Many people who are considering adding a dog to their family have absolutely no idea what the cost of adding this new family member can be. Many people tell me that they’re considering a dog and when I ask if they’re made sure to consider the expense of having this new family member, they respond with “how expensive can it be?”. Well owning a dog can be quite expensive…we’re not talking millions but owning a dog most certainly runs in the thousands of dollars per year. Of course some of this expense depends on the quality of your dog’s food, your dog’s frequency of illness and the like, but overall the cost of adding a dog to your family is not something that should be taken lightly. I have compiled a list below of my yearly costs incurred with owning Jet, a 6 1/2 yr old black labrador – these costs have fluctuated but not varied greatly since I first brought him home at 8 weeks old.

8.6 x 33lb Bags of Fromm Kibble $378.04
12 Interceptor tablets for heart worm prevention $83.99
12 Frontline Flea prevention packets $178
Yearly Vet visit (this alternates in cost over three years due to the length of vaccines effectiveness) $350
Yearly emergency vet visit (ALWAYS prepare for this visit, for the last 4 years Jet has had one every year for something) $100-800
Yearly Kennel for a one week vacation 7*$20/night + 4*$15/day for daycare + 3*$10/day for other activities = $230
Biannual kennel cough “shot” = $40
Annual toy budget = $70
Annual Collar budget = $30
12*$1.99 treat budget = $23.88
12*$18.16 monthly pet insurance = $217.92

Annual Cost $1701.83 – $2401.83

These costs are based on average costs incurred for me as Jet’s owner in an average year, most years we deviate adding extra to the toy budget or treat budget but the basics never change, his kibble is always the same, his monthly insurance is always  the same, his heart worm and flea prevention are always the same etc the only things that change are the things such as toys, treats, length of kennel stays and the severity of our annual emergency vet visit. This year, for example Jet experienced a histiocytoma on his rear leg which needed a biopsy as well as removal, this cost me a little over $400 whereas the year before Jet’s emergency was an impacted anal gland which set us back around $350 for drainage and cleaning, the year prior Jet decided to swallow something “foreign” (I still have no idea what this was as it miraculously disappeared during his vet stay) which resulted in an overnight vet stay, multiple x-rays and barium x-rays – this set me back around $900. Your emergency vet visits may not be as frequent as ours but you should ALWAYS be able to afford them when the time comes because there is nothing worse than your fur kid needing a surgery you can’t possibly afford because you haven’t planned ahead. Pet insurance is a handy tool for these occasions; however, be warned that with even the best policies they are not going to cover all of your expense and they never pay upfront, you are required to pay all of your bills and will be reimbursed by the insurance a few weeks later.

While it can be costly, affording a dog doesn’t have to be a struggle, just make sure that you are aware of what you are getting in to before you begin!