Updated July 2008
When I married my husband in 2001, for the first time in my adult life, I became a pet owner. I am not a dog person by nature, but have adjusted to the smells, the occasional puke, the jumping up on anyone who comes to the door, and the endless vacuuming of dog hair. As for the financial side of dog ownership, my husband and I have adopted a don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy.
I think if I actually knew how much he spent on our beagle mix Sweet Tea, it would send me over the edge. If you are considering getting a pet, however, I do not recommend turning a blind eye to the financial aspect of the undertaking. Pets are expensive, and you’ll need to figure out if your budget can handle it.
I did a little research to see just how much pets cost. (Yikes! If the experts are right, Sweet Tea is costing us around $700 per year.) Here is more from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:
Small Dogs
Even if you don’t get the designer carrying case like Paris Hilton, a little pooch such as a Yorkshire terrier or pug is going to cost you. Just like a designer purse, a trendy little pooch, like a Maltese, can run up to $5,000 from a licensed breeder. The first year, when you have to pay for one-time things like having your friend spayed or neutered ($190) and a crate ($35), as well as ongoing expenses like food ($55) you can expect to spend $1,314. After the first year, annual cost: $580.
Medium Dogs
Beagles and cocker spaniels cost $1,580 the first year. If you’re considering an English Bulldog, beware—you could spend anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 on the birth alone, since they require a C-section. The bigger the breed, the higher just about every cost is, including crates ($95) and food ($120). After the first year, annual cost: $695.
Large Dogs
If you’re looking for something a little more rare and exotic, a Neopolitan Mastiff could have you shelling out $2,000 to $3,000. If not, even the more traditional golden retrievers, labs, and Dalmatians are the priciest dogs to care for. First-year expenses are likely to total $1,843. After the first year, annual cost: $875.
Cats
Felines are easier on the wallet than their canine counterparts are. Expect to spend $1,035 the first year on things like food ($120), spay-neuter ($145), litter box ($25) and litter ($165). (Unless you have your heart set on a genetically modified, hypoallergenic cat from Allerca, which has a one-year waiting list and ranges from $5,000 to $31,000—yikes.) After the first year, annual cost: $670.
Rabbits
These guys are going to cost you about $895 for the first year. The litter for bunny ($415) is the surprising expense. (The bunny itself will only set you back around fifty bucks.) After the first year, annual cost: $730.
Guinea Pigs
Though little, guinea pigs aren’t that cheap. First-year costs for your little guy will be $705. You get a break because guinea pigs don’t need to be spayed or neutered but litter is high ($415). After the first year, annual cost: $635.
Gerbils and Hamsters
These are the cheapest mammals you can get. Expect a $340 tab the first year. Some expenses are food ($50) littler ($210) and a cage ($40). After the first year, the annual cost: $300.
Small Birds
Prices can climb way up there when it comes to exotic birds— the Blue Mutation Amazon sells for $18,000 to $20,000. But the upkeep of a bird remains a bargain at $270 for the first year. Expenses include food ($75), toys ($25) and a cage ($70). After the first year, annual cost: $200.
Fish
Expect to spend $235 on your underwater friend the first year. That includes the biggest expense the aquarium ($200). After the first year, the annual cost: $35.
Easy Ways to Avoid Excess Costs
U.S. consumers spent over $36 billion on their animals in 2005. Here are some easy ways to chip away at your yearly spendings:
- Go to the vet. Yearly exams catch health problems early, saving you a ton of time and money. Vet visits should include flea and tick controls and thorough checkups of gums, teeth, heart, lungs, and internal organs.
- Make at-home checkups a routine, too. Do weekly checks for lumps, bumps, flakes, or scabs on your pet’s skin. Learn how to clean your pet’s ears (to avoid pricey ear infections) and brush her teeth (to avoid needing pricey dental cleanings that can run up to $200).
- Vaccinate wisely. Only a few are actually required by law, so before shelling out for all those shots and subjecting Fluffy to the needle, ask your vet which ones she really recommends—needs can vary by region, lifestyle, and type of animal.
- Spay, neuter, and train. “Fixed” animals are less likely to wander off and misbehave (same goes for well-trained ones)—meaning you have less chance of incurring astronomical emergency room costs if they wander in front of a car or get in a fight. Dogs that are spayed or neutered are also less likely to develop certain types of cancer.
Although skimping on the vet visits and vowing to train the dog on your own may seem like fiscally responsible choices, knowing that you’re more likely to find yourself face-to-face with big health expenses down the road makes them a whole lot less appealing. As with cars, homes, and even us people, a few preventative choices now can help save cash down the line. Who says you can’t have your designer dog and purse, too?