When considering whether dog ownership is right for you, be sure to think about your budget. Depending on your vet, vaccines usually cost $15-$35 apiece. Exam fees vary, as well. If you leave town, who will take care of your dog? Boarding facilities and in-home pet sitters charge different amounts for different services. You may choose to have your dog professionally groomed and this is also an expense to take into account. Professional training is another possible expense to consider. On top of these costs include bedding, toys, water and food bowls, and much more.
Food costs may seem straightforward, but can be confusing. While price is not the most important factor to consider in choosing a food, it definitely plays a role. One of the best ways to compare food costs is to determine the cost per serving of the food. This requires a little bit of math. Here are a few examples:
- Kibble A costs $39.99 for a 30 pound bag. The average 50 pound dog would need to eat 2.5 cups of this food per day. If we assume that one cup of kibble weighs approximately four ounces, then this bag will last about 48 days. This works out to 83 cents per day. In a year, you would need to purchase eight bags of this food, costing $319.92.
- Kibble B costs $52.99 for a 30 pound bag, so it initially appears more expensive. However, the average 50 pound dog would only need to eat 1.75 cups of this food per day. Assuming one cup weighs four ounces, this bag will last about 68 days. This works out to only 77 cents per day. In a year, you would need to purchase six bags of this food, costing $317.94. In other words, these two foods cost almost the same amount. From there, the decision comes down to the quality of the ingredients and the guaranteed analysis.
The same simple calculation can be done with other kinds of food. For example: the cost of one can * the number of cans eaten in one day = the cost per day of a canned food
Average Medical Care Costs