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Throughout America alone, almost 70% of us own some sort of pet, whether it's a dog or cat, reptiles, birds, or other small critters. And there are so many wonderful benefits to pet ownership.
Pets provide an unbreakable companionship for us as humans. They reduce stress, and it is said that your blood pressure can lower just by patting an animal. There is no doubt about it; our pets are there with us through thick and thin.
However, along with the perks of owning a pet come the costs. Pets are expensive. More expensive than most of us realize at times. It's essential to try to balance the financial costs of having a pet along with the cost of everyday life.
Let's look at some of the average costs of pet ownership of the more popular pets in America.
Dogs live an average of 12 years, with the smaller breeds usually having longevity. The MSPCA estimates that the lifetime cost of dog ownership can range anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, a price that most of us vastly underestimate.
If you choose to go through a breeder, the cost of the dog alone can reach as high as $5,000. If you decide to adopt, most shelters charge hefty fees that can be upwards of over $300 when all is said and done.
Some of your dog's most significant expenses will be in the first year of their life as they will visit the veterinarian often to ensure they are staying healthy. They will also need to be spayed or neutered if you aren't breeding them. Food, leashes, toys, and a doggie bed all cost money upfront.
A new puppy is usually going to be more expensive than an adult dog. They need to see the veterinarian more often, they will likely need more vaccines, and they will need obedience training and a vast array of toys to entertain them.
The estimated cost of owning a dog per year can be close to $1,000. Things can get overwhelming once you consider food, annual checkups, including vaccines and heartworm prevention, toys, grooming, and possible pet insurance.
You may often hear that cats aren't as expensive as dogs, and while that is debatable, it still doesn't mean they aren't also pricey. Cats tend to live a lot longer than dogs, with a lifespan of 15 years or more.
Because some cats go outdoors, it also puts them at a greater risk of disease and injury, bringing the annual cost of cat ownership anywhere from $5,000 to $23,000!
Cats can be purebred as well, and if you go through a breeder, you are looking at several thousand dollars. However, as with dogs, adopting from a shelter can have costly fees into the hundreds.
Like a dog, your cat's most expensive year will be its first. Aside from vaccines and spaying and neutering, cats need to be checked for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or FIV, and feline leukemia. Both of these diseases are very contagious in cats and can cause deadly results.
Add in the cost of toys, food, litter, and other accessories, and the price only goes up.
Cats aren't much cheaper than dogs when it comes to the annual cost of ownership. Between food, routine vet care, flea and tick prevention, and litter, prices can skyrocket up to $1,500 a year.
It's not just cats and dogs that can be pricey, but rabbits, reptiles, birds, and other exotics can quickly run up the vet bill. Our pets are our babies, and no matter what, your pet has your heart. It's only natural that you want to do what is best for them.
Rabbits can cost us up to $800 a year, while parakeets or other small birds can cost around $200 a year. Reptiles, depending on what kind, can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000 a year.
Aside from the annual cost of ownership, one must account for sick visits and emergencies. Unfortunately, they will happen no matter how well we care for our animals. And the cost of treating them can be staggering.
Let's Look at Some Examples
A traumatic injury to your pet can be anything from a bite from another animal to being hit by a car. Trauma in pets is often difficult to access without an array of tests, such as X-rays, blood work, and even emergency surgery.
Some injuries, such as internal bleeding, aren't always discovered right away, and some wounds can be very deep, leading to infection if not treated. You will also want to understand that pain medications will almost always be in order.
Any kind of raspy breathing, wheezing, or choking needs to be addressed immediately. Breathing issues can arise from many different things, such as an allergic reaction, asthma, lung disease, or from a foreign body being lodged in your pet's throat.
Assessment and treatment to determine and treat the problem can also include x-rays, blood work, possible endoscopy, or more.
Especially in larger breed dogs, bloat is an emergency. It can be lethal if the dog's stomach gets twisted after eating and isn't treated. Aside from tests alone, bloat in a dog often means surgery.
These are two of the most common things veterinarians see in animals, and while it may be something perfectly harmless, it can also be a sign of a severe illness that needs to be addressed. To determine whether your pet has an illness or has ingested something poisonous, several medical tests are in order, along with a treatment plan.
Seizures are a scary thing to witness, whether it's a human or an animal. Watching the shaking and loss of consciousness can make one feel helpless.
While a seizure in an animal isn't always a cause for alarm, the cost of determining what caused it and treatment may be. Diagnostic tests such as blood work or overnight monitoring at the hospital can quickly add to hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Routine or not, veterinary care is not cheap. Aside from annual checkups, the cost of procedures, emergency surgery, and cancer treatment can make us feel like we are over our heads.
And we are often left feeling desperate as we want to help our pets, but what if it's not in the budget? Then what do you do?
Veterinary insurance is certainly an option, but a policy would need to be in place before any payout could be considered. And it's usually when we least expect it that problems arise, and we aren't prepared for them.
Veterinary insurance often has a lot of red tape to get through as well, and you may find that you are spending money at the vet on top of your monthly premium.
Putting the bill on your credit card is also an option but probably not the wisest one. Credit cards often carry high-interest rates, and sometimes the cost of veterinary care exceeds one's credit limit.
Several lenders offer loans and lines of credit specifically for pet care. However, they are usually targeted to those with fair or bad credit. While they may help, the cost will be high as some of these plans come with APRs as high as 27%!
An installment loan through Simple Fast Loans may be your best bet when it comes to unexpected veterinary costs. The last thing you want to do while the veterinarian treats your animal is deal with cumbersome loan processes.
But Simple Fast Loans offer an easy and quick decision that won't leave you waiting.
An installment loan can be as small as $200 or as big as $3,000 with flexible repayment periods, and the application process is easy and fast.
Simple Fast Loans is a fully licensed financial service, recognized nationwide that offers online loans.
The company has the utmost respect for its customers and strives for satisfaction. And Simple Fast Loans understands that you need to get your money quickly, especially in the case of a health crisis with your beloved pet.
By applying online, the amount of your loan is conditional upon your income as well as your ability to repay. The amount you can borrow does vary by state.
All you need to do is fill out our online application with your basic information, and we can get you a loan decision in minutes. Your driver's license, state ID, or other valid Government-issued ID and banking information will be needed.
Simple Fast Loans understands the importance of having funds when you need them. Your pet is like a family member, and knowing you will have the funds to care for them is crucial.
Any loans signed before 2 pm Eastern Standard Time on a banking day are usually funded that day. Loans signed after 2 pm eastern standard time are typically funded by the end of the next banking day.
Depending on your bank's eligibility, you can also choose to get your money instantly using your Visa or Mastercard bank debit card.
Because our pets are family, we can find ourselves in challenging situations when faced with high vet bills.
You want what is best for your pet at all costs, but those costs can be a bitter pill to swallow. Especially when faced with several thousand dollars, you may be at a standstill trying to decide how to pay for emergency care or get a loan for pet surgery.
Installment loans offer a great, if not the best, solution to pay for your pet's care. They are generally a lot more cost-effective than a standard credit card.
You can get a loan in different amounts and even receive money on the same day. You will be able to pay it off with monthly payments. Your interest rate will likely be a lot lower than other credit companies.
With Simple Fast Loans, you will have peace of mind knowing that you can provide your pet with the emergency care they need. The most essential thing in this situation is your pet's health, and not having the stress of how you are going to pay for it will lift a huge weight off your shoulders.
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