Whether you’re introducing a puppy to your home for the first time, or you’ve been beset by financial woes partway through your ownership, looking after your best friend is a costly, if ultimately worthwhile, experience. After all, the costs for new puppies have been sent soaring in recent times, and the expense in looking after their welfare isn’t exactly low either. However, if you budget for all the expenses, then the process of caring for a puppy becomes a great deal easier. In the end, there’s always a way to save a bit of money if you’re armed with the right know how!
Therefore, below we’ve listed some of the costs you should be considering, and how to ease them through tips like savvy shopping or the use of a puppy feeding guide calculator.
Medical Expenses
All living beings get sick at one time or another, and it’s important that adequate treatment is sought at the earliest opportunity when the bad luck strikes.
Vet check-ups, vaccinations, medication, and emergency visits all come with a hefty cost that is incurred. There can even be instances where you take your dog to the vets over a concern, but no treatment is needed, and yet you are still charged an extortionate fee for the time of the professional. In the end, it’s important to account for all these prices, and they’ll rise based on the circumstances and illness your pooch has.
There are options in this arena that could help you save money. For example, for a modest subscription fee of £7 a month, or even for free if you’re with a certain insurance provider, you can seek consultation from vets via video link or text messages. There will be times where you will need to go the vet, but for a mild concern or to better determine whether or not the trip (and expense) to a vet is worth the trouble, a quick call for clarification can be useful.
Still, when you’re budgeting, it’s best to assume that there’s no way to forecast everything that might happen. Planning for every eventuality then is the best way forward, so setting aside some money for any emergency medical expenses that could crop up is a good idea.
Pet Insurance
Of course, the main role of pet insurance is to provide an easy, cost-effective method of safeguarding yours and your pet’s futures.
Many factors affect the cost of pet insurance, and they include:
· The age and breed of your dog.
· The area in which you both live.
· Any pre-existing conditions your dog has.
· The type of policy you choose.
Therefore, you can only really budget for the cost of insurance once you’ve taken your personal circumstances into account. The age and breed of your dog may mean they’re more susceptible to certain defects or illnesses, and you will have access to different vets depending on where you live. If your dog is vulnerable to an illness already it will increase the premiums, and each policy has a fluctuating price point.
There’s lifetime, per condition, time-limited, and accident-only insurances, so researching the virtues of each should help you narrow down your selections also. It can also be worthwhile to research what the owners themselves say on each tariff, and to get the lowdown on what’s helped other people afford all the expense. That way, you can better map your finances around your responsibilities, and secure the best deals going.
Cost of Food
Just like people, dogs have appetites, but they don’t necessarily know when the right time is to stop eating a food they really like.
Obviously, if you go through their foods too fast, you can end up firing a missile at your bank account by stocking up more often than you should. Therefore, it’s best to ensure that you feed your dog an adequately sized portion, and then you will be certain that the amount of food your buying is affordable and reasonable. For greater insight here, check out this feeding calculator. Brands like Bella and Duke have created their own dog feeding guide calculator for their products, allowing you to measure portions based on your dog’s weight and age. Not only do these helpful tools allow you to save your money, but they also ensure your best friend has a healthy diet too!
It’s also worth noting that, because there are so many brands, it can be a good idea to research which ones fit within your price range. Not only this, but their foods should also provide great nutritional value for your dog, also. Remember, budgeting isn’t necessarily about spending money on the cheapest things available – it’s about value for money too!
Grooming Expenses
Some dog breeds are better off with a professional cut, as their fur can become heavily matted if it’s not handled or trimmed the right way often enough.
Of course, dog groomers services come with a cost, and it will vary depending on which professional you consult and use. Prices may also fluctuate based on the size of your dog and in what fashion their coat grows, so just the same as with pet insurance, there are a few factors there to take into consideration with your budgeting.
Additionally, if you’re proficient in dog grooming yourself, or you have a breed who merely needs an easy trim here and there, you can cut costs by giving him or her a cut yourself. It can be a bit of work getting your pooch to behave, but if it saves you a few pennies every couple of weeks or months, then it’s undoubtedly a worthwhile effort.
You should expect some costs to be incurred if you groom your dog yourself, mostly in the name of the equipment you’ll need like clippers, claw clippers, combs, scissors, and a puppy shampoo. Some of these expenses will obviously be recurring too, but overall, it should be cheaper than utilising a professional’s services.
Accessories
There are many things a puppy needs to have a rich and fulfilling life in your care.
Collars, leads, baskets, blankets, chews, treats, and toys are just some of the things you will need to occasionally purchase for the duration of your time together. Wear and tear will beset all these things, especially if your pooch is very active and likes to go barrelling through bushes or spend afternoons marvelling at his or her collection of goodies. Therefore, it’s a good idea to set aside a bit of money so that you can replace each of these things as and when needed.
All of the listed items above are essential to your dog’s development, and some do so in ways you might not expect too. For example, certain brands offer types of chews that promote good oral health for your dog, cleaning their teeth with every bite and preventing the build up for tartar, which can be detrimental in causing decay and gum disease.
While some of the items may not seem essential, they all enrich the quality of life for a puppy. Bringing them a sense of comfort, joy, and fun is just as important as all the health admin you should attend to, so it’s vital that they’re taken just as seriously and budgeted for also. It all contributes to keeping them stimulated and energized, whether they’re enjoying nice long walks or playing with you at home.