When
you welcome a pet into your life, your upfront cost can vary. You can spend
several thousand dollars for a pedigree dog, or a few hundred dollars for a
rescue pet, or even nothing at all for a giveaway animal from a classified ad.
No matter what purchase price you pay, there will be ongoing expenses to keep
your pet physically and mentally healthy. This means that even a freebie pet
will end up costing you some serious coin. Let’s look at what you will need to
budget when you welcome this new family member.
Food
This is a constant expense and
varies with the breed and size of your pet. Obviously, a large dog will cost
more to feed than a cat or a bird. There may be a need for a specific type of
diet that can cost even more; one example is a puppy formula for large-breed
puppies that controls growth rate to help reduce the risk of orthopaedic
conditions. It is important to choose a good-quality, nutritionally balanced
food to avoid nutritional deficiencies and excesses, especially in growing
animals. Speak with your veterinarian about the best food for your pet and their life stage.
Routine Health Care
This is usually costlier for
puppies and kittens because you have to cover the cost of frequent worming
treatments, multiple vaccinations and then neutering. The maintenance costs for
adult dogs and cats are lower, but they still need regular
parasite control and you do need to be prepared for unexpected
illnesses and injuries. This is where
pet insurance can be very useful, but the monthly or yearly
premiums have to be factored into your pet expense budget. Small pets such as
rats or birds also need regular parasite treatment; if they become unwell, you
might have to find a specialist vet to care for them.
Grooming and Training
These costs vary widely depending
on the type of pet you have. All dogs benefit from puppy pre-school and ongoing
training, as it can help to prevent challenging behavior problems later in
life. Some breeds of dogs need to be clipped regularly, but you can save by
learning to do this yourself. You will pay the initial purchase price of a good
set of clippers, but they will save you a lot more over the life of your dog.
Long-coated cats may at times need to be clipped if their fur becomes matted.
Keep in mind that if your puss is fidgety, you might find you need to cover the
cost of sedation at your local vet clinic for grooming.
Toys and Accessories
This is where you can have more
control over how much your pet costs. Nevertheless, for all pets, even small
ones, environmental enrichment is essential. For your dog, you will need a
leash and collar for
walking, and perhaps a ball to chase. For birds and small mammals, playthings
and chew treats can keep their cage interesting and alleviate boredom. Cats
also like a game, and will appreciate the opportunity to chase and pounce on a
toy. Giving your pet the opportunity to express their natural
behaviors, such as prey behavior in dogs and cats, is very important.
It’s plain to see that the
purchase price of your pet is the least of your expenses and there really is no
such thing as a free animal. However, the physical and emotional benefits of
having a pet in your life far outweigh the costs.
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