So you are thinking about getting a puppy but not sure what will happen to your budget if you do. You are not alone! It seems that the many new dog owners have no idea what the initial purchase price of dog may be nor the overall cost of owning a dog. All too often people with their hearts in the right place purchase or adopt a dog without really understanding the potential financial burden they are incurring.

To take some of the surprise out of the decision, below are the average expenses for a healthy fifty pound family dog over the course of a normal fourteen year life span.

Description	First Year		Annual Costs
	Low Cost	High Cost	Low Cost	High Cost
Purchase Price	0	2000	0	0
Food	150	720	150	720
Vaccines	55	150	55	120
Vet Bills	0	100	75	250
Spay/Neuter	90	250	0	0
Bed/Collar/Leashes/etc	50	300	20	75
Treats/Chews/Toys	80	400	20	200
Training	100	450	0	100
Fence	0	3000	0	50
Parasite Control	0	180	0	180
Grooming & Tools	20	60	10	20
Dental Care	0	20	0	250
Boarding	0	250	0	250
Crate	50	200	0	0
Doggy Daycare	0	2500	0	2500
	$590	$10,580	$330	$4715
Total over the 14 years			$4880	$71,875

Obviously both these examples are extremes – the low cost example is barely above the level of animal neglect and the high cost is a big city dog that cannot be left alone and with owners that have deep pockets. However, this is also a healthy dog with no medical costs aside from a bi-annual check up and possibly some period lab work to establish baselines in case of illness. Dogs that have allergies, diabetes, heart conditions, arthritis or hip dysplasia or any long term illness can easily have medical bills that cost into the thousands for that condition alone.

The other consideration is that the dog in the example never needed to step foot in a grooming shop either. For dogs that require regular grooming, add another $50 every three to six weeks depending on how fast their coat grows adding an average of $600 to the annual budget.

Thankfully, there are things that help keep the costs down:

• Pet insurance is an inexpensive way to guard against sudden or unexpected vet bills. It is easier to budget $25 a month then to find $2500 overnight if your dog swallows a foreign object or breaks a leg.
• Feed high quality food for the life of your pet! Cheap dog food is like living on fast food for humans – it fills the void but the long term damage to their system incurs medical expenses far surpassing the initial cost of eating healthy.
• Make sure your pet maintains their ideal weight. Extra pounds take a toll on every system in their body just like obesity adversely affects the human body.
• Yearly veterinary exams can find underlying conditions while they are still easily managed. For dogs over seven, bi-annual check-ups are recommended as dogs age much faster then humans and six months to a senior dog is the equivalent to four human years – a lot can happen in those four years!
• Regular visits to the groomer for dogs that require it is far cheaper in the long run. Groomers charge more (and rightly so) for dogs that have matted, dirty coats that require more time per visit.
• Keeping their nails trimmed, ears clean and teeth brushed can prevent vet bills for things like torn nails, ear infections and dental cleanings.
• Avoid breeds of dogs that are known to have expensive medical conditions i.e. Shar-pei are prone to allergies and Pugs often develop heart conditions as they age.

Anticipating potential expenses and preventing them before they happen definitely helps keep the cost of owning a dog within reason. Common sense like crating a dog that chews when you are at work or away from the home can limit the amount of damage he can do to the house and himself. Replacing a sofa or a new kitchen can add up as can the vet bills when he eats something he shouldn’t or breaks a leg jumping off the kitchen counter after enjoying last nights leftovers.

Before deciding on adding a new dog to the family, look carefully at your budget. A dog is for life and all too often animals are turned over to shelters or given away because the owners cannot afford them. Responsible ownership means taking financial responsibility for your dog.

The good news is, in the end, all a dog will ever ask for is your love and companionship and the cost of ownership is far outweighed by the many rewards of sharing your life with a pet.

For More Information About Pet Insurance:

Veterinary Pet Insurance, the nation's oldest and largest pet health insurance company, is committed to being the trusted choice of America's pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI's plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for medical conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. For more information visit petinsurance.com.