subject: Budgeting For A New Pet [print this page] Budgeting For A New Pet Budgeting For A New Pet
When your family decides to take in a pet, budget needs to be a prime factor. As costs for human upkeep increases, so do the costs of having a pet. It does not matter whether it is a cat or a dog, it'll be costly. The initial cost is the cost of the animal. I hope that you are looking into adopting from a licensed rescue or a shelter rather than a pet shop. Pet shops encourage puppy and kitty mills and you pay far too much for an animal that may not be up the standards you anticipate.
Prior to bringing your new family member home, you'll be making a substantial investment in equipment to look after your pet at home. Near the top of the list ought to be a crate. This can give your pet their own space to hide from the turmoil of normal activities. They will be a bit shy at first and need to have their own little corner to rest in and hide out.
Another expense - and one you have probably already considered - is that of food. You won't just need water and food bowls, but then there'll be the continuing cost of filling them up each day! You'll want to learn how to investigate the guaranteed analysis and ingredient panel of pet food packaging to be able to figure out what foods are superior. There is a lot of information and misinformation online on this subject, so I suggest you talk to your veterinarian about this subject.
Another really important set of items a dog will need are a collar and leash. But you aren't going to be able to pick those out until you are very certain of the size of your dog. These items will be a critical part of obedience school, as well as used each day for walks. It's also an excellent idea to get an ID tag for your family pet, so if it wanders off or somehow escapes your house it will be able to get some help for the return trip. If your community requires any specific vaccination or rabies tag, that will go on the collar as well.
One of the very first things you have to do with a new pet is a visit to the vet for a complete physical exam. Make sure you do this within a couple of days of bringing the pet home to make sure that your new pet has good health and there aren't any issues that need immediate attention. Should it be time for any sort of vaccinations, this would be the time to have that done as well. Be mentally and financially in a position to spend over $100 at this first visit.
Bedding may be on your list as well, particularly with a dog. Many dogs sleep in their master's bed, but chances are that your chosen child will require a bed of its own. It'll be a comfortable place for your pet to rest between play times. If you are adopting an older dog, you will have to select a bed with thicker padding for older joint support. Special needs for special dogs should be considered.
After you have made your decision to welcome a new cat or dog into the home, you should also understand that their annual care will be between $1000 and $2000 every year of their healthy lives. Should they have health conditions and require more veterinary care, you may plan to spend more.
