US dog owners spend an average of $28,000 over the pet's lifetime, a new study suggests.
Between the cost of kibble, vet visits, dog walkers, daycare, and pet insurance, owning a pet in America has never been more expensive, according to a recent study by the MarketWatch.
Dog owners in California face the steepest premiums, spending $35,452 on a pup in its lifetime - more than the price of a Tesla Model 3 after taxes.
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My total output for that asshole dog Jack's food is about 600-700 bucks a year, and that's including dogfood, treats and his rawhide bones.
His vet visits for his vaccinations are $77 a year and a year's supply of heartworm meds run me about 120 bucks.
That's it. Period. No pet insurance, no doggy day care and no damned dog walkers.
Dog walkers? Day care? SMFH
ReplyDeleteI had insurance for my girl from when she was about 6 months old. I thank God I did. Every year, I looked at which would be the least costly premium with the best reimbursement. Pets best, Pumpkin, and then MetLife Pet through my employer. None of them ever made a profit from me. Premiums started at around 700 and worked up to a bit over a thousand a year by the time she reached 11. Three cancer surgeries, prescription food for the last 4 years or so, which thanks to Joepedo, ended up around $160 for a 25 lb. bag. the last time I bought it. Without the insurance, there would have been no way I could have afforded her vet bills. Was it 28k over her lifetime? Without the insurance, it probably would have been for me. Was it worth it? Every last cent. I never could understand why people paid to have their dog cloned. Now I do.
ReplyDeleteWith the price of dog food basically double what it was a couple of years ago, I can believe this.
ReplyDeleteAt least my new dog is young and healthy and only needs to see the vet once a year. That was $300 this time around (speaking of things that cost double what they did not long ago.) My last dog was diabetic for his last years and that cost a fortune.
I considered insurance, but took a pass. There's just better places for my money.
The thing is, if there's an emergency, like gastric torsion, emergency surgery could run you 5k or more. And if the dog gets cancer or some other illness, if you do ever decide to get insurance, pre existing condition is not covered. All the different insurance companies I had over the years all covered her cancer treatments because I had insurance the first time she was diagnosed. Just saying, it could save you big money in the long run. It certainly saved me probably 20k over her lifetime.
DeleteSo if Jack lives 10 to 15 years, that's $8k to $12k over his lifetime.
ReplyDeleteThey are not cheap, but cheaper than kids.
ReplyDeleteSophie was with me for almost 13 years, and in that time she had a "big dog" TPLO, a couple of minor surgeries, two ultrasounds, and several other tests.
ReplyDeleteFound out after her first vet visit that she had a thyroid condition, so she was on medication for that, and her annual vet visit included blood work.
And for the last 6 years or so of her life she was on Royal Canin Low Fat, and medication for her pancreas.
I've estimated that in almost 13 years I spent close to $25,000 keeping her healthy.
And I'd write a check for twice that if I could have her back for a day.
Feel the same way, Samoore.
DeleteSpent about the same for 13-1/2 years with my Husky --
Deleteand I, too, would do it again to have him back
Let us be grateful that the elite California dog owners are raising dogs and not have children.
ReplyDeleteWell my dog's food and his annual check up has gotten more expensive since slo joe has been squatting in the White House but he definitely earns his keep .... I've forever been giving my dogs their annual boosters and wormers, included heartworm, myself..... State law doesn't allow you to give you to vaccinate against rabies anymore but there's several vets that do an annual discount here at the fairgrounds... Boudreaux has never
ReplyDeleteever had a pet sitter or dog walker that wasn't my son or grandson so..... He's a typical Rottweiler loyal, funny, suspicious and and huge baby unless you fuck up then you have a problem...
JD
I've spent many thousands for vets and meds. My old guy, bobby, had bladder stones so he eats prescription dry food. The last 25 pound bag cost $177. Bobby picked up some tick born parasite during the winter even though we give flea, tick and heartworm meds regularly. Money is pouring out the door for that treatment. I wouldn't have a dog if I had to regularly pay for dog walking and doggy day care, I'd stick with cats.
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer that the perfect pet is also an emergency food source-
ReplyDeletePet dog or cat? No
Pet pig, chicken, duck? Better
Pet swordfish, scallop, lobster? Perfect
But Kenny, think of the shear entertainment value of watching Jack interact with the dog walker. You could make millions on You tube with that video.
ReplyDeleteThis list doesn't apply to Koreans/Chinese- it's always time to wok the dog!
ReplyDeleteDid your owner break a dog treat in half and try to pass it off as a whole treat?
ReplyDeleteYou may be entitled to compensation. 😆
I think the last time I priced out meat for my dog, it was around $5,000/yr. That doesn't include vet visits, which are now routine in old age. There is also the time factor, lost sleep during thunder storms, and the fencing.
ReplyDeleteComments broken on firefox/chrome/windows 7 again.
-arc
In light of some of the shit dogfood out there, I started making my own for my boy.
ReplyDelete3# potatoes, 2# carrots both unpeeled, boiled soft and drained. When cooled, add 1 cup veg oil and about two lbs. of ground turkey or chicken. Chop it up as much as possible, I use a spatula.
Then get your hands right into it mashing and mixing the whole thing together until it has a lumpy/smooth consistency. Spoon it into quart ziplocks, squeeze the air out, flatten as much as possible and freeze. Any daily supplements you use can be added as well as any good leftover meats hiding in the fridge chopped up and added.
Take a bag out place it on a paper plate, and microwave for 3-4 minutes, let cool and serve.
He loves it and there is very little flatulence produced.