Your pet’s stuff: What stuff does a pet need? Well, lots more than most of us expect. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the average annual bill for toys and treats for a medium-size dog is around $75. For a cat, it’s around $50. This, of course, does not count multiple pet beds, crates, carriers, litter boxes (and litter) or the occasional piece of couture.Veterinary: Veterinary bills are a realistic aspect of responsible  pet ownership and in major metro areas, annual veterinary expenditures average $100-$250 for basic healthcare. For pets with serious illness, veterinary care expenses can be significantly more. Pet insurance is available to assist with the financial aspects of pet ownership.Grooming: Grooming is an important function for all pets, it’s important to keep their claws maintained and that overgrown or matted hair doesn’t get the chance to cause skin problems. Talk with your vet first about what he or she believes is a proper grooming regimen for your pet, and shop for a groomer based on experience and familiarity with your pet’s breed. Grooming rates vary by community and size of the pet, with per-visit rates range from $20 - $100.Daycare, pet-sitting and lodging: Very few people can take time out of their workday to go home and walk and play with their pets. Likewise, many people fear taking pets on cross-country trips in cars and planes.  Depending on the community, daily dog-walking services average $20 +, overnight kennel services $30 +, and pet-sitting services average $50 +/day. It’s always best to get references from local services, veterinary clinics and most important, fellow pet owners. Also, check the Web site for the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 10th, 2007 at 10:12 am and is filed under Pet Facts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.