How much does it cost to keep a pet?

It is difficult to establish how much it costs to keep a pet, as this depends on several factors. If we limit the term “pet” to dogs and cats, the main thing we have to distinguish is whether we are talking about puppies or whether they have already surpassed a certain age.

However, there are certain expenses that, in any case, its owner will have to assume and that we can group into:

• Security expenses

Safety issues, which tend to be more expensive when we talk about puppies, focus on ensuring the well-being and health of the pet in question.

They generally involve a higher cost when we talk about puppies, given the vaccination protocol that must be followed and the acquisition of a microchip to be able to identify the animal in case of theft or loss.

To these costs should be added the Civil Liability insurance for damages to third parties, mandatory according to Law 50/1999, of December 23, on the legal regime for the possession of potentially dangerous animals . This only applies if your pet is a breed classified as PPP (“potentially dangerous dog”).

Also, on an optional basis, many insurance companies offer coverage for animals . These cover everything from expenses derived from healthcare to losses that may arise due to their death.

Whether through an insurance company or individually, the expense of the veterinarian must be considered for check-ups (prevention), or in case you need an emergency service because you suddenly become ill. To the cost of the professional, we would have to add the derivative of the medicines that are prescribed to overcome the pathology that they may suffer.

• Food/hygiene expenses

Another fixed expense that, to a large extent, conditions the previous one is ensuring that your pet follows a specific diet according to physiological characteristics.

Acquiring quality feed that meets all the required nutrients is essential to keep your defenses high and avoid diseases.

Likewise, we must maintain correct hygiene, respecting the frequency of our pet's baths . If we bathe them more frequently than recommended by the specialist, we run the risk of altering their pH and thereby causing allergies. On the contrary, if we do not comply with the time periods, we can cause infections due to lack of attention to hygiene.

The cost of specific bath gels, anti-parasitic collars, hairdressing or nail cutting is derived from bathing. Or, if we decide to take them to specific sites, the cost assigned to these particular services.

• Others

Finally, variable expenses must be taken into account, such as those related to vacation periods.

If no one can take care of our pet while we are traveling, we will have to resort to hotels specialized in pet care.

Also, in some destinations, we can choose to have the pet travel with us. In this case we will have to have transportation and pay for all the supplements that may arise from having him accompany us.

In short, acquiring a pet is a responsibility that involves assuming certain expenses that ensure its well-being . Therefore, it is important to plan his arrival home and analyze whether we can meet the expenses that arise from his needs before he begins to be part of the family.