If you are evaluating the option of adopt a dog, it is essential that you previously inform yourself about the monthly and annual expenses that it may entail your support. Although there are some fixed expenses, where we would include food or veterinary expenses, it is also important to take into account some unforeseen events that may appear in the event of an accident, loss or illness.
In this article on our site, in collaboration with Pet Safe, we'll help you calculate how much it costs to keep a dog so you can do A few rough forecasts before bringing your future best friend home. Likewise, we will talk about dog insurance as a way to save money in certain situations. Keep reading!
How much does it cost to adopt a dog?
Adoption is a wonderful way to include a new member in the home, since in addition to saving a life we will be leaving a free space so that another dog can be rescued. However, the adoption of animals is not free and has a cost, which directly affects the salary of the employees and the maintenance of the animals that live in the shelter or protector. In this way, the money we pay goes directly to the maintenance and rescue of new animals.
The price of adoption in a conventional kennel or shelter is between 20 and 200 €, although in private shelters the price may be higher. In general, dogs are delivered microchipped, vaccinated and sterilized. On the other hand, in some cases, we can opt for a free adoption when, for example, the animal is elderly, sick or urgently requires a home. To do this, it may be advisable to consult an animal rights association.
Discover in this article the Advantages of adopting an elderly dog.
Dog utensils and accessories
Dogs don't need much to live, but they still require some basic accessories, which we must have ready before they arrive at home. In the market we find accessories and utensils for all budgets, some of better quality than others and, therefore, with a higher price. Next, we present the main accessories with their corresponding average price, although in some cases it is possible to find them at an even higher price:
- Bed: between €10 and €100
- Trough: between €3 and €25
- Drinker: between €3 and €25
- Necklace: between €5 and €30
- Strap: between €10 and €60
- Carrier: between €20 and €300
- Bags for feces: between 1 and 10 €
- Raincoat: between €10 and €50
- Soak pads: between 5 and 15 €
- Brush: between 3 and 20 €
- Shampoo: between €4 and €20
- Toys: between €10 and €50
The initial cost of all the accessories would be between 80 and 700 € Even so, you can make your own utensils by following our tutorials on YouTube, where we will explain how to make a homemade dog feeder, a banderole necklace or a food vending toy among many other crafts. Do not miss it!
How much does a dog's food cost?
Feeding is a key aspect of dog care, as it directly affects its he alth and coat. Therefore, when wondering how much it costs to keep a dog and where we can save costs, we do not recommend opting for a low-quality diet for this purpose.
There are many options: homemade recipes, balanced feed, wet food, BARF diet… We know that it is not always easy to choose, therefore, Consult a veterinarianspecializing in nutrition can be a great option for inexperienced tutors.
The price of food is highly variable, since a small dog will not consume the same amount as a large one, so our choice should always be based on the quality of the product and in the acceptance of the dog, never in the price. Likewise, it is important to bear in mind that a high price is not always synonymous with a better product, since in the market we find brands of feed with excellent value for money.
If we talk about homemade recipes or Barf diet, the average price of a small dog can be between €30 and €50 per month, but the cost in large dogs can shoot from €60 to €150. On the other hand, balanced feed is usually cheaper, with the cost of feeding a small dog around €20 and €40, and between €50 and €70 for large dogs.
Veterinary expenses for a dog
Veterinary costs in Spain are usually high, due to the VAT of 21%, however, we can cushion veterinary assistance through dog insurance , which will have more or less coverage depending on the company and the type of insurance contracted. For example, in Safe Pet we find the accident and illness insurance, which covers:
- queries
- emergencies
- surgeries
- diagnostic tests
- hospitalizations
- first aid medications
This insurance covers 100% of the cost of veterinary care in the event of an accident, and if you need to go to the vet for an illness, it covers you 100% if you go to one of the more than 500 clinics that they have arranged and 80% if you prefer to go to your trusted veterinarian. Of course, always keep in mind that there are limits, in this case, the amount is €1,000 per year.
This type of insurance costs between €80 and €200 per yearThe final price is calculated based on the breed of the dog and the age of him. It is important that insurance is taken out to cover illnesses before the age of 7, since, normally, once they reach that age, they will be able to take out accident or civil liability insurance, but it will no longer be so easy to take out he alth coverage. However, if it is contracted before the animal reaches this age, the insurance is for life, so that you can enjoy all its advantages throughout its life. These insurances are indicated to avoid unforeseen expenses, for example, if your dog trips running and hurts his leg, if he accidentally swallows something or if he gets a splinter in his leg. These insurances do not cover the day-to-day expenses of the veterinarian, which, normally, are lower and easier to face without involving a significant financial outlay.
Veterinary expenses for puppies
During the first year of life, the puppy must be vaccinated up to three times to complete its vaccination schedule, but it will also be essential to implant the microchip and, optionally, perform castration. Thus, the average price of a dog's card, vaccines and chip are as follows:
- Consultation: €30 approx.
- Cartilla: 5 €
- Trivalent vaccine: €35 approx.
- Microchip: €50
- Castration: between €180 and €370
In general, keeping a puppy requires between 190 and 560 € in veterinary expenses during the first year of life.
Veterinary expenses for an adult or elderly dog
Already in its adult stage, the dog should be visited every 6 or 12 months to ensure good he alth, receive the reminder of the trivalent vaccine if the veterinarian considers it appropriate and be dewormed regularly:
- Consultation: €30 approx.
- Trivalent vaccine: €35 approx.
- Deworming: between €20 and €35
Therefore, a he althy adult dog would need between €175 and €300 a year in veterinary expenses.
How much does a dog trainer cost?
Sometimes, dogs can experience more or less serious behavior problems, such as fear, aggression, separation anxiety… In these cases, it is essential to haveprofessional help , since handling errors can cause a worsening of the picture. Likewise, visiting a dog trainer to teach our dog basic obedience can also be an option to consider when calculating how much it costs to keep a dog.
The average price of a training or behavior modification session is between €20 and €100.
How much does it cost to cremate a dog?
Death is a natural process experienced by all living beings and it is convenient to be prepared and know what we should do if our dog dies. The price of euthanasia is around €70, while the cost of cremation and funeral services can be between €100 and €400.
Let's remember that Peta Segura's insurance for dogs includes sacrifice, burial or cremation expenses in its coverage, so that when contracting it we will be exempt from paying the mentioned prices.
Additional and unforeseen costs
To finish, it is essential to point out that unforeseen expenses may appear throughout the life of the dog. If we take as an example a disease picture, canine pyometra, we observe that only in tests we could spend more than €200, without taking into account the operation, which in large individuals could reach €500. At this price, the costs of surgery and hospitalization should be added.
Bearing in mind that the expenses of a dog can be high, especially in the case of a serious pathology, we recommend carrying out preventive medicine visits of regularly to our veterinarian, take out he alth insurance and compare prices whenever possible.
How much does it cost to keep a dog per month and per year?
After breaking down the expenses of a dog in detail, let's see in summary how much it can cost to keep a dog per month and per year, taking into account only fixed expenses:
- Food: between €20 and €70 per month / €240-840 per year
- Accessories: between €40 and €270 per year assuming that all accessories (bed, feeder, brush…) are changed annually.
- Toys: between €10 and €100 per year if you buy new toys every year.
- Shampoo: between €4 and €40 per year, depending on the size of the dog, whether it tends to get very dirty and it is necessary to purchase 1 or 2 shampoos a year.
- Deworming: between €20 and €35 per month / €240-420 per year if dewormed every month.
To the previous expenses we would add the veterinary expenses and the contingencies that may arise, which may not necessarily occur every year. For example, the vaccines will occupy a fixed expense the first years of the puppy's life, however, after a certain age the veterinarian can recommend only the mandatory vaccines or those that he considers most appropriate.
