retirement

Spending in the billions on pet costs – Just for the US! According to Forbes, 66% of U.S. households or 86.9 million homes own at least one pet. Pet ownership continues to increase, and more and more families report their pets to be a part of their families. Money talks, we love our pets! This love of pets has created a multibillion dollar a year industry.  In fact, APPA (American Pet Products Association), states that this year alone, $157 billion in sales are projected for American pet spending in 2025. Just a few billion more than 2024. Typical pet expenses Not everyone spends the same when it comes to pet care. There is a range depending upon the type of pet, your finances, and your pets needs. For this post, I’m going to focus on dogs and cats, the largest percent of pet family members. There are several pet costs that one needs to plan for when thinking about bringing a pet into their family. This will help you to determine if the type of pet that works best for you and your living situation. Less typical pet expenses There are other areas that can increase the amount you spend on your pets.  Some are more typical than others, but what you do for your pets, is completely up to you. My Pets I love my pets. And, I will admit, I spend a lot on them to make sure they have healthy food, are seen regularly at the Vet and have the comfort I would want to have if I was a pet. They have more toys and treats than most children.  I have in the past and would continue to pay, high vet fees to keep my dogs healthy and comfortable when it comes to illness and injury.   I have not tried stem cell therapy, massage, acupuncture, or pet spas.  And I’ve never even considered cosmetic surgery for my pets.  I try to make my decisions based on what is best for their longevity, for them to be happy and safe. This is a personal decision and the decisions you make for your pets will be determined by you and your pets circumstances. We all love our pets. I’m not knocking anyone who goes above and beyond for their pets.  So long as you treat your pets well and love them, that’s what really matters.  Other Pet Needs You need to know your dog or cat’s breed.  Each breed has different likes, dislikes, energy levels and health issues.  This is essential for you to have a positive pet ownership experience.  If you live in an apartment and work all day, you might want a dog who is low energy or an older dog who likes to sleep a lot.  If you live on a large farm, with coyotes and other predatory animals, a large, well-trained dog might be best for you.   There are tests online for what type of pet is best for you.  You answer several questions about your likes and dislikes, your living situation, and future goals. The results you receive will tell you the best types of pets for you based on your answers. For example, High energy dogs, such as a German Shepard, it is best for them to have a yard, multi daily walks and stimulating toys.  If not, the dogs can resort to destruction and get into things they shouldn’t.  Low energy dogs, such as pugs, they need comfortable beds, be in a cool environment, as they can overheat easily. What about Mixed Breed Dogs? Just a few years ago, pet DNA testing was a joke.  People did it hoping to find out what breeds their dogs could be.  The results were not 100% accurate but were helpful enough to give you an idea.  With advances in testing, new pet DNA testing can tell you the breeds found in your dog’s background, the health issues you may face in their future and preventative work you can do with your Vet to help your dog to lead a long, happy, healthy life.   Our Dogs Last January, we adopted two dogs from a shelter, Shawn and Juliet.  The shelter believed they were mother and son chihuahua mixes but they weren’t sure as they were found running around homeless in the streets.  As they have merged into our family, their different personalities have come out as well as some physical distinctions that made us wonder about each dog’s background. At our first regular vet visit, after their initial checkup, the vet asked us to do DNA testing on them to see what health issues they might be predisposed to (luxating patella – very common in chihuahuas) so we can come up with a plan for any preventative work that would prevent the dogs from becoming unhealthy or prevent any issues all together.  DNA Testing our Dogs We waited until we found a deal on our tests and after research, decided on the Premium Dog DNA collection Kit from Wisdom Panel. Friends had used this pet DNA tests and highly recommended it. It also has received good reviews from Veterinarians.  We have sent off the testing kits and I will update you all on whether Shawn and Juliet are related and what their breeds and health issues might be. National Make a Dogs Day! October 22 is National Make a Dogs day. If you have dogs, give them so extra attention, maybe an extra walk, extra treats, some longer cuddles or their favorite activity.   If you don’t have a dog, you help other dogs at local no kill shelters.  They often have a wish list for pet products needed from treats to blankets. Just a small donation, helps the dogs in your area have a more comfortable shelter experience and maybe even help them get adopted.