Pet owners face rising veterinary costs
With ever-rising veterinary costs, pet owners are feeling the squeeze.
Sara Amato never thought she’d get a dog, but once she did, she went all in.
Amato adopted Finn, a now 3-year-old Australian cattle dog mix, from a pet rescue when he was 8 weeks old in 2022.
The cost of caring for Finn, who has severe allergies and has needed extensive training so he can get along with other dogs, be calm around people and not bite, is not cheap.
The 37-year-old web designer who lives in Union City, New Jersey, estimates she spends $722 a month on basics like specialized food, insurance, training and grooming for Finn. That totals $8,664 a year.
But on top of that, she has spent another $8,804 on some one-time costs, including training when Finn was a puppy, unexpected medical expenses and allergy testing. He is allergic to many things, including human skin and trees, and is on immunotherapy and special food because his digestive system couldn’t tolerate other food she tried, Amato said.
Lifetime dog and cat ownership costs are jaw-dropping
The costs are high for Finn and other pets – and they’re getting higher.
According to the latest “True Cost of Pet Parenthood Report” for dogs and cats by Rover, dog parents can expect costs to increase as much as 7% this year, and cat parents could see a 10% increase. This is the sixth report by the online marketplace for pet care.
The average annual cost of a dog for 2025, according to Rover’s data, research, insights from real pet parents and experts, is an estimated $1,390 to $5,295. Factors such as a dog’s age, size, breed and medical needs play a significant role in determining what owners will spend, Rover said. A puppy, for instance, may cost $1,520 to $6,415.
Rover said the average annual cost of a kitten is $830 to $3,095, a 10% increase from last year. An adult cat can cost $760 to $3,495 a year until they become a senior.
When you add up lifetime costs for dogs and cats, it can be jaw-dropping: According to the Rover report, the average lifetime cost for care of a 10-year-old dog is $34,550, and it’s $32,170 for a 16-year-old cat. The average healthy dog has a lifespan of 10 to 13 years, Rover said, and a cat can average 12 to 18 years, though some can live for 20.
Pet owners are worried about tariffs, other costs, too
Tariffs or proposed tariffs levied by the U.S. on goods from other countries will affect pet products and pricing, too. More than half, or 52%, of 1,000 pet parents surveyed are concerned that tariffs will further increase the cost of having a pet.
With inflation and newly enacted or proposed tariffs, Rover estimates the prices of pet goods and services will continue to rise in 2025. That includes spending 11% more for veterinary fees, 183% more for pet cleaning supplies, 20% more for grooming supplies and 85% more for treats and chews.
Pet parents are also worried about the economy: 48% are concerned about the rising cost of pet care over their pet’s lifetime, and 31% of pet parents agree the cost of pet items seems to be increasing more than other household or personal care items.
Pets are already taking a big bite out of owners’ budgets: 69% of respondents said pet food and treats take up the majority of their monthly pet budget. One in 3, or 33%, of pet parents said they have reduced spending in other areas of their life, like groceries or entertainment, to make sure they could afford the things their pet needs. More than a third, or 34%, said pet spending would be one of the last categories they would cut if their monthly budget were tight.
But while the costs of having a pet have gone up, the cost of bringing one home is lower than in 2024, probably a result of waning adoption rates, Rover’s report said.
In 2025, adopting a dog can cost $1,150 to $4,420, down 19% from a year ago, while a new cat can cost $750 to $2,715, which is a 16% drop. With initial vaccines and spay or neutering typically included, adopting from a shelter is the most budget-friendly way to bring a pet into the family, Rover said.
Pet industry, pet ownership are very different from a few decades ago
The pet industry is booming. Pets, especially dogs and cats, aren’t just companions. They’re family members. They get spoiled year-round and especially during the holidays.
Consumers spent $150.6 billion in 2024 on their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association. By comparison, in 2018, consumers spent $91 billion on their animals. In its 2024 State of the Industry report, the trade organization said the outlook for the pet industry’s growth could reach $207 billion by 2030.
Pet ownership has also changed a lot in recent decades, Nicole Ellis, a certified professional dog trainer and pet lifestyle expert with Rover, told USA TODAY.
“We’ve seen a massive change in the role of pets, both dogs and cats,” Ellis said. They used to be considered simply a pet. “More and more now over the years, they’re becoming actual family members, just like our children in a household. And with that we are spending more money, we’re taking better care of them, and we’re more invested in their health, their lifestyle and their care, which goes hand in hand with the rising cost of pet parenthood that we are seeing nowadays.”
Remember your dog or cat in your will
Ellis said it’s not a pleasant thing to think about, but pet parents need to make plans for their dogs and cats in case the owners die. Twenty-one percent of pet parents say their dog or cat is included in their will or other legal arrangements to make sure they’re cared for, according to the Rover survey. Another 40% are planning to do so.
Forty-four percent of pet parents wished there were more tax benefits for pet parents, such as write-offs and tax credits.
Ellis said it is also a good idea to set aside money for unplanned veterinary visits and emergencies. She said she’s a fan of pet insurance. A third, or 33% of pet parents surveyed said they also thought pet insurance was a good cost-saving investment.
‘He’s like my child’
Amato knows she spoils her dog, though she acknowledges that most of her costs are for medical and training necessities. Still, she went to the grocery store the other day and bought Finn a steak. Finn likes to sit with Amato, who works from home – on his Pottery Barn kids sofa, which is personalized with his name.
And recently, Amato took Finn for a sheep-herding test at a farm in Pennsylvania. For $135, Finn was assessed by a trainer who watched him use his natural herding instincts to burn some energy. Amato is considering some extra dog training classes at the farm.
“There are definitely things I’ve done that have completely spoiled this dog,” she told USA TODAY. “He’s like my child.”
Amato, who is single, said she is fortunate to have a job that allows her to afford caring for Finn on her budget.
“It’s not really like I have to give him something, so I have to take something away from me,” she said. “I have the money and I’m comfortable with it.”
She also knows she spends way more than the average dog owner in the Rover report. But she didn’t know Finn would have so many medical concerns when she adopted him. The costs are much higher than she ever anticipated, but Amato said she has never regretted her decision.
“He is my companion, and I will spend whatever I have to to make sure that he’s a happy, healthy, fulfilled dog,” Amato said.
Amato’s monthly breakdown of $722 a month or $8,664 a year on Finn’s basic care is $292 a month in specialized food, $55 for pet insurance, $280 for four days of dog training school sessions and $95 for grooming. Add on top of that any veterinary costs, including a $3,760 surgery and $4,000 Amato spent initially for training when Finn was a puppy.
Amato acknowledges she gets jealous of friends who have dogs that don’t have, for instance, severe allergies and can eat cheap kibble food and that don’t need specialized training or other needs that are expensive.
“But I got Finn, and he’s the best.”
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.
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