Sharing your life with pets can be a wonderful, lovely and unique experience. Every pet has its personality and traits. When you get yours, you will find out.

However, all good things come with a price, and there’s no difference with owning a pet. What should you have in mind when taking one to your home? We will talk about that in this article and give essential information about spaying/neutering and vaccinations.

Pet Care Costs

Before we go any further, please be aware that we will focus on dogs and cats. In general, you will want to pay attention to costs, time commitment and lifestyle.

When choosing a pet, you will want to estimate how much you will spend on them. Most of the expenses will be done within the first year, like spaying/neutering and vaccination, while others will be there as long as your pet is with you, like food. Please keep in mind that pet insurance may be an excellent option to help manage any unexpected costs.

According to the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), in 2020, the annual cost of pet ownership in Canada is as follows:

For cats

As mentioned before, you will have to incur most expenses in the first year of their life. For that reason, OVMA shows two estimates:

• For kittens: $2,899 total annual cost.
• For cats: $2,272 total annual cost

For more details, please check this document from OVMA on cost of care for cats.

For dogs

We have a similar situation as with cats: you will spend more the first year because of spaying/neutering and vaccinations. Here OVMA also shows two estimates:

• For puppies: $4,287
• For dogs: $3,417

For more details, please check this document from OVMA on cost of care for dogs.

Time Commitment

Besides these costs, it’s important to keep in mind how much time you need to take care of a pet. Even though time has no price, it’s a limited resource we need to think about carefully, especially when talking about a pet, a life.

Having a pet at home means taking time for training, daily exercise, feeding, grooming and giving them love.

Lifestyle

When you choose to share your life with a pet, you might need to consider your lifestyle and habits. Do you work long hours or travel frequently? Will your pet be alone at home for hours? Do you live in an apartment or a house with a big yard? Think of your cat or dog and how they will feel living with you.

Spaying/Neutering and Vaccinations

Spaying/neutering and vaccinations are essential for your pet’s health, for your economy and for preventing animal shelters across Canada from euthanizing thousands of unwanted pets.

Spaying or neutering your cat or dog will benefit their health by:

• Eliminating heat cycles
• Stopping unwanted bleeding (females)
• Banishing the desire to mate
• Preventing uterine infections and other diseases (females)
• Reducing the risk of developing prostate and testicular cancers and infections (males)
• Eliminating behavioural problems (males)
• Making your let less likely to roam outside (males)

Since spaying/neutering your pet prevents many diseases, you won’t be calling your veterinarian or visiting a Veterinary Clinic or an Animal Hospital that often helps you save money.

Regarding vaccinations, they’re crucial for keeping your pet healthy. It helps them prevent common diseases. Depending on your pet, you will need different vaccines. Ask your veterinarian for advice on the specific vaccines your pet needs, and when they need it.

Moreover, vaccinations also help you save money because their cost is considerably less than the treatments required for the diseases pets are vaccinated against.

In other words, spaying/neutering and vaccinations help both you and your pet!

Need more information?

There are more tips and advice for taking care of your pet. The OVMA prepared the Dog Owner’s Handbook and the Cat  Owner’s Handbook for details about:

• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Vaccinations
• Spaying and neutering
• Common parasites
• Preventing dental disease
• And more!

Check it out and give your pet a warm welcome to their new home. Do you also need help from a professional veterinarian? Just contact Nith Valley Animal Hospital, our veterinary clinic in New Hamburg.