Got a Dog for Christmas? Here’s How Much It Might Cost to Take Care of It

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Getting a dog can be more expensive than you think. Here’s how much you can expect to pay and how to prepare for it. 

Getting a pet for Christmas can be really exciting. Who doesn’t love a new furry friend? But, when you bring an animal into your home, it’s important to make a financial plan for your pet’s care.

You’ll hopefully have your new family member with you for many years to come, so you need to consider the long-term costs of taking care of your new loved one. How much will that new cuddly Christmas present cost you? Here’s what you need to know.

This is how much dog care costs

Dogs can cost a good amount of money when they first come home with you since there’s a lot of vet care they need as puppies. Plus, you’ll need to get your house outfitted with the stuff that will make your new furry friend feel at home — especially if it’s your first dog.

Rover.com estimates that first-time dog expenses range from $1,135 to $5,155. This includes things like adoption fees, an initial vet exam, a crate and bed, toys, treats, a license, and basic pet care.

Once you’ve paid these big upfront costs, the expenses don’t stop either — although they are usually lower in subsequent years. Rover.com’s estimates for annual expenses range between $610 and $3,555, with most of that variation coming from how much you spend on your animal’s food. The approximate costs of food could be as low as $300 or as high as $2,340, depending on what your dog eats and how much of it.

There may be other unexpected costs as well, including emergency vet bills if your animal gets sick or hurt, as well as training expenses if you decide you need some professional help to assist your pet in being a good companion.

As your dog gets older, you’re also likely to face more expenses, including more vet visits and perhaps special food for a senior animal.

How to make sure you can provide for your animal companion

As you can see, the total cost of pet ownership is likely to add up to thousands of dollars, with the specifics depending on how long your dog lives, what kinds of supplies you buy, the food they eat, and how healthy your animal is.

If you’ve adopted a pet, you need to be prepared to cover these big expenses. Buying pet insurance can help cover large vet bills that result from illness or injury. But, pet insurance usually doesn’t cover wellness care or other non-veterinary expenses like crates and food, so you’ll also need a savings account earmarked for your animal.

When I adopted my dog, I started putting money aside every month for her care, and I’m still doing that 17 years later. Once your dog is in your home, make a list of the expenses you’ll need to pay each month — including pet insurance — as well as any irregular expenses, like an annual exam. Figure out how much to save each month to cover all of those costs, and work that into your budget so you’ll know you have the funds to be a good provider for your new family member even after the initial holiday gift excitement has worn off.

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