MORE THAN PETS - FAMILY FOR LIFE!
Pets do more than share our homes — they shape our families.
They teach our children empathy and responsibility.
They help us through grief, stress, and life’s biggest transitions.
They work beside us as service and therapy animals.
They celebrate our best days and sit quietly with us on the hard ones.
And through it all, they love us without conditions.
In return, they depend on us for everything — nutritious food, safe shelter, preventive care, and medical treatment when they’re sick or in pain. They aren’t a one-time purchase or a piece of technology we replace when it breaks. They are living, lifelong family members.
That’s why responsible pet ownership isn’t just a commitment of the heart — it’s also a commitment to planning.
Why we believe in talking about cost openly
At The Animal Clinic & Hospital, we never want finances to be the reason a pet can’t receive the care they need.
The best way to prevent that from happening is through clear expectations and proactive planning. When families understand the normal, everyday cost of keeping a pet healthy, they’re able to budget, avoid surprises, and confidently say yes to care.
Preventive medicine is not only the best thing for your pet’s health — it is also the most affordable way to care for them over their lifetime.
The average yearly cost of keeping a pet healthy
(when they stay up-to-date on preventive care and no illness or emergencies occur)
Dogs
$1,200–$1,300 per year
≈ $100–$110 per month
Cats
$950–$1,000 per year
≈ $80–$85 per month
These estimates reflect the low end of typical, healthy-pet expenses, including:
- High-quality nutrition
- Routine wellness exams
- Core vaccines
- Parasite prevention
- Basic diagnostics
- Litter or waste supplies
- Everyday comfort items
Most families are surprised to learn that, when broken into a monthly budget, the cost of excellent preventive care is very manageable — and far less than treating advanced disease.
What this does not include
Just like with human healthcare, unexpected things can happen.
This is why we strongly recommend every family have a plan for:
- Emergencies
- Illness or injury
- Dental disease
- Age-related conditions
Whether that plan is pet insurance, or a dedicated savings fund, planning ahead protects:
- your pet’s health
- your peace of mind
- your ability to make medical decisions based on what’s best — not what’s affordable in the moment
