Dog expenses can vary quite a bit, depending on its breed. By having a dog, can cost you between $600 to roughly $1000 every year, not including the cost of her adoption. Also bills from periodic vet visits will keep coming year after year. So before you commit, you need to decide how much money you willing to spend each year for having a puppy.
A purebred? They can cost you $1000 or more. The price tag for adopting a mix breed from the shelter can run usually somewhere in the hundreds, that includes spaying and neutering.
Recurring medical bills? Beside the $200 what you need to pay to spay her, there’s other medical expenses what you need to take in consideration: $150 for the first exam, $150-$200 for vaccinations, $140 for heartworm testing. It’s smart to put aside a few hundred bucks, just in case, for unpredictable scenarios like injuries and illness.
Food costs? Larger dogs eat more. And if your puppy has special dietary requirements, the commercial dog food is out of question. The minimum what dog owners spend on food annually is $50-$70 for toy breed, $120-$140 for a medium-size dog and $220-$250 for a large dog.
Extra dog accessories? A leash, a collar, a dog bed and bowls are just the basics. Depending on your lifestyle, the more active you are, the less time you may have, to spend with your puppy. In this case you may have to take in consideration to hire a pet sitter. Taking dog training classes can also be a good idea.
Extra grooming bill? Making your puppy to look pretty comes with a price. Long hair grooming will cost you around $270 for a toy breed on up to $500 for a giant.
Dog training classes? In a group setting, it may cost you around $100 for a few sessions. The price can be even higher if the training is one-on-one.
Choosing The Right Pet Insurance
Right from the start, one of the many dog expenses you need to take in consideration is health insurance for your puppy. Today’s puppy will live 12 to 16 years. Buying pet insurance is an investment in his quality of life in later years when his care, like yours becomes more costly. Here’s a guide to choosing the right plan.
Shop now. The ideal time to get coverage is in your pup’s first year of life. That requires some foresight, but it’s best to get him qualified for coverage before you learn he has an illness insurers might view as “pre-existing”. After that, you need only maintain the policy to ensure he gets adequate care.
Look for low premiums. Plans cost you anywhere from $6 on up to $70 a month. Don’t file claims for well visits and the policy will still be there for anything catastrophic. The average pet surgery costs about $4,500.
Avoid plans listing services you’ll never use. Kenneling costs and a $100 lost-dog reward, “just in case”, have no business in a health policy and can really drive up your premium. And you don’t need insurance for small-ticket procedures such as spaying and neutering, which can be attained free or discounted.
Pick the easiest reimbursement option. Unlike with human health insurance, pet claims are treated like those for property damage: You pay the vet, and then submit your receipts to the insurer and wait. So a no-hassle reimbursement process is a critical element of a good plan if you want money you spend returned to you quickly. Some dog health insurance companies promise to pay claims directly to the vet.
Go for broad coverage. Pick one that includes dental, genetic, chronic, or hereditary conditions or common canine cancers, as well as normal injuries and illnesses.
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