Having a dog is a big responsibility. If you want the animal to live as well as one more member of the family, you have to give it enough attention and provide it with the right care.
This care, as you can imagine, has a cost. Not only in effort, which we take for granted, but also financially… And that makes things a little harder. But it is all worth it for our pet’s quality of life. Below we tell you how much it costs to keep a dog.
How much does it cost to keep a dog for a year?
Logically, the money you spend on its upkeep will depend, among other things, on the size and age of the animal. The first years are the ones with the highest spending when you bring a furry companion into the family. For example, having it microchipped, which will be like its identity card, will cost you around 40 euros. In any case, it is an expense you will not have to repeat.
By contrast, longer-lived animals also involve greater spending. Without going any further, on veterinary treatments for their ailments or special foods to ease the deficiencies that come with advanced age. Finally, remember that bigger dogs involve higher outlays than small ones. Above all because they eat more, but also in other respects, such as grooming.
Kibble and tins of food
Firstly, as we have already mentioned, food is the most significant running cost, since the animal has to eat every day. Therefore, depending on the quality of the kibble it eats, you can spend between 40 and 80 euros a month on this. Around 600 euros a year would correspond to this spending item.
Vaccinations and vet visits
On the other hand, vaccinating your pet against rabies is compulsory, which will cost you 25 euros. And although you are not required to give it the multivalent vaccine, it is highly recommended. This costs 50 euros. We also advise deworming, on which you can spend between 10 and 30 euros. As for ordinary visits to the vet’s surgery, they will cost you between 25 and 35 euros.
Possible emergencies
You have to bear in mind that your pet may require surgical operations or emergency visits to veterinary clinics. The latter can be settled with bills of 50 or 60 euros. As an example of the most common operating-theatre procedures, we highlight hip dysplasia, which can cost around 1,800 euros.
Other expenses, such as good pet insurance
Your dog also needs to entertain itself: you can buy it toys, which can be worth between 5 and 30 euros.
And, if you want financial cover against possible unforeseen events, something that will be an optimal decision for the peace of mind of both of you, set aside between 200 and 500 euros a year for quality pet insurance.
Nothing is too much for the new member of the family
In short, if you want to look after your dog well, prepare yourself to need between 700 and 1,500 euros a year, of which almost half corresponds to veterinary expenses. In fact, in Spain we spend 3,648 million euros on our pets, of which 1,700 million euros are veterinary services (INE data. Household budget survey. Year 2018).
It may seem like a lot if you are still thinking about growing the family, but you will soon discover that these animals give much more than they cost.
