Here's how pet ownership costs are changing (and what owners need to do now)

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A dog's checkup now costs more than it did last year — and it's outpacing the price of just about everything else on the household ledger. Veterinary care prices have climbed roughly 43% since 2021, according to new research from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, compared with a 38% rise in pet services overall and far smaller gains across most other consumer categories. Food, grooming and supplies have all crept upward too, but medical care is where the gap is widest.

The timing just further compounds the problem. Inflation has already stretched household budgets thin over the past several years, and pet care — once a relatively predictable line item — is now one of the categories where prices are rising fastest. Nearly a third of pet owners now say they're spending more on their pets than they were a year ago, and a similar share expect the burden to grow further still.

For a country where pets occupy something close to family status in most households, that leaves owners trying to hold two things together at once: the standard of care they want to give, and a budget that increasingly can't stretch to meet it. So how much has pet ownership actually changed in cost — and which expenses are driving the increase?

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Pet ownership has never been cheap, but the scale and structure of those costs are evolving. A combination of rising prices, changing expectations and longer pet lifespans is reshaping what it means to financially care for an animal. Here's what to know:

Routine expenses for a single cat or dog — including food, vet visits, grooming and supplies — now average $4,272 a year, according to the Healthy Paws Pet Insurance survey data. Over the course of a 12-year lifespan, that adds up to more than $50,000 per pet, a figure that's roughly on par with a home down payment or four years of college tuition.

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The survey found that more than a third of pet owners spend $100 or more per month on food and treats alone. About 29% report spending at least that much on veterinary care each month, and 16% spend $100 or more monthly on medications and supplements. Nearly a third of respondents say they're spending more on their pets than a year ago and 28% expect their costs to climb further in the coming year.

For pet owners whose animals have ongoing health issues like arthritis, allergies or dental dis