How much has your dog/cat/other cost?
Discussion
Due to Phoebes (black lab) recent op and the pain of paying for it, I found myself cuddling a poorly dog at 4:00 a.m. and working out how much she'd cost me over the years. Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge her a penny of it and she'll probably cost me a load more before we are finished, but it was.... interesting.
I came up with a figure of £40 a week. Over 7 years that's quite a bit - £14000 just on repairs/maintenance. If she was a car I think I'd be quite grumpy...
Initial cost: Zero.
Spaying and first service/jabs etc 200
First breakdown (swallowed a stone) 1800.
Second breakdown (swallowed the knuckle end of an indestructable bone)/got post op peritinitus 5000.
Third breakdown, ongoing arthritus (last years expenditure alone), tests/x-rays/meds 1000.
Fourth breakdown: broken elbow. First vet 500 second vet 2000.
Working on a tenner a week to feed her (I've no idea what it actually costs as I've never thought about it before) over 7 years is: 3640.
Insurance is about 100 a year so 700
treats (jumbones x1 per day etc)10 per week - so another 3640...
And so it goes on...
Total (and I've obviously got loads wrong and forgotten to include leads, flea treatments etc) is 18000 but I'm excluding 4000 for treats as they are my option!
So, what does your 'fur baby' (to use an Americanism that seems to crop up a lot) cost?
Note. Looking at the above figures, they are way out as the only thing that really sticks is the big vet bills.
I came up with a figure of £40 a week. Over 7 years that's quite a bit - £14000 just on repairs/maintenance. If she was a car I think I'd be quite grumpy...
Initial cost: Zero.
Spaying and first service/jabs etc 200
First breakdown (swallowed a stone) 1800.
Second breakdown (swallowed the knuckle end of an indestructable bone)/got post op peritinitus 5000.
Third breakdown, ongoing arthritus (last years expenditure alone), tests/x-rays/meds 1000.
Fourth breakdown: broken elbow. First vet 500 second vet 2000.
Working on a tenner a week to feed her (I've no idea what it actually costs as I've never thought about it before) over 7 years is: 3640.
Insurance is about 100 a year so 700
treats (jumbones x1 per day etc)10 per week - so another 3640...
And so it goes on...
Total (and I've obviously got loads wrong and forgotten to include leads, flea treatments etc) is 18000 but I'm excluding 4000 for treats as they are my option!
So, what does your 'fur baby' (to use an Americanism that seems to crop up a lot) cost?
Note. Looking at the above figures, they are way out as the only thing that really sticks is the big vet bills.
hmmm, for 2 (lab, husky/lab x), tenner a week on food, £48 a month on insurance, occational visit to dog groomers at £25 each, leads & collars approx £80, bedding £50 (use cheapest mats we can get & bin every other month), worming tablets £10 month, seems we get off lightly at just over a grand a year
I dread to think!! My vets bills run into the thousands, several grand covered by ins but many thousands myself over the years.
I would be financially a lot better off if I had not had my various four legged friends but money can never beat having them in my life so I try not to think too much about it
I would be financially a lot better off if I had not had my various four legged friends but money can never beat having them in my life so I try not to think too much about it
Blimey!
I specialise in Econocats.
Cat 1 1988-2000 just arrived and moved in. Ate Whiskas from tins (remember those? - 33p each), even from the fridge. In 12 years she only cost me about £200 in vet's bills.
Cat 2 2001-2004 was an elderly rescue cat; just had the PTS bill.
Cat 3 2004-, another rescue, is at least 13 and still going strong. Likes cheap catfood best and just needs a steroid jab each year for a skin allergy.
So basically, £peanuts.
I specialise in Econocats.
Cat 1 1988-2000 just arrived and moved in. Ate Whiskas from tins (remember those? - 33p each), even from the fridge. In 12 years she only cost me about £200 in vet's bills.
Cat 2 2001-2004 was an elderly rescue cat; just had the PTS bill.
Cat 3 2004-, another rescue, is at least 13 and still going strong. Likes cheap catfood best and just needs a steroid jab each year for a skin allergy.
So basically, £peanuts.
I've just worked it out - £75 a month in food, £15 or so in flea treatment/worming. Annual jab and vet check £75 for the cat that has it (I don't jab Bob as he does not react well to it). Ad hoc vet visits have probably cost me £160 over the last year. Don't begrudge a penny of it - my cats get better medical care than I do myself
I could feed them cheaper food, but my view is to feed the best and have healthier cats long term.
I could feed them cheaper food, but my view is to feed the best and have healthier cats long term.
Patch1875 said:
I would like to spend more on food for the moggies but all they seem to like is felix.
To be fair, they had the best TV adverts We budget £50pm for food, treats and insurance. He has pet greyhound food with weatabix in the morning and some kind of meat in the evening with his dried food.
He has a couple of beds, which we got cheap on Ebay and filled them with child's duvets from Wilkos and he seems to like them. He sleeps on one upstairs, but when downstairs, he prefers the sofa, unless an unreasonable human is sitting on it.
We bulk buy fish biscuits and pigs ears on Ebay, so one bag lasts quite a while.
He has four coats, but we only paid for two of those and they were only £18 and £35. My mum knitted him a winter jumper, so that was free.
He has only been with us since April last year, but we don't begrudge him a penny of it
Mobile Chicane said:
I've just worked it out - £75 a month in food, £15 or so in flea treatment/worming. Annual jab and vet check £75 for the cat that has it (I don't jab Bob as he does not react well to it). Ad hoc vet visits have probably cost me £160 over the last year. Don't begrudge a penny of it - my cats get better medical care than I do myself
I could feed them cheaper food, but my view is to feed the best and have healthier cats long term.
Actually, I lie.I could feed them cheaper food, but my view is to feed the best and have healthier cats long term.
I had forgot to factor in:
Cat trees x 2 @ £40 each
Catnip
Feliway plug-ins @ £15/month
Various toys
Reflective collars - all lost
Duplicate posh bowls and water fountains now that I have cats x 2
The raw trimmings from any joint of meat I may be cooking.
My cats are incredibly spoiled, but they're treated as animals, not boyfriend/child substitutes. They get species-appropriate food (though not too much), and have plenty of opportunities to express their natural behaviour.
We have 9 acres of privately-owned land here, backing onto many acres more of National Trust-owned woodland. All those free-range, organic country mice and voles -
Vinnie the dog has cost so far monthly;
£10 in jabs and flea treatment
£25 in food
£10 in house treats
£20 in outside treats
£25 ish on toys
£30 in insurance
Thankfully that last one saved me £3500 in vets bills. Over the two years of life he has cost me £2800 roughly. Probably more, I tend to get carried away in the pet shop, plus poo bags, cleaning stuff etc all adds up too I guess.
£10 in jabs and flea treatment
£25 in food
£10 in house treats
£20 in outside treats
£25 ish on toys
£30 in insurance
Thankfully that last one saved me £3500 in vets bills. Over the two years of life he has cost me £2800 roughly. Probably more, I tend to get carried away in the pet shop, plus poo bags, cleaning stuff etc all adds up too I guess.
Heartworm said:
Patch1875 said:
I would like to spend more on food for the moggies but all they seem to like is felix.
One of ours will only take kitekat these days, everything else goes completely untouched.Good quality cat food is expensive but will save you money in the long run since it brings less risk of thyroid/kidney problems and diabetes.
Cats are obligate carnivores and evolved to eat meat.
Not meat-flavoured cereals.
Mobile Chicane said:
It's like weaning a child off Maccy D and onto healthy food. Persist with it.
Good quality cat food is expensive but will save you money in the long run since it brings less risk of thyroid/kidney problems and diabetes.
Cats are obligate carnivores and evolved to eat meat.
Not meat-flavoured cereals.
Happened after I worked away for a few weeks and they stayed at my parents house, where they regularly stole kitten food. She did eat a packet of Sheeba tonight, before hand they were not fussy.Good quality cat food is expensive but will save you money in the long run since it brings less risk of thyroid/kidney problems and diabetes.
Cats are obligate carnivores and evolved to eat meat.
Not meat-flavoured cereals.
Mine are only 4 months old but;
£1500 purchase price (for 2 dogs)
£80 dog crate
£100 dry dog food (Bulk bought so have alot remaining)
£30 per month insurance (Since month 2, so £90 total)
£80 jabs, vet checks & microchipping
£100 bedding (approx)
£50 treats and toys (approx)
£50 leads and collars
Total is roughly £2050.00 for 4 months of ownership.
However, a decent portion of that could possibly be offset against entertainment costs that we would have paid if we didn't have the dogs. We didn't go out much over Christmas, or over the 4 months we've had them.
£1500 purchase price (for 2 dogs)
£80 dog crate
£100 dry dog food (Bulk bought so have alot remaining)
£30 per month insurance (Since month 2, so £90 total)
£80 jabs, vet checks & microchipping
£100 bedding (approx)
£50 treats and toys (approx)
£50 leads and collars
Total is roughly £2050.00 for 4 months of ownership.
However, a decent portion of that could possibly be offset against entertainment costs that we would have paid if we didn't have the dogs. We didn't go out much over Christmas, or over the 4 months we've had them.
1 x mixed terrier
1 x collie
Had them 3 ish years
Both rescue
£50 donation to rescue centre each
£20 a month food for both food
£15 for insurance for one monthly
£20 a year on leads and balls
Vets
About £150 for 3 x appointments due to them fighting and the same one coming off worse each time, usually an abscess ensues
£50 to speak to a toxicology expert after one of them ate 60 Thyroid tablets, he was fine.
£20 a year for 3 x nail clips at vets
I clip one every 2 months in the summer with my £10 lidl clippers, the other malts his coat
Pretty cheap money wise, the real cost is your time anc patience!!
I spend an hour a day at least exercising them (my son spends 20 mins as well) so 1 hour x 365 x 3 = 45 days over the last 3 years walking/playing with them !
1 x collie
Had them 3 ish years
Both rescue
£50 donation to rescue centre each
£20 a month food for both food
£15 for insurance for one monthly
£20 a year on leads and balls
Vets
About £150 for 3 x appointments due to them fighting and the same one coming off worse each time, usually an abscess ensues
£50 to speak to a toxicology expert after one of them ate 60 Thyroid tablets, he was fine.
£20 a year for 3 x nail clips at vets
I clip one every 2 months in the summer with my £10 lidl clippers, the other malts his coat
Pretty cheap money wise, the real cost is your time anc patience!!
I spend an hour a day at least exercising them (my son spends 20 mins as well) so 1 hour x 365 x 3 = 45 days over the last 3 years walking/playing with them !
I will just go with one dog for the moment.
Purchase £1,000
New couch £1,200
Left Cruciate £3,500
Ectropian £1,000 (think it was 880 or so but can't be sure)
Right Cruciate £2,200
Some injection thing £460
Some other injection £121 pcm (that was with me injecting her subcutaneously and over 16 months or so)
Insurance - will only include from 8 years old. So £140 pcm then from 10 years old £260 pcm (still cheaper than her prescription meds)
PTS £520
Cremation £200? (I think)
Purchase £1,000
New couch £1,200
Left Cruciate £3,500
Ectropian £1,000 (think it was 880 or so but can't be sure)
Right Cruciate £2,200
Some injection thing £460
Some other injection £121 pcm (that was with me injecting her subcutaneously and over 16 months or so)
Insurance - will only include from 8 years old. So £140 pcm then from 10 years old £260 pcm (still cheaper than her prescription meds)
PTS £520
Cremation £200? (I think)
Jasandjules said:
I will just go with one dog for the moment.
Purchase £1,000
New couch £1,200
Left Cruciate £3,500
Ectropian £1,000 (think it was 880 or so but can't be sure)
Right Cruciate £2,200
Some injection thing £460
Some other injection £121 pcm (that was with me injecting her subcutaneously and over 16 months or so)
Insurance - will only include from 8 years old. So £140 pcm then from 10 years old £260 pcm (still cheaper than her prescription meds)
PTS £520
Cremation £200? (I think)
PTS >£500? Purchase £1,000
New couch £1,200
Left Cruciate £3,500
Ectropian £1,000 (think it was 880 or so but can't be sure)
Right Cruciate £2,200
Some injection thing £460
Some other injection £121 pcm (that was with me injecting her subcutaneously and over 16 months or so)
Insurance - will only include from 8 years old. So £140 pcm then from 10 years old £260 pcm (still cheaper than her prescription meds)
PTS £520
Cremation £200? (I think)
Is that typical?I don't know, don't think I want to know either 
There are quite a lot of massive extra spends in there that don't really look dog related, but they'd never have occurred in the first place if I didn't own dogs. Like I live on my own, but I always end up living in houses that are way too big for me purely to get a bit of outdoor space. Can't find a 1 bedroom apartment with a garden.
Then holidays or biz meetings. I had to make my way from Spain to Prague and back. I could have flown for 200 euros. But my dog was coming... so 6000km in a 10 mpg car.
I think food costs me 50 euros a week or so. Thats for my own 2 dogs, a rescue foster I've got living with me, and another rescue foster I've got living with someone else but I'm paying for. It could be a lot less but I mostly feed them on fresh ribs or whole chickens.
I've been quite lucky with vet bills. The biggest one ended up being < 500 euros when one of my dogs got quite badly attacked by a guard dog and ended up with a load of stitches.
There are quite a lot of massive extra spends in there that don't really look dog related, but they'd never have occurred in the first place if I didn't own dogs. Like I live on my own, but I always end up living in houses that are way too big for me purely to get a bit of outdoor space. Can't find a 1 bedroom apartment with a garden.
Then holidays or biz meetings. I had to make my way from Spain to Prague and back. I could have flown for 200 euros. But my dog was coming... so 6000km in a 10 mpg car.
I think food costs me 50 euros a week or so. Thats for my own 2 dogs, a rescue foster I've got living with me, and another rescue foster I've got living with someone else but I'm paying for. It could be a lot less but I mostly feed them on fresh ribs or whole chickens.
I've been quite lucky with vet bills. The biggest one ended up being < 500 euros when one of my dogs got quite badly attacked by a guard dog and ended up with a load of stitches.
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