Our animal companions give us so much and ask so little in return. They
deserve the very best, but veterinary care and food do not come cheap.
Visit a local pet store and see what types of food and supplies are available
and what they cost. Talk with a veterinarian about the prices of various
procedures and nutritional requirements for the kind of pet that you are
considering. Go to the library and check out some books about pets. Be
sure that you can afford to pay the cost of properly caring for a pet and
that you're prepared to care for it for the rest of its life before you
decide to give one a home.
Approximate Food Costs:
BIRD -- less than $1 per week, not including supplemental fruits, vegetables,
etc. ($36 - $52 per year). A parakeet has an average lifespan of and some
parrots can live as long as 100 years.
CAT -- $1 - $5 per week, depending on the size of the animal and the type
of food. ($52 - $260). If a cat is kept inside and well-cared for, it's
not unusual for them to live 15 or 20 years.
Dog -- $5 - $15 per week, depending on the size of the animal and the type
of food. ($260 - $780). Depending on the breed, dogs can live 10 to 20
years, with medium-sized, mixed breed animals living the longest.
Approximate Routine Veterinary Costs: (Not Including Illness or Emergency Costs)
BIRD -- $20 - $30 average per year.
CAT -- $50 - $100 average per year*.
DOG -- $100 - $200 average per year**, depending on the size
of the dog.
* Includes ONLY checkup, deworming, Feline Leukemia vaccination booster
and other routine vaccinations (Does NOT include the cost of a Spay/Neuter
which can range from $40 - $80 depending on area of the country).
** Includes ONLY checkup, deworming, routine vaccinations, yearly Heartworm
test and Preventative. (Does NOT include the cost of a Spay/Neuter which
can range from $50 - $100 depending on size and area of the country).
These are meant as approximate costs only to give you an idea of what
to expect. Prices may vary depending on what area of the country you live
in.
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