cost of litter, litter boxes, shovels, etc.
Evacuation with pets: Hurricanes are inevitable here. As we live in Southern Louisiana and have pets, we need to have an evacuation plan that includes our pets and the additional costs associated with them. Many hotels require a separate pet deposit, which requires a place in the pet care budget.
Traci D. Howerton is the Volunteer Coordinator for Animal Rescue New Orleans, a non-profit, volunteer-based no-kill shelter.For information on Arnold, please visit animalrescueneworldleans.org.
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