The cost of owning a pet has skyrocketed. Here are some tips to trim rising expenses

The cost of caring for your pet is skyrocketing. One in five pet owners has at least $2,000 in pet-related debt, according to a study by MetLife Pet Insurance.

For Jeanne Warsaw, who has two cats named Idris and Elba, a regular visit to the veterinarian that used to cost $50 is now double that amount.

“If you get one that develops – at an early age problems like Elba’s – where she has seizures, so she’s epileptic and she has skin problems, I would say the first month we adopted her we spent almost $1,000,” she said.

Warsaw said that in addition to health care for its cats, food costs have increased.

“Food has increased because there are many varieties of healthier options today,” she said. “There are also many specific food options if your cat has kidney disease, thyroid disease, or diabetes.”

According to the Rover Company, the costs of owning a pet over the past year have increased by as much as 10 percent, with an estimated $32,000 for the lifetime care of a cat and $35,000 for a dog.

Paula Fasseas, co-founder of Paws Chicago — a nonprofit animal welfare group that runs one of the largest no-kill animal shelters and veterinary clinics in the United States — worries that the rising cost of a pet will force more pet owners to abandon pets they can’t afford.

“Property abandonment in animal care and control is increasing by 20 percent each year,” she said.

So far this year, Paws Chicago has seen a 28% increase in pet abandonments.

Fasseas attributes medical costs to the rising cost of pet ownership.

“The whole business model has changed and now it’s big companies buying up these veterinary clinics and the prices are just different,” she said.

Tips for reducing costs

But there are ways to reduce pet expenses.

Fasseas suggests pet owners struggling financially look for resources online.

“When it comes to vaccinations, make sure you only do the mandatory vaccinations – you don’t always have to do everything,” she said. “So we always have supplies available for people who need help.”

She also said that for spaying and neutering, many community clinics, including Paws Chicago, will do it for free or at low cost.

“When you adopt from a shelter, you get all the medical care, vaccinations, the person is spayed or neutered,” Fasseas said. “There you have saved thousands of dollars. »

Preventative care, including dental cleanings, annual exams and vaccinations, can help avoid more costly procedures in the future. Another option to consider is pet insurance. However, this can be expensive and often has loopholes. Pre-existing conditions are generally not covered.