Your new dog may cost you up to $2,385 a year — are you ready?

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This article was published 24/05/2021 (1950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“It’s like having a baby.”

Eat, sleep, play, repeat. Oh, and poop ’n’ pee.

Since new pet parents Ruby and Rahul Bhatnagar brought eight-week-old Rio home last December, they’ve adjusted their lives — and budget – to meet the Corgi pup’s needs.

They had already allowed for his $2,500 price tag from a recommended breeder in Quebec and $100 to $150 for monthly expenses. But they didn’t anticipate he’d turn up his nose at the cheaper pee pads in favour of the pricey $20-for-50 brand. Nor did they foresee an adverse reaction to something, resulting in a weeklong illness and $150 vet bill. Or the $20-a-month replacement cost of toys for “mental stimulation” that he keeps breaking.

Still, it’s hard to put a price on the joy the brown-and-white ball of energy has brought the couple.

“We love having Rio in our lives,” says Ruby Bhatnagar, who calls running with him in the park near their Toronto condo “the best part” of her day. “He has definitely made us more active and happier.”

Adoptions of dog, cats and other pets have exploded during the pandemic. Some new owners, like the Bhatnagars, have a pretty good idea about the financial commitment they’re making, but many don’t.

“I never cease to be amazed at how people underestimate the cost of pet ownership,” says Kleinburg vet Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, noting that illness and injury often catch them off guard.

She had one client who paid $30,000 for multiple surgeries to remove socks his Doberman had swallowed.

When medical emergencies happen, “people are making life-and-death decisions for their pet based on affordability,” says Greenstein, of Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital. “It’s heartbreaking when finances dictate the outcome.”

The essential costs of ownership range from $840 to $2,385 a year for a dog, and $600 to $1,800 for a cat, according to Rover.com, a global network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers. Those figures include food, vaccinations, basic veterinary care, gear, toys, treats and spay/neuter surgery. Adoption fees range from $200 to $500 (which may include spay/neuter) and purchase prices for a fur baby from a breeder can run into the thousands.

Additionally, there may be pet insurance, grooming, training, emergency vet bills and dog walkers for $15 to $40 per outing when people go back to work.

For the flush canine owner, there’s even an indoor doggy bathroom on the market for $189 for a starter kit.

In a recent survey of Canadian pet owners, Rover.com found that almost half of those polled had adjusted their budget or reduced expenses in order to afford their new pet.

But in an earlier report, 36 per cent of dog owners told Rover they spent $4,600 or more on their dogs every year. And more than half didn’t even have a designated doggy budget.

The Bhatnagars, whose initial outlay for Rio included a crate, playpen and dog bed, are already planning for new expenses as pandemic restrictions ease and their jobs in digital marketing take them away from home more.

They think he’d benefit from professional training ($300) when he starts going to doggy daycare, where fees range from $75 for two days a week to $149 for a five-day week. He also has to be neutered, at a cost of around $600.

In addition to spending about $50 a month on food, the couple pays $70 for each routine visit to the vet plus another $20 or $30 for vaccinations.

While they may buy pet health insurance later, for now they’re putting money aside for emergencies.

“I’m prepared; it’s OK. Luckily, there have been no issues yet,” Bhatnagar says of Rio, who has his own Instagram account.

While they researched both breed and breeder, they find it helpful to share information with other dog parents, she says. Bhatnagar also encourages new owners “to plan well in advance” for the big commitment of time and money.

Greenstein, who’s busier than she’s ever been because of the “pandemic puppy boom,” echoes the advice.

“Small tweaks to your budget and a little bit of foresight will help keep the positive benefits (of ownership) going.”

She’s a big advocate of preventative medicine and annual “wellness visits” to keep pets healthy and reduce vet bills down the road. As an example, it makes more sense to protect your dog or cat against fleas and ticks than deal with the consequences of an illness caused by the pests, she says. Topical treatment for cats that lasts two months costs about $50 while monthly chewable tablets for dogs cost around $200 for the season.

Core vaccines for common, dangerous diseases such as rabies, distemper and hepatitis are a must, notes Greenstein, who also recommends other vaccinations where warranted.

While she understands pet insurance may not be everyone, it has “huge value when disaster strikes.” Emergency surgery for swallowing an object, for instance, rings in at $6,000 to $8,000. Insurance premiums range from $50 to $200 a month, depending on such variables as age, breed and health status.

The best time to buy insurance — after researching policies, coverage and exclusions — is when the pet is young and before “something goes wrong,” says Greenstein, a member of Rover’s Dog People Panel of advisers.

Additional information on pet ownership and basic health care is available on the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association’s site, ovma.org.

Carola Vyhnak is a Cobourg-based writer covering personal finance, home and real-estate stories. She is a contributor for the Star. Reach her via email: cvyhnak@gmail.com