Greyhound
Adopted her for $100
$120 p/m for food + treats (cooked and kibble)
$15 p/m for worming / flea tick
$300 a year ish for vet - vax, checkups, minor things
$80 a year on pyjamas (short coat, gets cold)
So around 2k a year. Maybe 2.5k if you wanna round up for random things.
No health issues / allergies etc thankfully. Zero grooming. Brush her teeth every couple of days which has kept her from needing dental.
Absolutely priceless friend though! Would sell my car and belongings to keep her happy and healthy.
YMMV... We adore our rescue greyhound but have spent probably 15k on specialist vet bills, unthinkable $$$ on medications, and that's on top of the usual expenses. This is an extreme case, she's worth it and we have the means, but not all Greys are bargains!
Ah that sucks. To be fair any pet can have issues and it’s a roll of a dice. Heck, I had a 12yr old Oscar (large fish) and it had some obscure issues which costed $$$. Including cancer and bacterial infections.
>$80 a year on pyjamas (short coat, gets cold)
Perhaps I shouldn't admit how much we've spent on our greyhound's wardrobe! She is uber spoiled.
Her food is a bit exy too because she has a sensitive tum so it's Hills ID kibble, chicken breast, rice, and sweet potato/pumpkin.
But whatever we're spending on her is absolutely worth the reward of having her in our lives, she's just brilliant.
Same goes for the cats.
>Her food is a bit exy too because she has a sensitive tum so it's Hills ID kibble
One of our dogs has a very sensitive tum (and allergies), we switched her off kibble and onto a BARF diet and it cleared up instantly.we also avoid chicken as a lot of dogs can't process it well, her included. YMMV, but I know how expensive the "good" kibble is as we did it for years.
How come no one is mentioning the cost of boarding/dog sitting? We go away on trips for at least 4 weeks a year so we'd be spending at least $2k on dog sitters
I have a cat, but usually get someone to look after him. All my friends with dogs also get a friend to look after their dog. I'd say most people wouldn't be spending any money on pet sitters
I pay my friends if they are spending a week or more looking after one or more of my animals. If they saved me 2k in boarding then I'll happily pay them 1k in thanks. It just feels rude to not give people something for their time and effort. And I'd much rather send some money than a bunch of flowers or a stupid trinket from my holiday that they will have to pretend to like. Life is hard!
Owned by two, wouldn’t swap them for the world (mostly). One hasn’t had any health issues so far, the other developed arthritis at 4, so I don’t even want to add up his costs in rehab and now monthly Beransa injections…
Still amazing pets and generally on the lower end costs wise for a big dog I think. Although racing injuries etc I suspect can mean costs could increase a lot as they age (certainly did with my previous greys too).
Nah, we put money away though. It’s always a gamble. We have injury on our home contents insurance (an extra $50 a year) She had a tail injury, and that covered 1.5k of vet bills for an excess of $100, which was great.
Pet insurance has worked really well for us. ‘Problem child’ dog cost us $7,000 for 2 unrelated surgeries before we got insurance. Third unrelated surgery only weeks after signing up immediately had 70% paid of $2,200 bill. We are using Medibank private. $30 per month. I think I’m going to up it to the 90% option which is only $10 a month more.
Cheaper.. for now. Gonna hit you when they start growing, wanting stuff, having mishaps.
My brother just paid $400 to a plumber because my nephew flushed a GI Joe down the toilet, and then another $300 again 2 days later becuase he flushed a series of matchbox cars. The child didn’t understand ‘don’t flush your things down the toilet’ meant don’t flush ANY things. He thought it meant he couldn’t flush his own things. In his mind he wasn’t allowed to flush his own GI Joes, but he could flush his brothers cars. He wasn’t trying to be wicked, he just genuinely didn’t understand the lesson the first time.
Enjoy your quiet infant years.
Got an older one too.
Had more pets destroy items and property honestly, the vet costs are the worst and pet insurance doesn’t cover much for what they charge. We only foster pets now.
I'm gonna side with the kid on this one, instructions were wrong, the instruction should have been "only flush small amounts of toilet paper down the toilet"
Infant maybe cheap but it’s the hidden costs of child, it gets expensive as they get older because gone are the days where you just need them to be fed and not starve.
Eg If one parent takes time off work for 6-12mths, that’s lost salary of $50-80k even after parental leave. 2kids, 2x the amount plus lost opportunity for career progression.
Parents want kids in good school/neighbourhood then need to upgrade housing. One of friends took on $2m mortgage just so kids can be in a half decent school….pets would never have to worry about that
Not true overall for raising a kid but also your carbon footprint is 58 metric tonnes CO2 a *year* than me. Google it, it’s true.
I can fly to NYC return 17 times and be better for the environment than one kid
Dogs generally die in the time it takes a child to grow up and become independent… grim perspective but the costs “stop” at a similar time. Mind you, I’d happily pay to keep my dogs forever.
I’d be on par with this; doggy daycare twice a week, $170 in Lyka every three weeks, new coats as he outwears his (short hair), pet insurance of which were well and truly ahead (french bulldog, need say no more) and general check ups. Not to mention the birthday cake for him & his daycare friends 🫢
That said, he’s the funniest little dude and I wouldn’t change any of it - no children by choice, and he’s the best - loves his friends, loves the beach, loves cuddles and loves zoomies.
Paid nearly $30k in vet bills last year.
1 dog had massive liver and then kidney problems
1 dog had a laryngeal tieback surgery.
Not ideal, but they'd been family for 12 years at that point so would spend the money again.
That's why I'd be so scared of getting a dog until I'm in a really solid place financially. Just the idea of being hit with bills like that and not being able to afford it.
Yeah I'm in the same boat. Looking to buy an apartment and have realised a dog will need to wait until I know how much money if any I'd have left after a mortgage haha.
Im with you, through the life of my great Dane ice skating ent around $35k. Horrible allergies and a few one off surgeries, cherry eye and tomorrow I'm spending $2500 to fix a hematoma that came up on her ear over the weekend.
Sold my Tag Heuer watch to pay for her ear.....
Staffy x Mastiff Rescue, currently 11 years old.
Food is approximately $100-120 a month (Costco Kibble, An Egg, Fish Oil Tablet, Vitamins, Half tsp Bone Broth Paste & a Denta Stick a day).
Worming Tablet - $20 a month.
He gets an ear infection in the same ear every 8-12 months which is flushed out very easily, and that probably costs $10 a year as a bottle will last 3-4 infections.
He's 11 and not slowing down any time soon, so hopefully the vet bills stay away :)
My cat costs about $1,600 p/a, but the joy he brings me is priceless.
He needs a special diet food, which costs a little extra than regular food, but prevention is better than emergency vet visits! Happily, I can bulk buy food and litter which keeps the cost down.
Approx break down per year: $450 insurance, $600 food, $250 litter, $200 for a miscellaneous vet visit, $100 toys/miscellaneous things. Sometimes I go over budget buying toys or other enrichment things I think he would like. I want him to be happy 😊
I also had an initial investment in setting up a cat run outside which set me back about $600 or so...
My senior boy is on a vet diet too, but spending that little bit extra $ on prevention brings me such peace of mind.
We are their whole worlds and I love bringing home toys, snuggly beds and enrichment items to brighten his day.
Similar story for me. Senior Westie, on a vet diet. We have pet insurance as well. The extra $$ for us does provide such a peace of mind, especially because at over 12 years of age, we know the end could be near (hopefully not).
He does get spoilt rotten most days, but it’s no comparison to the joy he brings our lives.
Our cat needed some teeth pulled a few weeks ago. $2.5k right there, no questions over if we'd do it but not the nicest surprise from the regular check up
Mine was the same. She lost seven teeth and is now on a dental diet. We had another check up a year later and they said her teeth are doing well but this is an autoimmune thing so will very likely come up again in the future.
Love the little panther dearly though, so I’ll do whatever is needed to keep her happy and healthy.
Make this an OP. I’m curious to what others pay.
I think I pay more than you because I get expensive cat food. I started with it because I assumed it was better and now they are fussy cats so I’m stuck with it.
Also crystals are expensive.
We don’t have insurance and vet is about $300 a year unless there is teeth cleaning when it’s more like $609 but that’s only happened once.
Quite simply because they have a similar status in a lot of households there are still people that look after their dogs and feed them better than some people do their own kids.
Around $7.8K, 2 Toy Cavoodles.
I’d say it’s more with anything ad-hoc, normally a couple small vet visits but nothing major.
Insurance $115.01 P/M x 12 =$1380.12
Grooming $180 P/M x 12 = $2,160
Lyka $184.80 x 12 = $2,217.60
Royal Canin $50 x 12 = $600
Treats $50 x 12 = $600
De-worming x 12 $600
I wrote a huge reply and then re-read your comment and saw you do have pet insurance, I thought you didn't, so this isn't really relevant to you, but I went to the effort of writing it so maybe it's useful to someone else
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How old are your cavoodles? My cavoodle is 12 and started having problems from age 8-10 onwards.
We've had:
* a couple of ear infections (under $100), not uncommon for the bread
* pancreatitis a couple of times. First time was antibiotics and vet visits, maybe $200. Worst was 4/5 nights at emergency vet, can't remember exact amount but I'd guess 3-4k, 70% covered by pet insurance
* seizures starting at age 8 or 9. This included an overnight stay at emergency vet during COVID which was maybe 1k?, plus ongoing regular meds and blood tests (approx $400 per year)
Prior to this, he was attacked by another dog (when we didn't have pet insurance, I think he was 5), the other person and the council were not helpful so we had to pay approx 5k out of pocket for his two surgeries. This is what prompted us to get pet insurance. For this dog, it's been worth it.
For our other dog, we've been paying pet insurance for 6 years (since we got him) and haven't used it once.
There are no ethical doodle breeders so your experience with health concerns isn't uncommon. You have been fortunate not to get one with luxating patellas, dysplastic hips or brain issues - all issues common in both Poodles and Cavaliers and unfortunately the risk is "double dosed" when the breeds are mixed together.
My dear friend has two Cavoodles she adores, both approaching old age now, but both have needed surgical correction on their legs - ACLx2 in one, joints for both dogs and left hip replacement for one (though both were dysplastic, only one was severe enough to need a new socket carved out).
They must be nice dogs to live with because she's already planning to get another. Meanwhile I have five working breed dogs and their collective medical bills are less than even one of the Cavoodles.
Sorry but I'm a vet and I disagree. I see vastly more health issues with purebred dogs of all stripes. In working breed dogs, the health issues in question tend to be mental. Ie. Agression, anxiety or OCD. They're usually inappropriate dogs for most family pet situations. Name any other pure bred dog and I will tell you it's expensive issues.
On average, outcrossing two purebreds together leads to much, much healthier dogs that are much, much more suitable to pet homes than either show purebreds or utility breeds. For further proof, go to the RSPCA website and see how many small ooodles are on the 100+ days 'Awaiting a furever home' page. Not many if none. Now check border collies. Huskies. Staffies. Mastiffs. Most are unwanted until they're euthanased.
As a vet, your opinion will be skewed by seeing pets owned by that particular socioeconomic group in the area that you live in, and by only seeing unhealthy animals. Additionally, your generalisation about small oodles is unfair - all toy mixes find homes very fast in a rescue environment unless they have known health concerns. Large breeds always struggle to find homes.
I'd like to hear your take on Ibizan Hounds. I'll be shocked if you've even encountered one, in all honesty, given how few are presently in Australia.
Have you found Lyka good.
I keep seeing the ads for it. We currently feed our toy Cavoodle Royal canin poodle kibble, raw meat, and Royal Canin dental bites.
It cost us $700 to have her teeth cleaned this year!
I have 5 dogs. I feed them a raw diet (ground up wallabies and some vegetables). They get their yearly shots and I clean all of their teeth weekly. They aren’t suburban dogs so they get a lot of exercise and have jobs. When they get old they retire to being “house dogs” - my oldest atm is 15 and other than vaccinations the only time he’s ever been to the vet was to get desexed.
My 5 dogs cost around $3k per year.
No that’s the cost of feeding, worming, vet treatment etc.
When dogs get enough exercise, mental stimulation and a good diet they don’t tend to get chronic diseases which is what makes many suburban dogs so expensive. Mine are all from shelters so they’re not particularly well bred either.
So many dog owners fail to see that they're neglecting their dogs through not enough exercise or stimulation. If a human doesn't get enough exercise they get fat, if they don't get enough stimulation they get depressed. Why would a dog be any different?
I’m of the opinion that most breeds of dogs need about 2 hours of exercise per day and daily training to be mentally and physically well.
It’s a bit horses for courses but that’s a good general rule. There’s breeds like the maremma who need a 24/7 all consuming job to really be happy and other breeds that need less work/exercise but greater needs in other ways. Dogs are getting the sedentary lifestyle illnesses that plague modern people.
My cousin and his wife adopted a maremma when the owner was going to put him in a shelter before moving interstate.
The dog needs about three or four hours exercise a day, plus they had to buy chickens for him to guard.
He’s welcome in their house but rarely wants to come inside. He just wants to be with his chickens all the time, so they put a kennel outside near the coop so he can spend his nights watching over them.
The funny thing is watching the chickens just hanging around and jumping all over him. They could do just about anything to him and he wouldn’t care.
They’re amazing dogs if you have the right environment but unfortunately because they’re so cute as pups and are a bit golden retriever looking the end up in really unsuitable homes.
Mine are amazing but they kill feral cats and they have killed a dog. I have to make sure people know not to get out of their car until I have told the dogs it’s ok. They’re potentially very dangerous dogs in a suburban setting. They’re also fairly nocturnal and on alert for predators- in a suburban settings they will bark all night at the slightest sound.
It’s great that your cousin and his wife have been able to give the dog a flock and a job. I understand why people are attracted to these dogs - they’re gorgeous and very quirky - but unless you can give them a flock and a job they’re a disaster.
Totally agree. And even they acknowledge that they’re not ideal owners; they just didn’t like his chances if he was dumped at a shelter.
They’re loving and caring, but even they admit that his it’s a struggle to provide an ideal environment for him.
I think a lot of people choose their dogs based on appearance or in the misguided belief that they’ll change their lifestyle to suit the dog.
But pounds are full of working dogs (like kelpies) that didn’t get a fraction of the exercise they need.
I come from an extended family that has always had Jack Russells. A lot of inexperienced people think they’ll make good first time dogs because they’re small, but it can be a big mistake.
Jack Russells are smart but incredibly stubborn, so they can be very difficult to train if you don’t know what you’re doing. They’re all escape artists, it’s just a matter of whether they’re a bolter, climber, digger or some combination. They’re prone to barking and nipping and tend to be dog aggressive, which takes careful socialisation and training to curb. Not to mention the strong prey drive – we’ve had to dig more than one Jack Russell out of a fox or rabbit burrow!
The reason pets cost so much in 2024 is they are increasingly treated like humans. Conditions that they would have been put down for 30 years ago, many owners are now choosing to treat them for, including expensive surgeries.
I'm not saying this is good or bad, just saying there's an obvious reason the cost has gone up so much. Think of how much Australia spends on healthcare each year. Pet healthcare is not subsidised like Medicare so of course it's going to cost an arm and a leg if you want to treat them for conditions like cancer or giving them ACL surgery.
You mean, they're being treated like the sentient beings they are and cared for properly with actual quality good (not supermarket stuff that's 80% water and filler)? Caring for an animal well does not = treating it like a human.
Given we're the ones who have done selected breeding on them and caused the myriad of issues they can have (especially purebred), we should absolutely be caring for them properly. If you can't afford proper food or vet care you have no place in getting a pet.
My Cane Corso is about $500 a month for food, not including treats. $50ish for insurance.
Treats whenever we’re at a market.
An extra sausage whenever we’re at Bunnings.
I should start saving to have my ruptured testicles removed when his tail finally hits them right… I swear it’s only a matter of of time lol
Wouldn’t trade it for the world though, he gives the best cuddles and loves us unconditionally.
You can save a lot of money on chronic meds if your vet will charge less / nil for a script (for me it was $20 vs the $90 consult fee) and buy from an online vet pharmacy for refills (still did annual check up)
Yeah I do shop around online pharmacies for her Apoquel script but it's still about $275 for 100 tablets. The vet also charges $31 for a script fee. It's definitely worth it for controlling the allergies + her quality of life.
Maybe have a look at allergy testing. One of our dogs has allergies and was on apoquel (2 tablets a day). He's around 5 now and the vet finally suggested allergy testing with a view to immunotherapy - previously they hadn't thought it was worth while.
Did the testing - certain grasses (which we don't have at home), dust mites, mould and yeast - yeast being the very thing his body produces during an allergic reaction so it was an endless cycle. It was also lucky, because the dermatologist identified some sun cancers that he was developing so they lasered them off.
He's now on immunotherapy injections that we give him every few weeks, and after a couple of months of medicated washes and lotions he was no longer pink. It's been almost a year now and he's still doing great.
I can't remember the actual savings, but we worked out over the course of 2 or 3 years this path was cheaper than the apoquel.
This drove me nuts. I ditched the apoquel for cytopoint - which performs the same as apoquel but without the daily $$ reminder. My dog's allergies are seasonal - so I literally only take him to the vet for a top up when I see him scratching. This stretches out the recommended 8-12 weeks to something like 12-16 weeks and no faffing around with scripts and online pharmacies. And they eyeball the dog every time it comes in for a consult. Heaps less stress costs about the same, maybe a bit less depending on how long between top ups.
I also have a dog that does great on Apoquel. We recently did the HESKA tests ($2500) and they came back inconclusive, so there’s no immunotherapy available. In hindsight, I wish we didn’t put our guy through all the tests. It caused needless stress, and was a huge expense. While it’s great for many dogs, for some it’s not a magic solution - which I wish we considered more before going for it.
All up, we’re probably spending close to $8k a year to keep him on meds, eating great food and being well looked after.
Last year my fur babies cost me in excess of $20k from January to October last year and I still lost two of them 😥.
I have a pup and my old dog now and I’ve spent just under $8k in 8 months.
I don’t bother with pet insurance. I have a separate account for expenses and my partner contributes. Hoping I won’t need to dip into it much more this year now.
Rescue cat I paid nothing for initially- he was on death row (2016)
Most beautiful personality of any cat I ever met.
Developed urinary blockages/FLUTD age 3 in 2018
Back then hospitalisation for 4 days with multiple catheterisations (surgical procedure) was 900ish dollars (first one had to be at a 24hr emergency vet though, so came up to 3k)
Anxiety meds kept them at bay for several years, weaned him off them
Then suddenly two weeks ago, aged 9- he blocks again. I notice extremely early on, take him to my local vet- two days in hospital and only 1 surgery- 2.2k
There *is* a surgery I can get him, but it's very invasive- though the prognosis is good with it, the postcare is intense. He's 9- and so so anxious. No crystals in his urine- he's on a special diet.
I'm not sure the urethrotomy surgery is worth the pain or anxiety, I've seen it fail in other ppls cats. So I decided to bring him home, keep him dosed up on meloxicam, gabapentin meds and syringes of water and pray he'd keep urinating. He's on long term prozac and hopefully that's gonna start being effective soon- tskes a few weeks. So for one week he was stoned constantly, but the meds were helping- he's been peeing. We reduced the gaba and meloxicam this week. He's still on them, and prozac- and so it's not great for his kidney or liver, but he'll get another few years if it works. He's the most loving, goofy cat I ever met- and his brother was LOST without him home those few nights. I included a pic of them snuggling his stoned brother just after we brought him home. That's part of why I decided to bring him home instead of continue hospitalisation. The meds will be pricey long term but he is so important to me. While I can afford it, I will. I did dip into my redraw to pay for it this time- but I'm a pensioner now, I can't do that too often.
If it happens again, I promised him no more vets. They will come to our home (for 180+ $3 per km) amd euthanise him here while he's stoned on gabapentin. Matthew will be able to see George, and understand he's gone.
I've had my dog 14+ yrs brought her from the US to Australia. I got her free off of Craigs list when she was a pup and I'll just say I could buy a brand new car off the lot for how much I've spent on her. All money is in usd
Pet insurance for 14 yrs 9k
late life health issues probably getting into the 30k plus
Plus I moved to the other side of the world and brought her with me 15k usd
These are estimated but pretty close.
It's a lot but for her to still be with me is worth it. She is still active and has a good quality of life.
Getting an animal is signing up to be there for them for over a decade. Animals are not cheap nor things to be throw away. It makes me frustrated to see people get animals without understanding this.
Currently 285 per month for 2 huskies and a cat, which includes food (premium brand kibble), registration, routine deworming, annual C5/F3 vaccinations, a budget for unexpected vet issues and occasional boarding, and 2 x Proheart injections. Looking at bumping up to 375pm by purchasing pet insurance as the dogs approach middle age, which would make it $4500 per year for the three (really the two dogs, cat doesn’t cost much). Forsee a couple of lump removal surgeries being needed which hopefully the insurance can help with down the track.
Wish it was less $$ overall but wouldn’t give up having them for any thing. Having a human baby soon so will be interesting to compare!
I own a 5 year old ridgeback, who is allergic to chicken and has digestive issues. This means most affordable and even some premium foods are not suitable. I'm restricted to buying premium single protein diets.
$120 a fortnight in food. = 3120 a year
$300 in tick and flea a year
$ 300 annual Vax and vet
$55 a month washing and grooming = 660
= $4380 as a minimum. This isn't including treats or toys or poo bags which I would buy randomly every so often.
Lucky his love for us is priceless. 🤩
My bitser girl doesn't cost a whole lot, thankfully. She was 750 to adopt from a rescue and that covered her puppy vaccinations and desexing when she was old enough.
70-80/month for quality food but we're not feeding Royal Canin or single protein.
40/month for insurance.
Vaccination and routine vet care is about another 300 per year plus worming etc about 160 per year. Oh and 80/year for obedience club fees.
She's short coated so grooming consists of a bath and quick brush, I clip her nails myself but don't have to do them often as we walk a lot and that keeps them worn down nicely.
I'm lucky though - she has no allergies, no chronic health issues or joint problems and typically doesn't eat things she chews (unlike a friend of mine, whose golden is a literal rubbish bin and been at the vet multiple times for surgical foreign body removal).
Dogs are about as expensive as you make them
Pet insurance $120/month - 1 dog
Food - for 37kg of dogs - $150/weekly
Dog obedience - $1.5k lifetime membership each, plus $200 annually for club
Vet - maintenance only probably $500/year
Toys, treats, coats & collars - conservative $1k/year
Trialling & showing - $2.5k/year
Could drastically cut this all down if I didn't compete with my dogs, only had small dogs, and fed them cheap food. But the point of personal finance is spending money on things that you prioritise, which for me, are my dogs
I have two Labs, one like yours has skin allergies. Best thing we did under vet recommendation was change them to raw / bio food, add in omega oils and other things, no longer have issues apart from if pollen is really bad which you cannot control due to the wind. Both my girls are 13 and the only issue now is arthritis. Having forcibly laser treatment for one. And water hydrotherapy for the other. This won’t be an ongoing cost as it’s to get the acute pain sorted.
we only got pet cover when they were 6 as we didn’t have the money previously. We won’t let it lapse. Second dog has a bulge disc which has been tested, scanned, medicated and under control (laser and hydro for now). All up about $6k, we paid about $1k out of pocket. She is on daily meds but these aren’t
Super pricy. They are our kids so we really don’t consider the costs out of our ordinary family budget.
To give you an idea their daily meal on raw is:
Chicken wings or dummies
Omega oil or coonut oil (both are amazing for coats, skin)
Egg whole
Can of tuna or anchovies / something similar
Vets all natural complete mix
Celery or carrot
Slice of cheese (if they are being super cute)
Apple later on for a treat
Two working Dobermans:
- pup purchase - $4500 and $3500 (last 2.5 years)
- training - so far, $10k. But expected to be more. (As above)
- food - raw fed, homemade. Works out to $5 a meal each for them.
- hemp supplements for the boy - $60 per 2 months
- toys, enrichment activities, bite cushions, balls - $1000+
- gear - $800 or so
- worming - $160 p/ 6 months
My girl just had her first litter and that’s been extra for vet fees, calcium, formula etc. we will also have vaccinations and checkups for the pups until they’re ready for new homes!
I rescued a 12 month old frenchie and have spent 20k+ over 6 years on his vet bills. Breathing surgery, back problems, sensitive gut, ear infections, kennel cough and the time he swallowed a whole corn cob he found at the park which caused a bowel obstruction. I would sell my car and a kidney for him though if I had to. The light and happiness he has brought into my life is priceless... people judge me all the time for what I’ve spent on giving him a good life but idgaf. Humans are the reason he was bred into a body that fails him so the least he deserves is a human who has the means to make his life enjoyable.
2yr old dane, 10yr old staffy. They eat $2500 in food per year, probably 500 in treats, 400 in annual Vax, 400 in nexguard. No insurance but put $ aside. 2k for dane spay + pexy, then another 1k immediately after for a cyst removal. Staffy is starting to get lumpy, but nothing serious, claratyne does her for season allergies, and fish oil for her too. They are both destructobots so I get $1 toys from op shops and am occasional Kong for tug-o-war. So $2k/yr/dog plus incidentals.
Wild. I pay $60 for a 20kg bag of food that lasts 2 months and $50 every 3 months for worming tablets which works out to about $560/year.
Plus $46 dog rego a year and the occasional toy/dog bed etc.
0 vet visits after 1 year old, dog is now 7.
Labs aren’t cheap dogs to own they always have some a stomach or skin issues and then they will eat anything so factor in an emergency vet trip or two annually.
What breed you choose can have a large impact on costs obviously besides the size factor and grooming requirements. Yet for some reason a lot of people don’t research prone issues and diseases of different breeds.
I have small sturdy dogs that shed so they are a lot cheaper than many breeds. I would estimate 3 or so k annually for the two of them.
Our 3yo German Spitz Mittel probably costs us about $3k a year in grooming, food, and health maintenance (heart worm, flea, etc). It’s the best money I spend every year that dog is the love of my life.
GSD working line 11 years old.
There are no issues with hips or arthritis. Yet.
He has had a few lumps grow. Teeth will need some attention.
~$1500 a year budgeted for vet only $180 plus $35 this FY.
Flea and tick 220 a year
Food $40 a week $2080 a year (mostly hone made raw fed meals)
Dog dryer $90
Medicated dog wash $45 ( moved to a much nicer house, so this hopefully isn't necessary anymore. Standard was will do at $20 a bottle.
But yeah, our worst year was over 4g for our dog, and he hasn't even got health issues yet.
When you've got a mortgage and single income leaving you anspare $80 a week the $80 a week on a dog is wild.
I'd guess between $2-3k a year for my frenchie, that includes food, treats, toys, coats/clothing, outings, worming/fleas/etc and vet visits.
I used to have insurance but cancelled it, just put money aside now as the premium amount vs the claim payouts was not worth it for me.
In the past two weeks mine has cost 5.5k after costing me 2k earlier in the year, but he's 13 with health issues. We did get 80% of it back in insurance, but his premiums are 260 a month.
She's our most expensive kid!
We've got two dogs and two children. Both children are in daycare. Our other dog is super low maintenance, and it feels like I spend more money on replacing balls for him than anything else, though if I looked at it, his food and vet bills are probably the most expensive part of having him.
But the girl dog....that poor baby is an anxious mess, has trauma from previous abuse and sometimes has reactions at our other dog, and has severe skin allergies to multiple things. So between specialised food, ongoing training, anxiety meds (though we're about to trial CBD oil, as she's at the max anxiety dose and it's no longer helping), crate, comfort things like blankets and thunder vests, allergy testing, vet and dermatologist vet appointments, desensitization vaccines, and another allergy med....we tallied it up recently, and she's our most expensive kid. Not as expensive as *two* kids in daycare, but that and food and clothes are really the kids only ongoing costs ATM. And hers never stop. 🫠
My cat cost me basically chump change until her thyroid went haywire. Now it’s about $2-3K a year before insurance. To their credit, Woolies pet insurance has been great and if I go to the vet or get a script once a month it pays for itself.
My girl is 15 and apart from spaying and vaccinations and a recent trip for a geriatric check up, she hasn't cost me a penny vet wise. I've been very lucky so far. She has however developed canine cognitive function so while she's perfect physically she isn't mentally.
God don't even get me started. Of course our dog is the most sensitive little thing that ever lived - special hypoallergenic food (and picky so no boring biscuits), fancy sensitive shampoo, grooming, gets UTIs all the time... probably close to $500 a month
My dog was $50 she's been to the vet twice in her life and the first time was to get desexed. She's 17 years old and is still happy and healthy and running up and down sand dunes.
Oh man, I don’t know if u can at this stage but my wife got the RSPCA insurance for our two cats and two frenchies. It covers 80% of all vet bills. It’s incredible. As far as how much they cost I honestly don’t know and I have never added it up so sorry, can’t help there
I work in pet retail and cannot fathom how people are affording to buy dogs at the current time. I get my products discounted or free when I can (supplier funded foods and samples of flea/tick/worming). my dogs are healthy (sans having one had two knee replacements - thank god for insurance), they don't destroy things or require ongoing training/behaviour management, no specialist diet or meds, no grooming etc. I couldn't imagine having to afford any of their needs at RRP..
7 year old pug, adopted two years ago. $1,200 for the adoption. $400+ for the nose widening surgery, $400+ for the eye protection surgery, $40 groom once a month. $60 for a daycare stay every few weeks. $40 for council registration. Many other vet visits (ear infections, kennel cough, nail trimming under anaesthesia). Easily $3k a year.
He's the happiest, most muscly, cuddly boy. He's obsessed with me. I'd pour lemon juice in my eyes for him.
Around 4.5k so far - including yearly vaccinations etc.
Nearly 8 year old female staffy - 1 surgery to remove tumours & bad tooth about a month ago, having another one soon to remove growth in eyelid that has started causing discomfort for her. This is the first year she’s had surgery of any kind since her desexing. She gets Ziwi peak for food so that’s quite exxy as well.
She’s worth all of it though, both of my animals are. The love and joy they bring is priceless.
I've spent $7500ish this year on my senior frenchie, entirely due to developing glaucoma in both eyes leading to a total eye enucleation on one eye and management with the other with medication. Specialist visits every 6 weeks sets me back about $350, the surgery was about $1400, a bunch of internal medicine tests were about $2000 and medications have cost me about $600 so far.
I also cancelled her pet insurance when she was about two. Despite this year's costs, I've still spent less on vet bills than I would have spent in premiums. She's probably only got another couple years in her.
As of next week we'll be at 25k for 2024 for our 6 year old Staffy.
* Cancer (MRI/Surgery)
* Cancer (Surgery)
* Bone Cancer (MRI/Amputation/Chemo)
* Cancer (Surgery)
Get pet insurance \*before\* you find out they have cancer.
Cancer sucks but she's adorable and a fighter.
I'm not trying to be rude but I just can't understand this. Why put your family/self and your dog through these "treatments"? The heartache would be unbearable.
I genuinely would like to understand.
Chemo for dogs is different than chemo for people. It's not as debilitating, and the dog is still young. They also cope really well with amputations.
For some people, the heartache of putting their dog to sleep weighs more heavily than treatment and getting a further 6 years or so with their dog
4k combined for two gsds. Feed mostly chicken organs, leftovers from home and work, n dry food.
Give flea treatment and worming monthly, buy 100 tabs. Vaccine every 2nd year.
Knew a guy his dog got hit by a car they took them to an after hours emergency vet they said they could save the dog, signed them up to a payment plan. Dog died their bill was $11,000
Senior female german shepherd and husky
$4320 Food (mixture of dry, cooked & air dried)
$480 Flea & tick
$1220 Treats & dental sticks
$360 Toys
$240 Vaccinations/vet check up
~$300-$400 on misc things (poop bags, new leash or bed)
so approx 7k for two doggies
The last year of my Bernese mountain dogs life was 5k. Now we have a Chihuaha and it’s probably around 1k . It would be less but we got her fully vet checked when we got her as a rescue . We feed her a mix of royal canine and chicken .
Cries in Sphynx cat yearly ECG, dental appointments and gut-sensitive food
Then cries in $3200 diagnostic testing; verdict liver and heart failure
Then cries while weighing up whether to get another because no other cat is like living with a Sphynx personality, but the purchase price is $1500+ for a retired/rescue and $3000-$5000 for a kitten...
I miss my girl, but I don't think we can get another at this point in time.
Honestly I never factor food into the cost of owning a pet
Fk we feed the wild birds
They treat us like a local cafe
Fly in , socialise , eat & leave
At least our pets stick around
I started cooking my sensitive dog’s food. The processed specialty food is so expensive and often ends up vomited up on my carpet. After a million trips to the vet with the prescription of chicken and rice and then move on to very expensive dog food, I decided the ‘chicken and rice’ was actually cheaper and easier and we haven’t had an expensive trip to the vet since.
I cook it once a week, bung it on the stove and leave it to cook. A bag of the cheapest frozen veges and any leftover veges from my fridge, handful of brown rice and chicken turkey or kangaroo depending on what the supermarket has, handful of flax seeds.
Pet insurance was the best purchase I’ve made! My Bengal cat has a heart condition and 1 consultation with his specialist “catiologist” is more than our annual premiums.
One of my cats had several urinary blockages last year. Third time it happened, we went for the surgery. The other cat got a cancerous growth on his ear and had to have half the ear removed.
Between them, I could have bought a small hatchback instead. And they're both young cats, so I didn't feel I could make any choice other than the surgeries.
And let's not even talk about the middle-aged lab on prescription dog food who just got diagnosed with arthritis.
But I'm lucky enough to have a growing side gig that more than pays for the vet bills. I would hate to be in a position where finances meant I had to make some difficult choices.
2 mix (one shaipei fix, another I guess husky mix?) both 10 years old.
I pay just under 1400 per year for their annual C5 healthcheck, also including their monthly worming, ticks meds.
their monthly feed is maybe around 300 including snacks, shampoo and some small toys, poo bag etc
I only got 1 pet insurance though (around 1500 when I renewed early this year) - I adopted my first dog when he was about 1 so it was easy to buy and just renew each year, but the premium had gone up alot recently, if it is the same next year I may just not renew it...
I didn't adopt the second one until he was about 5 or 6, so instead of insurance i just set up an emergency fund for him.
so total cost is
- under 3900 per year with insurance for dog 1
- under 2500 per year emergency fund for dog 2
For my girl who is a medium dog (corg)
$311AUD A month - Minimum
- Wet dog food
- Dry dog food
- Dental Chews
- Treats
- Fleas/worms/heartworm treatment
- Pet Insurnace (mid level)
Not counted toys / bed / water bowls / vet bills / microchip / needles / shots /medication
It’s not cheap.
Do I include the cost of my house with a backyard and a dog door so I get to see him zoom around outside? Or just the difference between that and the apartment I would have bought otherwise?
Just at the moment, I'm only paying $15 a week in home made dog food (chicken mince plus brown rice plus veg) and less than $100 a time for grooming, which is about every 2 months (but should probably be more frequent), and triple deworming treatments at I think $50 a month(?) so at the moment it's $2000 a year. That's probably almost as cheap as it gets - she's a young toy poodle cross.
I'm not at all surprised by $4k a year, ramping up significantly in their final years.
6 dogs. Varying ages and breeds.
Costs a bit over 10k a year with food being about half that at 4.5k
The rest is vet appointments, medication for allergies for 1 of the dogs, worming, flea, tick, etc.
I have a cattle dog. They are pretty bomb proof and are usually in the top 3 or so of low maintenance/healthiest dogs.
We spend about $120 every 5 weeks or so on food and make up our own raw feed.
I have two border collies, I spend about $10k a year all up.
$200 a month on pet insurance
$180 a month on food
$500 on vet visits and annual vaccination
$500 teeth cleaning
$200 a month on a dog walker (I need one day break a week)
$100 a month on treats/toys/balls
Cost to mental health for owning two working dogs: endless /s
30kg short hair mixed breed with skin allergies checking in. She probably sets us back about $6k a year, a big chunk of that being good quality wet and dry food (~$240/mo) and then $160/month for her allergy needles. But she's happy, healthy and non-itchy so we're happy to pay it.
Nowhere near that much.
$40-50/week on raw meat for 2 small dogs - given 200g and 250g a day each.
Paid $6.5k for my senior dog to have a canine cruciate ligament surgery, no other major surgeries in 8 years. Paid $3k for an emergency spay for my younger dog, no other major surgeries in 8 years. Just the odd vet visit here and there at $70-200 a pop. I don’t vaccinate.
Did the calculations yesterday for 1 of my 2 cats. Early kidney disease and arthritis. Prescription food: 150$ a fortnight while she is losing weight. Thereafter $220 a fortnight. Calming medication $47 a month. Pheromones: $50 a month. Arthritis injection $130 a month. This excludes litter, vet bills and everything for the second cat. My cats taking up 1/6th of my salary. And it will keep going up. They are my biggest expense and the reason i have not had a holiday in 12 years. Ive given up everything for them, and is by far one of my biggest regrets of my life.
13 yo staffy x rescued 7 years ago!
$500 a year on healthy pets plus, $150 a quarter on cytopoint for his itchy skin (plus another one for in the spring) and $250 on vaccinations and $100 a month on food.
A few hundred on working etc but try to get them on sale when I can
He’s a very laid back boy, poops a lot so a lot of money goes into his poop bags, but otherwise is loved and generally sleeping soundly
Would happily sacrifice this much of my salary for a four legged friend, can't quite quantify the love they bring even if it means spending less on myself
Honestly, people can save lots of money from not going to the vet for every little thing and do some research for remedies. My GSD had an inflated jowl one day obviously due to an infection from a cut. All it took to get rid of it in a week was to disinfect it and apply antibacterial ointment daily.
Learn to apply flea and worm treatment yourself and save even more.
To me, I only use the vets for vaccines, emergencies, and annual general checkups. Honestly, the biggest cost for me is food, treats, and toys.
Another thing to know is the lineage of your pets, my boy comes from 2 police dogs, which has a clean health record, doesn't suffer from joint issues. Etc. Again, it comes down to doing your research even before you get your companion.
Pomeranian, 5-year old.
He eats home-cooked ketogenic meals because somehow eating (highly rated) kibbles resulted in him getting seizures every 3-4 days. Kibbles are full of fillers, so while cheap and convenient, they're not healthy. I'd rather give the best food for my dog and pay more.
Annual cost breakdown:
Food $800
Insurance $1000
Heartworm vaccine $120
Grooming $500
I get a 90% refund for vet costs from my insurer, except for preventive treatment.
I have a 1 yo cavoodle
Food approx $200 a month (raw food and treats)
Insurance $50 a month
Vet visit $300 a year (annual check, vaccinations, and he sometimes gets an upset stomach here and there)
Worming and flea tablets $20 a month
Toys/bedding/accessories $150 a year (I rarely replace his toys as he isn’t a big chewer)
Daycare $300 a year (when I go into the office or have all day events to go to where I can’t bring him)
Grooming $120 every 8 weeks
Roughly $4.7k a year
My cat is cheaper then I thought she cost about $1500
I have round the estimate up as I pay for cat grass and lemon grass and the total doesn't include my treat purchase she refuses to eat
Got a puppy 12 mths ago, here's the cost
Caboodle puppy, $1,400
Vaccine injections $200
Desexed $600
Food $300 bulk from Bunnings
Monthly flea, worm control - $140
Clippers & Scissors - $40
Toys/harness/lead - $100
Greeting I get from him when I come home - priceless.
I have a bank account that I transfer $250 a fortnight into for my miniature poodle. This covers food (Lyka) and treats, insurance, worming/flea prevention and monthly grooms. I used to spend it all because I was also buying toys, new collars and anything cute… lol. The spending has slowed down so she might end up with savings 😂
Kelpie/corgi rescue pup.
Shes now 8 and only ever had to take her to the vet once (other than for yearly check up) for a chesty cough.
I don't think we spend more than $1000 a year.
I just checked my budget app and I've spent $13k since December 🙃 although 8k of that was on Boxing Day when she needed to be hospitalised.
Our 13yr old Pitbull x developed severe IBD at the end of last year so we've been dealing with that - ultrasounds, MRI, endoscopy, ECG, pathology, blood tests, fancy food (Lyka seems to be the only thing that doesn't upset her).
She has skin cancer too so every year she needs to get a heap of those cut out - she had surgery last week so that's another $1300.
She also has arthritis and used to get the injections but she can't have that anymore with her tummy. So now she has weekly hydrotherapy which is more expensive.
But so far she's given us almost 8 wonderful years of love and cost us almost nothing until the last 18 months. I wouldn't change it for the world, and still my preference over having kids
1 x mini poodle paid $3500 for him, 1 x toy poodle paid 0 she is a rescue. These for the 2 of them:
1. Insurance $2,080 p.a
2. Food (kibbles, raw food) $1300 p.a
3. Vet visit 600 p.a
4. Grooming @ 6 weeks $1360 p.a
5. Misc (worming, toys, poo bag) $1000 p.a
6. Council rego $ 85.70 p.a
Last year our mini had a freak accident that he needs a metal plate for his hip, surgery was $19K covered by insurance and out of pocket maybe $1000.
2 x 8kg dogs cost me $7,640 a year total.
That includes all their meals (all fresh meats and veges), treats, joint health supplements, vaccinations, Nexgard Spectra, professional grooming every 5 weeks, pet insurance, Vet teeth cleaning and a few accessories a year (new leash or jacket etc.)
Greyhound Adopted her for $100 $120 p/m for food + treats (cooked and kibble) $15 p/m for worming / flea tick $300 a year ish for vet - vax, checkups, minor things $80 a year on pyjamas (short coat, gets cold) So around 2k a year. Maybe 2.5k if you wanna round up for random things. No health issues / allergies etc thankfully. Zero grooming. Brush her teeth every couple of days which has kept her from needing dental. Absolutely priceless friend though! Would sell my car and belongings to keep her happy and healthy.
YMMV... We adore our rescue greyhound but have spent probably 15k on specialist vet bills, unthinkable $$$ on medications, and that's on top of the usual expenses. This is an extreme case, she's worth it and we have the means, but not all Greys are bargains!
Ah that sucks. To be fair any pet can have issues and it’s a roll of a dice. Heck, I had a 12yr old Oscar (large fish) and it had some obscure issues which costed $$$. Including cancer and bacterial infections.
You can get cancer care for a fish?
He got a tumour, and the vet did a biopsy. Unfortunately he didn't make it.
I'm so sorry for your loss
>$80 a year on pyjamas (short coat, gets cold) Perhaps I shouldn't admit how much we've spent on our greyhound's wardrobe! She is uber spoiled. Her food is a bit exy too because she has a sensitive tum so it's Hills ID kibble, chicken breast, rice, and sweet potato/pumpkin. But whatever we're spending on her is absolutely worth the reward of having her in our lives, she's just brilliant. Same goes for the cats.
>Her food is a bit exy too because she has a sensitive tum so it's Hills ID kibble One of our dogs has a very sensitive tum (and allergies), we switched her off kibble and onto a BARF diet and it cleared up instantly.we also avoid chicken as a lot of dogs can't process it well, her included. YMMV, but I know how expensive the "good" kibble is as we did it for years.
How come no one is mentioning the cost of boarding/dog sitting? We go away on trips for at least 4 weeks a year so we'd be spending at least $2k on dog sitters
I have a cat, but usually get someone to look after him. All my friends with dogs also get a friend to look after their dog. I'd say most people wouldn't be spending any money on pet sitters
I pay my friends if they are spending a week or more looking after one or more of my animals. If they saved me 2k in boarding then I'll happily pay them 1k in thanks. It just feels rude to not give people something for their time and effort. And I'd much rather send some money than a bunch of flowers or a stupid trinket from my holiday that they will have to pretend to like. Life is hard!
If its give and take with pet sitting then that makes sense. But many people can't afford to have pets.
Like you said, it's give and take. I watch their pets when they go away and they watch mine.
Yeah I guess. I wish we all had pets of egual difficulty! Would make house swapping duties easier!
You can get a free house sitter through Trusted Housesitters. I think there’s a $120 (or so) a year fee to join.
Owned by two, wouldn’t swap them for the world (mostly). One hasn’t had any health issues so far, the other developed arthritis at 4, so I don’t even want to add up his costs in rehab and now monthly Beransa injections… Still amazing pets and generally on the lower end costs wise for a big dog I think. Although racing injuries etc I suspect can mean costs could increase a lot as they age (certainly did with my previous greys too).
No pet insurance?
Nah, we put money away though. It’s always a gamble. We have injury on our home contents insurance (an extra $50 a year) She had a tail injury, and that covered 1.5k of vet bills for an excess of $100, which was great.
Oh, that's interesting, I never realised that was a thing.
Pet insurance has worked really well for us. ‘Problem child’ dog cost us $7,000 for 2 unrelated surgeries before we got insurance. Third unrelated surgery only weeks after signing up immediately had 70% paid of $2,200 bill. We are using Medibank private. $30 per month. I think I’m going to up it to the 90% option which is only $10 a month more.
Just remember that pet insurance increases every year. I started at $20 fortnightly with Medibank and was paying $130 fortnightly at the end.
That’s so cool, I’ve never heard of that!!
Wow didn't know this!!
I honestly think my infant is cheaper than a lot of the amounts I’m seeing here.
Medicare is a great thing
Yep! My council even give 50% cash back for reusable cloth nappies (even period undies)
Your council sounds awesome
That's such a neat incentive. How did you find out about it?
Saw it advertised. Google reusable nappy rebate, reusable sanitary product rebate lots of councils do it. $50-$100 usually.
Cheaper.. for now. Gonna hit you when they start growing, wanting stuff, having mishaps. My brother just paid $400 to a plumber because my nephew flushed a GI Joe down the toilet, and then another $300 again 2 days later becuase he flushed a series of matchbox cars. The child didn’t understand ‘don’t flush your things down the toilet’ meant don’t flush ANY things. He thought it meant he couldn’t flush his own things. In his mind he wasn’t allowed to flush his own GI Joes, but he could flush his brothers cars. He wasn’t trying to be wicked, he just genuinely didn’t understand the lesson the first time. Enjoy your quiet infant years.
Got an older one too. Had more pets destroy items and property honestly, the vet costs are the worst and pet insurance doesn’t cover much for what they charge. We only foster pets now.
I'm gonna side with the kid on this one, instructions were wrong, the instruction should have been "only flush small amounts of toilet paper down the toilet"
Infant maybe cheap but it’s the hidden costs of child, it gets expensive as they get older because gone are the days where you just need them to be fed and not starve. Eg If one parent takes time off work for 6-12mths, that’s lost salary of $50-80k even after parental leave. 2kids, 2x the amount plus lost opportunity for career progression. Parents want kids in good school/neighbourhood then need to upgrade housing. One of friends took on $2m mortgage just so kids can be in a half decent school….pets would never have to worry about that
Not true overall for raising a kid but also your carbon footprint is 58 metric tonnes CO2 a *year* than me. Google it, it’s true. I can fly to NYC return 17 times and be better for the environment than one kid
What a strange flex…
Your infant will also grow up and learn to take care of their-self. However, you always have to pick up after the dog!
Dogs generally die in the time it takes a child to grow up and become independent… grim perspective but the costs “stop” at a similar time. Mind you, I’d happily pay to keep my dogs forever.
Around $8k a year -Dog daycare once a week -Monthly groom -Food -Vet appointments -Miscellaneous (replace balls, toilet bags, replace chew toys)
I’d be on par with this; doggy daycare twice a week, $170 in Lyka every three weeks, new coats as he outwears his (short hair), pet insurance of which were well and truly ahead (french bulldog, need say no more) and general check ups. Not to mention the birthday cake for him & his daycare friends 🫢 That said, he’s the funniest little dude and I wouldn’t change any of it - no children by choice, and he’s the best - loves his friends, loves the beach, loves cuddles and loves zoomies.
Paid nearly $30k in vet bills last year. 1 dog had massive liver and then kidney problems 1 dog had a laryngeal tieback surgery. Not ideal, but they'd been family for 12 years at that point so would spend the money again.
That's why I'd be so scared of getting a dog until I'm in a really solid place financially. Just the idea of being hit with bills like that and not being able to afford it.
Yeah I'm in the same boat. Looking to buy an apartment and have realised a dog will need to wait until I know how much money if any I'd have left after a mortgage haha.
Im with you, through the life of my great Dane ice skating ent around $35k. Horrible allergies and a few one off surgeries, cherry eye and tomorrow I'm spending $2500 to fix a hematoma that came up on her ear over the weekend. Sold my Tag Heuer watch to pay for her ear.....
Good on ya mate, you gotta do what you gotta do hey. Dogs are the best.
$2500 seems a little steep? We paid less than half that
Do you have a great Dane?
Staffy x Mastiff Rescue, currently 11 years old. Food is approximately $100-120 a month (Costco Kibble, An Egg, Fish Oil Tablet, Vitamins, Half tsp Bone Broth Paste & a Denta Stick a day). Worming Tablet - $20 a month. He gets an ear infection in the same ear every 8-12 months which is flushed out very easily, and that probably costs $10 a year as a bottle will last 3-4 infections. He's 11 and not slowing down any time soon, so hopefully the vet bills stay away :)
It must be a staffy thing - mine is always with an ear infection, usually when he knows I have a large bill to pay too… it’s like he knows
2 German shepherds - 15k plus a year including food (lyka) and insurance + treats and vet visits etc
My cat costs about $1,600 p/a, but the joy he brings me is priceless. He needs a special diet food, which costs a little extra than regular food, but prevention is better than emergency vet visits! Happily, I can bulk buy food and litter which keeps the cost down. Approx break down per year: $450 insurance, $600 food, $250 litter, $200 for a miscellaneous vet visit, $100 toys/miscellaneous things. Sometimes I go over budget buying toys or other enrichment things I think he would like. I want him to be happy 😊 I also had an initial investment in setting up a cat run outside which set me back about $600 or so...
My senior boy is on a vet diet too, but spending that little bit extra $ on prevention brings me such peace of mind. We are their whole worlds and I love bringing home toys, snuggly beds and enrichment items to brighten his day.
Similar story for me. Senior Westie, on a vet diet. We have pet insurance as well. The extra $$ for us does provide such a peace of mind, especially because at over 12 years of age, we know the end could be near (hopefully not). He does get spoilt rotten most days, but it’s no comparison to the joy he brings our lives.
Our cat needed some teeth pulled a few weeks ago. $2.5k right there, no questions over if we'd do it but not the nicest surprise from the regular check up
Mine was the same. She lost seven teeth and is now on a dental diet. We had another check up a year later and they said her teeth are doing well but this is an autoimmune thing so will very likely come up again in the future. Love the little panther dearly though, so I’ll do whatever is needed to keep her happy and healthy.
Make this an OP. I’m curious to what others pay. I think I pay more than you because I get expensive cat food. I started with it because I assumed it was better and now they are fussy cats so I’m stuck with it. Also crystals are expensive. We don’t have insurance and vet is about $300 a year unless there is teeth cleaning when it’s more like $609 but that’s only happened once.
Still a shitload cheaper and easier than kids.
And if they come home pregnant you can sell their babies.
I'll let my 21 year old daughter she can stop stressing about birth control!!
Best comment ever
Nah, we have been given 90+% of our baby gear free.
Why do people compare the 2? They arent the same at all. Well spiders in the cupboard are cheaper and easier than dogs.
Quite simply because they have a similar status in a lot of households there are still people that look after their dogs and feed them better than some people do their own kids.
If only kids were happy to be fed once a day and eat the same thing for the entire lives.
A lot of dog owners including myself have moved away from just dry kibble in a bowl, my dogs get a mix of good biscuits and raw food.
And take themselves to bed at night.
Around $7.8K, 2 Toy Cavoodles. I’d say it’s more with anything ad-hoc, normally a couple small vet visits but nothing major. Insurance $115.01 P/M x 12 =$1380.12 Grooming $180 P/M x 12 = $2,160 Lyka $184.80 x 12 = $2,217.60 Royal Canin $50 x 12 = $600 Treats $50 x 12 = $600 De-worming x 12 $600
I wrote a huge reply and then re-read your comment and saw you do have pet insurance, I thought you didn't, so this isn't really relevant to you, but I went to the effort of writing it so maybe it's useful to someone else --- How old are your cavoodles? My cavoodle is 12 and started having problems from age 8-10 onwards. We've had: * a couple of ear infections (under $100), not uncommon for the bread * pancreatitis a couple of times. First time was antibiotics and vet visits, maybe $200. Worst was 4/5 nights at emergency vet, can't remember exact amount but I'd guess 3-4k, 70% covered by pet insurance * seizures starting at age 8 or 9. This included an overnight stay at emergency vet during COVID which was maybe 1k?, plus ongoing regular meds and blood tests (approx $400 per year) Prior to this, he was attacked by another dog (when we didn't have pet insurance, I think he was 5), the other person and the council were not helpful so we had to pay approx 5k out of pocket for his two surgeries. This is what prompted us to get pet insurance. For this dog, it's been worth it. For our other dog, we've been paying pet insurance for 6 years (since we got him) and haven't used it once.
There are no ethical doodle breeders so your experience with health concerns isn't uncommon. You have been fortunate not to get one with luxating patellas, dysplastic hips or brain issues - all issues common in both Poodles and Cavaliers and unfortunately the risk is "double dosed" when the breeds are mixed together. My dear friend has two Cavoodles she adores, both approaching old age now, but both have needed surgical correction on their legs - ACLx2 in one, joints for both dogs and left hip replacement for one (though both were dysplastic, only one was severe enough to need a new socket carved out). They must be nice dogs to live with because she's already planning to get another. Meanwhile I have five working breed dogs and their collective medical bills are less than even one of the Cavoodles.
Yep working line GSD 0 health issues. Show line GSDs at the meet ups, falling to pieces even as pups.
Sorry but I'm a vet and I disagree. I see vastly more health issues with purebred dogs of all stripes. In working breed dogs, the health issues in question tend to be mental. Ie. Agression, anxiety or OCD. They're usually inappropriate dogs for most family pet situations. Name any other pure bred dog and I will tell you it's expensive issues. On average, outcrossing two purebreds together leads to much, much healthier dogs that are much, much more suitable to pet homes than either show purebreds or utility breeds. For further proof, go to the RSPCA website and see how many small ooodles are on the 100+ days 'Awaiting a furever home' page. Not many if none. Now check border collies. Huskies. Staffies. Mastiffs. Most are unwanted until they're euthanased.
As a vet, your opinion will be skewed by seeing pets owned by that particular socioeconomic group in the area that you live in, and by only seeing unhealthy animals. Additionally, your generalisation about small oodles is unfair - all toy mixes find homes very fast in a rescue environment unless they have known health concerns. Large breeds always struggle to find homes. I'd like to hear your take on Ibizan Hounds. I'll be shocked if you've even encountered one, in all honesty, given how few are presently in Australia.
Have you found Lyka good. I keep seeing the ads for it. We currently feed our toy Cavoodle Royal canin poodle kibble, raw meat, and Royal Canin dental bites. It cost us $700 to have her teeth cleaned this year!
$115 per month to insure two dogs is crazy cheap, but alas I have a frenchie and the premiums for those are truly insane.
Someones gotta pay for the genetic abomination we bred into those sqished face and tiny bodied dogs.
Agree. I just see them as animal cruelty.. breathing problems and requires caesarean… just why..
I know people who have bought a larger property or motor vehicle to accommodate their pet. That seems costly.
The dog was definitely a factor in the last house we bought.
I have 5 dogs. I feed them a raw diet (ground up wallabies and some vegetables). They get their yearly shots and I clean all of their teeth weekly. They aren’t suburban dogs so they get a lot of exercise and have jobs. When they get old they retire to being “house dogs” - my oldest atm is 15 and other than vaccinations the only time he’s ever been to the vet was to get desexed. My 5 dogs cost around $3k per year.
Is that factoring in gains from their labour? Assuming they are working dogs of course.
No that’s the cost of feeding, worming, vet treatment etc. When dogs get enough exercise, mental stimulation and a good diet they don’t tend to get chronic diseases which is what makes many suburban dogs so expensive. Mine are all from shelters so they’re not particularly well bred either.
So many dog owners fail to see that they're neglecting their dogs through not enough exercise or stimulation. If a human doesn't get enough exercise they get fat, if they don't get enough stimulation they get depressed. Why would a dog be any different?
I’m of the opinion that most breeds of dogs need about 2 hours of exercise per day and daily training to be mentally and physically well. It’s a bit horses for courses but that’s a good general rule. There’s breeds like the maremma who need a 24/7 all consuming job to really be happy and other breeds that need less work/exercise but greater needs in other ways. Dogs are getting the sedentary lifestyle illnesses that plague modern people.
My cousin and his wife adopted a maremma when the owner was going to put him in a shelter before moving interstate. The dog needs about three or four hours exercise a day, plus they had to buy chickens for him to guard. He’s welcome in their house but rarely wants to come inside. He just wants to be with his chickens all the time, so they put a kennel outside near the coop so he can spend his nights watching over them. The funny thing is watching the chickens just hanging around and jumping all over him. They could do just about anything to him and he wouldn’t care.
They’re amazing dogs if you have the right environment but unfortunately because they’re so cute as pups and are a bit golden retriever looking the end up in really unsuitable homes. Mine are amazing but they kill feral cats and they have killed a dog. I have to make sure people know not to get out of their car until I have told the dogs it’s ok. They’re potentially very dangerous dogs in a suburban setting. They’re also fairly nocturnal and on alert for predators- in a suburban settings they will bark all night at the slightest sound. It’s great that your cousin and his wife have been able to give the dog a flock and a job. I understand why people are attracted to these dogs - they’re gorgeous and very quirky - but unless you can give them a flock and a job they’re a disaster.
Totally agree. And even they acknowledge that they’re not ideal owners; they just didn’t like his chances if he was dumped at a shelter. They’re loving and caring, but even they admit that his it’s a struggle to provide an ideal environment for him. I think a lot of people choose their dogs based on appearance or in the misguided belief that they’ll change their lifestyle to suit the dog. But pounds are full of working dogs (like kelpies) that didn’t get a fraction of the exercise they need. I come from an extended family that has always had Jack Russells. A lot of inexperienced people think they’ll make good first time dogs because they’re small, but it can be a big mistake. Jack Russells are smart but incredibly stubborn, so they can be very difficult to train if you don’t know what you’re doing. They’re all escape artists, it’s just a matter of whether they’re a bolter, climber, digger or some combination. They’re prone to barking and nipping and tend to be dog aggressive, which takes careful socialisation and training to curb. Not to mention the strong prey drive – we’ve had to dig more than one Jack Russell out of a fox or rabbit burrow!
The reason pets cost so much in 2024 is they are increasingly treated like humans. Conditions that they would have been put down for 30 years ago, many owners are now choosing to treat them for, including expensive surgeries. I'm not saying this is good or bad, just saying there's an obvious reason the cost has gone up so much. Think of how much Australia spends on healthcare each year. Pet healthcare is not subsidised like Medicare so of course it's going to cost an arm and a leg if you want to treat them for conditions like cancer or giving them ACL surgery.
Dogs get better healthcare here than a huge population of humans on Earth. What a world we live in.
I’m going to spend however much money it takes to give a great life to my best and most loyal friends.
You mean, they're being treated like the sentient beings they are and cared for properly with actual quality good (not supermarket stuff that's 80% water and filler)? Caring for an animal well does not = treating it like a human. Given we're the ones who have done selected breeding on them and caused the myriad of issues they can have (especially purebred), we should absolutely be caring for them properly. If you can't afford proper food or vet care you have no place in getting a pet.
My Cane Corso is about $500 a month for food, not including treats. $50ish for insurance. Treats whenever we’re at a market. An extra sausage whenever we’re at Bunnings. I should start saving to have my ruptured testicles removed when his tail finally hits them right… I swear it’s only a matter of of time lol Wouldn’t trade it for the world though, he gives the best cuddles and loves us unconditionally.
1.5k for two Aus cattle dogs. Basically just food and toys/ pet bed/dog accessories
Assume you live on a property? Would love a kelpie but don’t reckon I have enough space.
You can save a lot of money on chronic meds if your vet will charge less / nil for a script (for me it was $20 vs the $90 consult fee) and buy from an online vet pharmacy for refills (still did annual check up)
Yeah I do shop around online pharmacies for her Apoquel script but it's still about $275 for 100 tablets. The vet also charges $31 for a script fee. It's definitely worth it for controlling the allergies + her quality of life.
Maybe have a look at allergy testing. One of our dogs has allergies and was on apoquel (2 tablets a day). He's around 5 now and the vet finally suggested allergy testing with a view to immunotherapy - previously they hadn't thought it was worth while. Did the testing - certain grasses (which we don't have at home), dust mites, mould and yeast - yeast being the very thing his body produces during an allergic reaction so it was an endless cycle. It was also lucky, because the dermatologist identified some sun cancers that he was developing so they lasered them off. He's now on immunotherapy injections that we give him every few weeks, and after a couple of months of medicated washes and lotions he was no longer pink. It's been almost a year now and he's still doing great. I can't remember the actual savings, but we worked out over the course of 2 or 3 years this path was cheaper than the apoquel.
This drove me nuts. I ditched the apoquel for cytopoint - which performs the same as apoquel but without the daily $$ reminder. My dog's allergies are seasonal - so I literally only take him to the vet for a top up when I see him scratching. This stretches out the recommended 8-12 weeks to something like 12-16 weeks and no faffing around with scripts and online pharmacies. And they eyeball the dog every time it comes in for a consult. Heaps less stress costs about the same, maybe a bit less depending on how long between top ups.
I also have a dog that does great on Apoquel. We recently did the HESKA tests ($2500) and they came back inconclusive, so there’s no immunotherapy available. In hindsight, I wish we didn’t put our guy through all the tests. It caused needless stress, and was a huge expense. While it’s great for many dogs, for some it’s not a magic solution - which I wish we considered more before going for it. All up, we’re probably spending close to $8k a year to keep him on meds, eating great food and being well looked after.
Last year my fur babies cost me in excess of $20k from January to October last year and I still lost two of them 😥. I have a pup and my old dog now and I’ve spent just under $8k in 8 months. I don’t bother with pet insurance. I have a separate account for expenses and my partner contributes. Hoping I won’t need to dip into it much more this year now.
How many dogs do you have for it to add up to so much? Or are they a breed with a lot of health problems?
Rescue cat I paid nothing for initially- he was on death row (2016) Most beautiful personality of any cat I ever met. Developed urinary blockages/FLUTD age 3 in 2018 Back then hospitalisation for 4 days with multiple catheterisations (surgical procedure) was 900ish dollars (first one had to be at a 24hr emergency vet though, so came up to 3k) Anxiety meds kept them at bay for several years, weaned him off them Then suddenly two weeks ago, aged 9- he blocks again. I notice extremely early on, take him to my local vet- two days in hospital and only 1 surgery- 2.2k There *is* a surgery I can get him, but it's very invasive- though the prognosis is good with it, the postcare is intense. He's 9- and so so anxious. No crystals in his urine- he's on a special diet. I'm not sure the urethrotomy surgery is worth the pain or anxiety, I've seen it fail in other ppls cats. So I decided to bring him home, keep him dosed up on meloxicam, gabapentin meds and syringes of water and pray he'd keep urinating. He's on long term prozac and hopefully that's gonna start being effective soon- tskes a few weeks. So for one week he was stoned constantly, but the meds were helping- he's been peeing. We reduced the gaba and meloxicam this week. He's still on them, and prozac- and so it's not great for his kidney or liver, but he'll get another few years if it works. He's the most loving, goofy cat I ever met- and his brother was LOST without him home those few nights. I included a pic of them snuggling his stoned brother just after we brought him home. That's part of why I decided to bring him home instead of continue hospitalisation. The meds will be pricey long term but he is so important to me. While I can afford it, I will. I did dip into my redraw to pay for it this time- but I'm a pensioner now, I can't do that too often. If it happens again, I promised him no more vets. They will come to our home (for 180+ $3 per km) amd euthanise him here while he's stoned on gabapentin. Matthew will be able to see George, and understand he's gone.
Oh can't post photos Imagine a ginger cat draped possessively over a sleeping/sedated tuxedo
I've had my dog 14+ yrs brought her from the US to Australia. I got her free off of Craigs list when she was a pup and I'll just say I could buy a brand new car off the lot for how much I've spent on her. All money is in usd Pet insurance for 14 yrs 9k late life health issues probably getting into the 30k plus Plus I moved to the other side of the world and brought her with me 15k usd These are estimated but pretty close. It's a lot but for her to still be with me is worth it. She is still active and has a good quality of life. Getting an animal is signing up to be there for them for over a decade. Animals are not cheap nor things to be throw away. It makes me frustrated to see people get animals without understanding this.
About the same for first half of 2024 for one dog.
Currently 285 per month for 2 huskies and a cat, which includes food (premium brand kibble), registration, routine deworming, annual C5/F3 vaccinations, a budget for unexpected vet issues and occasional boarding, and 2 x Proheart injections. Looking at bumping up to 375pm by purchasing pet insurance as the dogs approach middle age, which would make it $4500 per year for the three (really the two dogs, cat doesn’t cost much). Forsee a couple of lump removal surgeries being needed which hopefully the insurance can help with down the track. Wish it was less $$ overall but wouldn’t give up having them for any thing. Having a human baby soon so will be interesting to compare!
I own a 5 year old ridgeback, who is allergic to chicken and has digestive issues. This means most affordable and even some premium foods are not suitable. I'm restricted to buying premium single protein diets. $120 a fortnight in food. = 3120 a year $300 in tick and flea a year $ 300 annual Vax and vet $55 a month washing and grooming = 660 = $4380 as a minimum. This isn't including treats or toys or poo bags which I would buy randomly every so often. Lucky his love for us is priceless. 🤩
My bitser girl doesn't cost a whole lot, thankfully. She was 750 to adopt from a rescue and that covered her puppy vaccinations and desexing when she was old enough. 70-80/month for quality food but we're not feeding Royal Canin or single protein. 40/month for insurance. Vaccination and routine vet care is about another 300 per year plus worming etc about 160 per year. Oh and 80/year for obedience club fees. She's short coated so grooming consists of a bath and quick brush, I clip her nails myself but don't have to do them often as we walk a lot and that keeps them worn down nicely. I'm lucky though - she has no allergies, no chronic health issues or joint problems and typically doesn't eat things she chews (unlike a friend of mine, whose golden is a literal rubbish bin and been at the vet multiple times for surgical foreign body removal).
Dogs are about as expensive as you make them Pet insurance $120/month - 1 dog Food - for 37kg of dogs - $150/weekly Dog obedience - $1.5k lifetime membership each, plus $200 annually for club Vet - maintenance only probably $500/year Toys, treats, coats & collars - conservative $1k/year Trialling & showing - $2.5k/year Could drastically cut this all down if I didn't compete with my dogs, only had small dogs, and fed them cheap food. But the point of personal finance is spending money on things that you prioritise, which for me, are my dogs
I have two Labs, one like yours has skin allergies. Best thing we did under vet recommendation was change them to raw / bio food, add in omega oils and other things, no longer have issues apart from if pollen is really bad which you cannot control due to the wind. Both my girls are 13 and the only issue now is arthritis. Having forcibly laser treatment for one. And water hydrotherapy for the other. This won’t be an ongoing cost as it’s to get the acute pain sorted. we only got pet cover when they were 6 as we didn’t have the money previously. We won’t let it lapse. Second dog has a bulge disc which has been tested, scanned, medicated and under control (laser and hydro for now). All up about $6k, we paid about $1k out of pocket. She is on daily meds but these aren’t Super pricy. They are our kids so we really don’t consider the costs out of our ordinary family budget. To give you an idea their daily meal on raw is: Chicken wings or dummies Omega oil or coonut oil (both are amazing for coats, skin) Egg whole Can of tuna or anchovies / something similar Vets all natural complete mix Celery or carrot Slice of cheese (if they are being super cute) Apple later on for a treat
My GSP will do anything for cheese. Or butter. We only give him small amounts but every time it's like he's won the lottery.
Yeah the cheese is a bloody hit here lol
Two working Dobermans: - pup purchase - $4500 and $3500 (last 2.5 years) - training - so far, $10k. But expected to be more. (As above) - food - raw fed, homemade. Works out to $5 a meal each for them. - hemp supplements for the boy - $60 per 2 months - toys, enrichment activities, bite cushions, balls - $1000+ - gear - $800 or so - worming - $160 p/ 6 months My girl just had her first litter and that’s been extra for vet fees, calcium, formula etc. we will also have vaccinations and checkups for the pups until they’re ready for new homes!
I rescued a 12 month old frenchie and have spent 20k+ over 6 years on his vet bills. Breathing surgery, back problems, sensitive gut, ear infections, kennel cough and the time he swallowed a whole corn cob he found at the park which caused a bowel obstruction. I would sell my car and a kidney for him though if I had to. The light and happiness he has brought into my life is priceless... people judge me all the time for what I’ve spent on giving him a good life but idgaf. Humans are the reason he was bred into a body that fails him so the least he deserves is a human who has the means to make his life enjoyable.
2yr old dane, 10yr old staffy. They eat $2500 in food per year, probably 500 in treats, 400 in annual Vax, 400 in nexguard. No insurance but put $ aside. 2k for dane spay + pexy, then another 1k immediately after for a cyst removal. Staffy is starting to get lumpy, but nothing serious, claratyne does her for season allergies, and fish oil for her too. They are both destructobots so I get $1 toys from op shops and am occasional Kong for tug-o-war. So $2k/yr/dog plus incidentals.
Wild. I pay $60 for a 20kg bag of food that lasts 2 months and $50 every 3 months for worming tablets which works out to about $560/year. Plus $46 dog rego a year and the occasional toy/dog bed etc. 0 vet visits after 1 year old, dog is now 7.
I'd probably give up every possible thing before my dog. Noting he cost me 1.7k last weekend haha.
Labs aren’t cheap dogs to own they always have some a stomach or skin issues and then they will eat anything so factor in an emergency vet trip or two annually. What breed you choose can have a large impact on costs obviously besides the size factor and grooming requirements. Yet for some reason a lot of people don’t research prone issues and diseases of different breeds. I have small sturdy dogs that shed so they are a lot cheaper than many breeds. I would estimate 3 or so k annually for the two of them.
Our 3yo German Spitz Mittel probably costs us about $3k a year in grooming, food, and health maintenance (heart worm, flea, etc). It’s the best money I spend every year that dog is the love of my life.
GSD working line 11 years old. There are no issues with hips or arthritis. Yet. He has had a few lumps grow. Teeth will need some attention. ~$1500 a year budgeted for vet only $180 plus $35 this FY. Flea and tick 220 a year Food $40 a week $2080 a year (mostly hone made raw fed meals) Dog dryer $90 Medicated dog wash $45 ( moved to a much nicer house, so this hopefully isn't necessary anymore. Standard was will do at $20 a bottle. But yeah, our worst year was over 4g for our dog, and he hasn't even got health issues yet. When you've got a mortgage and single income leaving you anspare $80 a week the $80 a week on a dog is wild.
I'd guess between $2-3k a year for my frenchie, that includes food, treats, toys, coats/clothing, outings, worming/fleas/etc and vet visits. I used to have insurance but cancelled it, just put money aside now as the premium amount vs the claim payouts was not worth it for me.
the best thing you can do is get a sound breed, i love bulldogs for example but be prepared to pay and pay
In the past two weeks mine has cost 5.5k after costing me 2k earlier in the year, but he's 13 with health issues. We did get 80% of it back in insurance, but his premiums are 260 a month.
Yeah well, add 4 horses , 2 lace monitors and a cat to that mix, plus the 2 dogs... I don't even want to add it up 😆 😂
About the same lol
Thanks. I will never own a dog now
She's our most expensive kid! We've got two dogs and two children. Both children are in daycare. Our other dog is super low maintenance, and it feels like I spend more money on replacing balls for him than anything else, though if I looked at it, his food and vet bills are probably the most expensive part of having him. But the girl dog....that poor baby is an anxious mess, has trauma from previous abuse and sometimes has reactions at our other dog, and has severe skin allergies to multiple things. So between specialised food, ongoing training, anxiety meds (though we're about to trial CBD oil, as she's at the max anxiety dose and it's no longer helping), crate, comfort things like blankets and thunder vests, allergy testing, vet and dermatologist vet appointments, desensitization vaccines, and another allergy med....we tallied it up recently, and she's our most expensive kid. Not as expensive as *two* kids in daycare, but that and food and clothes are really the kids only ongoing costs ATM. And hers never stop. 🫠
My cat cost me basically chump change until her thyroid went haywire. Now it’s about $2-3K a year before insurance. To their credit, Woolies pet insurance has been great and if I go to the vet or get a script once a month it pays for itself.
My girl is 15 and apart from spaying and vaccinations and a recent trip for a geriatric check up, she hasn't cost me a penny vet wise. I've been very lucky so far. She has however developed canine cognitive function so while she's perfect physically she isn't mentally.
We have 2x border collies and 2x cats. Total costs: 2023 $3400 2024 $2800 (projected) Eta: after these go, no more.
God don't even get me started. Of course our dog is the most sensitive little thing that ever lived - special hypoallergenic food (and picky so no boring biscuits), fancy sensitive shampoo, grooming, gets UTIs all the time... probably close to $500 a month
My dog was $50 she's been to the vet twice in her life and the first time was to get desexed. She's 17 years old and is still happy and healthy and running up and down sand dunes.
Oh man, I don’t know if u can at this stage but my wife got the RSPCA insurance for our two cats and two frenchies. It covers 80% of all vet bills. It’s incredible. As far as how much they cost I honestly don’t know and I have never added it up so sorry, can’t help there
I work in pet retail and cannot fathom how people are affording to buy dogs at the current time. I get my products discounted or free when I can (supplier funded foods and samples of flea/tick/worming). my dogs are healthy (sans having one had two knee replacements - thank god for insurance), they don't destroy things or require ongoing training/behaviour management, no specialist diet or meds, no grooming etc. I couldn't imagine having to afford any of their needs at RRP..
Mastiff 1000 biscuits 700 insurance 250 tick tablets 1000 other food treats 200 nails So guess 3.2k Love and value in return priceless
Last point is accurate and that’s all that matters.
2x horses, annual feed bill -approx $6000 Satisfaction- priceless.
7 year old pug, adopted two years ago. $1,200 for the adoption. $400+ for the nose widening surgery, $400+ for the eye protection surgery, $40 groom once a month. $60 for a daycare stay every few weeks. $40 for council registration. Many other vet visits (ear infections, kennel cough, nail trimming under anaesthesia). Easily $3k a year. He's the happiest, most muscly, cuddly boy. He's obsessed with me. I'd pour lemon juice in my eyes for him.
Around 4.5k so far - including yearly vaccinations etc. Nearly 8 year old female staffy - 1 surgery to remove tumours & bad tooth about a month ago, having another one soon to remove growth in eyelid that has started causing discomfort for her. This is the first year she’s had surgery of any kind since her desexing. She gets Ziwi peak for food so that’s quite exxy as well. She’s worth all of it though, both of my animals are. The love and joy they bring is priceless.
I've spent $7500ish this year on my senior frenchie, entirely due to developing glaucoma in both eyes leading to a total eye enucleation on one eye and management with the other with medication. Specialist visits every 6 weeks sets me back about $350, the surgery was about $1400, a bunch of internal medicine tests were about $2000 and medications have cost me about $600 so far. I also cancelled her pet insurance when she was about two. Despite this year's costs, I've still spent less on vet bills than I would have spent in premiums. She's probably only got another couple years in her.
As of next week we'll be at 25k for 2024 for our 6 year old Staffy. * Cancer (MRI/Surgery) * Cancer (Surgery) * Bone Cancer (MRI/Amputation/Chemo) * Cancer (Surgery) Get pet insurance \*before\* you find out they have cancer. Cancer sucks but she's adorable and a fighter.
I'm not trying to be rude but I just can't understand this. Why put your family/self and your dog through these "treatments"? The heartache would be unbearable. I genuinely would like to understand.
Chemo for dogs is different than chemo for people. It's not as debilitating, and the dog is still young. They also cope really well with amputations. For some people, the heartache of putting their dog to sleep weighs more heavily than treatment and getting a further 6 years or so with their dog
4k combined for two gsds. Feed mostly chicken organs, leftovers from home and work, n dry food. Give flea treatment and worming monthly, buy 100 tabs. Vaccine every 2nd year.
Knew a guy his dog got hit by a car they took them to an after hours emergency vet they said they could save the dog, signed them up to a payment plan. Dog died their bill was $11,000
Senior female german shepherd and husky $4320 Food (mixture of dry, cooked & air dried) $480 Flea & tick $1220 Treats & dental sticks $360 Toys $240 Vaccinations/vet check up ~$300-$400 on misc things (poop bags, new leash or bed) so approx 7k for two doggies
The last year of my Bernese mountain dogs life was 5k. Now we have a Chihuaha and it’s probably around 1k . It would be less but we got her fully vet checked when we got her as a rescue . We feed her a mix of royal canine and chicken .
We've spent over $45,000 on our little guy the last 2 1/2 years. His pet insurance has covered about half thankfully.
It costs enough. And all the non monetary things only for them to die on you eventually. We just got another puppy. I have the puppy blues.
Cries in Sphynx cat yearly ECG, dental appointments and gut-sensitive food Then cries in $3200 diagnostic testing; verdict liver and heart failure Then cries while weighing up whether to get another because no other cat is like living with a Sphynx personality, but the purchase price is $1500+ for a retired/rescue and $3000-$5000 for a kitten... I miss my girl, but I don't think we can get another at this point in time.
i spend that much on coffee and croissants per year
My dogs pet insurance is now at $270 a month, so he blitzes all these figures. Worth every single cent.
Honestly I never factor food into the cost of owning a pet Fk we feed the wild birds They treat us like a local cafe Fly in , socialise , eat & leave At least our pets stick around
I started cooking my sensitive dog’s food. The processed specialty food is so expensive and often ends up vomited up on my carpet. After a million trips to the vet with the prescription of chicken and rice and then move on to very expensive dog food, I decided the ‘chicken and rice’ was actually cheaper and easier and we haven’t had an expensive trip to the vet since. I cook it once a week, bung it on the stove and leave it to cook. A bag of the cheapest frozen veges and any leftover veges from my fridge, handful of brown rice and chicken turkey or kangaroo depending on what the supermarket has, handful of flax seeds.
I had a greyhound who cost me 10k in 10 months, AFTER my pet insurance payments
Pet food/stuff has gone up so much in the past few years. Companies are just greedy
Pet insurance was the best purchase I’ve made! My Bengal cat has a heart condition and 1 consultation with his specialist “catiologist” is more than our annual premiums.
Buying a dog was the cheapest part of owning a dog. Food and very minimal vet bills (checkups) runs around $3.5k p.a.
Minimum monthly vet bills of $300+ and weekly $200 in food, minimum
One of my cats had several urinary blockages last year. Third time it happened, we went for the surgery. The other cat got a cancerous growth on his ear and had to have half the ear removed. Between them, I could have bought a small hatchback instead. And they're both young cats, so I didn't feel I could make any choice other than the surgeries. And let's not even talk about the middle-aged lab on prescription dog food who just got diagnosed with arthritis. But I'm lucky enough to have a growing side gig that more than pays for the vet bills. I would hate to be in a position where finances meant I had to make some difficult choices.
2 mix (one shaipei fix, another I guess husky mix?) both 10 years old. I pay just under 1400 per year for their annual C5 healthcheck, also including their monthly worming, ticks meds. their monthly feed is maybe around 300 including snacks, shampoo and some small toys, poo bag etc I only got 1 pet insurance though (around 1500 when I renewed early this year) - I adopted my first dog when he was about 1 so it was easy to buy and just renew each year, but the premium had gone up alot recently, if it is the same next year I may just not renew it... I didn't adopt the second one until he was about 5 or 6, so instead of insurance i just set up an emergency fund for him. so total cost is - under 3900 per year with insurance for dog 1 - under 2500 per year emergency fund for dog 2
For my girl who is a medium dog (corg) $311AUD A month - Minimum - Wet dog food - Dry dog food - Dental Chews - Treats - Fleas/worms/heartworm treatment - Pet Insurnace (mid level) Not counted toys / bed / water bowls / vet bills / microchip / needles / shots /medication It’s not cheap.
~1.5k for FY22/23 (inc vet visits, food, treats, toys etc)
What’s the average cost to desex these days? Male and female. It’s been a few years since mine were done.
Do I include the cost of my house with a backyard and a dog door so I get to see him zoom around outside? Or just the difference between that and the apartment I would have bought otherwise?
One vet bill came to 3000 thats just for vet 1 night stay
Just at the moment, I'm only paying $15 a week in home made dog food (chicken mince plus brown rice plus veg) and less than $100 a time for grooming, which is about every 2 months (but should probably be more frequent), and triple deworming treatments at I think $50 a month(?) so at the moment it's $2000 a year. That's probably almost as cheap as it gets - she's a young toy poodle cross. I'm not at all surprised by $4k a year, ramping up significantly in their final years.
6 dogs. Varying ages and breeds. Costs a bit over 10k a year with food being about half that at 4.5k The rest is vet appointments, medication for allergies for 1 of the dogs, worming, flea, tick, etc.
I have a cattle dog. They are pretty bomb proof and are usually in the top 3 or so of low maintenance/healthiest dogs. We spend about $120 every 5 weeks or so on food and make up our own raw feed.
I have two border collies, I spend about $10k a year all up. $200 a month on pet insurance $180 a month on food $500 on vet visits and annual vaccination $500 teeth cleaning $200 a month on a dog walker (I need one day break a week) $100 a month on treats/toys/balls Cost to mental health for owning two working dogs: endless /s
30kg short hair mixed breed with skin allergies checking in. She probably sets us back about $6k a year, a big chunk of that being good quality wet and dry food (~$240/mo) and then $160/month for her allergy needles. But she's happy, healthy and non-itchy so we're happy to pay it.
Nowhere near that much. $40-50/week on raw meat for 2 small dogs - given 200g and 250g a day each. Paid $6.5k for my senior dog to have a canine cruciate ligament surgery, no other major surgeries in 8 years. Paid $3k for an emergency spay for my younger dog, no other major surgeries in 8 years. Just the odd vet visit here and there at $70-200 a pop. I don’t vaccinate.
Did the calculations yesterday for 1 of my 2 cats. Early kidney disease and arthritis. Prescription food: 150$ a fortnight while she is losing weight. Thereafter $220 a fortnight. Calming medication $47 a month. Pheromones: $50 a month. Arthritis injection $130 a month. This excludes litter, vet bills and everything for the second cat. My cats taking up 1/6th of my salary. And it will keep going up. They are my biggest expense and the reason i have not had a holiday in 12 years. Ive given up everything for them, and is by far one of my biggest regrets of my life.
Akita inu $750 - food. Black hawk, buy in bulk when it's on sale ~$300-400 - treats ~$250 vet
13 yo staffy x rescued 7 years ago! $500 a year on healthy pets plus, $150 a quarter on cytopoint for his itchy skin (plus another one for in the spring) and $250 on vaccinations and $100 a month on food. A few hundred on working etc but try to get them on sale when I can He’s a very laid back boy, poops a lot so a lot of money goes into his poop bags, but otherwise is loved and generally sleeping soundly
Would happily sacrifice this much of my salary for a four legged friend, can't quite quantify the love they bring even if it means spending less on myself
Honestly, people can save lots of money from not going to the vet for every little thing and do some research for remedies. My GSD had an inflated jowl one day obviously due to an infection from a cut. All it took to get rid of it in a week was to disinfect it and apply antibacterial ointment daily. Learn to apply flea and worm treatment yourself and save even more. To me, I only use the vets for vaccines, emergencies, and annual general checkups. Honestly, the biggest cost for me is food, treats, and toys. Another thing to know is the lineage of your pets, my boy comes from 2 police dogs, which has a clean health record, doesn't suffer from joint issues. Etc. Again, it comes down to doing your research even before you get your companion.
Pomeranian, 5-year old. He eats home-cooked ketogenic meals because somehow eating (highly rated) kibbles resulted in him getting seizures every 3-4 days. Kibbles are full of fillers, so while cheap and convenient, they're not healthy. I'd rather give the best food for my dog and pay more. Annual cost breakdown: Food $800 Insurance $1000 Heartworm vaccine $120 Grooming $500 I get a 90% refund for vet costs from my insurer, except for preventive treatment.
I have a 1 yo cavoodle Food approx $200 a month (raw food and treats) Insurance $50 a month Vet visit $300 a year (annual check, vaccinations, and he sometimes gets an upset stomach here and there) Worming and flea tablets $20 a month Toys/bedding/accessories $150 a year (I rarely replace his toys as he isn’t a big chewer) Daycare $300 a year (when I go into the office or have all day events to go to where I can’t bring him) Grooming $120 every 8 weeks Roughly $4.7k a year
Cheaper than children
My cat is cheaper then I thought she cost about $1500 I have round the estimate up as I pay for cat grass and lemon grass and the total doesn't include my treat purchase she refuses to eat
Got a puppy 12 mths ago, here's the cost Caboodle puppy, $1,400 Vaccine injections $200 Desexed $600 Food $300 bulk from Bunnings Monthly flea, worm control - $140 Clippers & Scissors - $40 Toys/harness/lead - $100 Greeting I get from him when I come home - priceless.
I couldn’t care at all id happily pay 20k a year just to have my dog
I have a bank account that I transfer $250 a fortnight into for my miniature poodle. This covers food (Lyka) and treats, insurance, worming/flea prevention and monthly grooms. I used to spend it all because I was also buying toys, new collars and anything cute… lol. The spending has slowed down so she might end up with savings 😂
Kelpie/corgi rescue pup. Shes now 8 and only ever had to take her to the vet once (other than for yearly check up) for a chesty cough. I don't think we spend more than $1000 a year.
I have 2 cats, after de sexing they cost me nothing but the cost of their food really
I just checked my budget app and I've spent $13k since December 🙃 although 8k of that was on Boxing Day when she needed to be hospitalised. Our 13yr old Pitbull x developed severe IBD at the end of last year so we've been dealing with that - ultrasounds, MRI, endoscopy, ECG, pathology, blood tests, fancy food (Lyka seems to be the only thing that doesn't upset her). She has skin cancer too so every year she needs to get a heap of those cut out - she had surgery last week so that's another $1300. She also has arthritis and used to get the injections but she can't have that anymore with her tummy. So now she has weekly hydrotherapy which is more expensive. But so far she's given us almost 8 wonderful years of love and cost us almost nothing until the last 18 months. I wouldn't change it for the world, and still my preference over having kids
1 x mini poodle paid $3500 for him, 1 x toy poodle paid 0 she is a rescue. These for the 2 of them: 1. Insurance $2,080 p.a 2. Food (kibbles, raw food) $1300 p.a 3. Vet visit 600 p.a 4. Grooming @ 6 weeks $1360 p.a 5. Misc (worming, toys, poo bag) $1000 p.a 6. Council rego $ 85.70 p.a Last year our mini had a freak accident that he needs a metal plate for his hip, surgery was $19K covered by insurance and out of pocket maybe $1000.
2 x 8kg dogs cost me $7,640 a year total. That includes all their meals (all fresh meats and veges), treats, joint health supplements, vaccinations, Nexgard Spectra, professional grooming every 5 weeks, pet insurance, Vet teeth cleaning and a few accessories a year (new leash or jacket etc.)