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Pets have played an important role in the COVID-19 pandemic. When millions of Americans were cut off from their human friends, they turned to furry friends to avoid loneliness. As a result, the number of pet owners in the United States rose to 70%, the highest level ever. More than half of all newly adopted pets went to new pet owners. Let’s learn some tips on parenting pets below.
For these new pet owners, there are a lot of costs to go. To take dogs as an example, the first year of dog ownership tends to be twice as expensive as subsequent years. This is because there are a lot of upfront costs to be incurred, like getting the dog spayed, training the dog, giving the dog their first shots, and making sure the dog has a crate to sleep on. These costs usually do not appear until the first year. Yet even after that, Americans still spend a lot of money on their pets.
The pet industry is booming
In 2020, the US pet industry reached the whopping sum of $ 103.6 billion. That value is expected to reach $ 109.6 billion in 2021. The top two drivers of pet spending are food and treats, at $ 42 billion, followed by veterinary care and products, at $ 31 billion. Although food is the highest amount, people tend to anticipate this cost more and incur it regularly. On the other hand, vet bills can be unexpectedly extremely high. Indeed, unforeseen veterinary bills due to accidents or injuries are the most common contributor to the high costs of pet care.
It’s bad enough if your pet is injured or sick. How to completely avoid the problem of high veterinary bills? While not all accidents are preventable, a pet’s health can be maintained through a series of proactive measures. 80% of pet owners take their pets to the vet at least once a year. Make it a conscious practice in your life so that you can spot your pet’s health issues early on. In addition to regular check-ups, brushing your pet’s teeth or taking them for a teeth clean will be very helpful in the long run. Regularly apply flea and tick prevention to your pet, and keep poisonous houseplants and other hazardous materials out of their reach. New pet owners may not know what can poison their pet, so it’s important that you do your research before bringing your four-legged friend home.
The role of pet insurance
Pet insurance is another useful tool for reducing vet bills. A total of 3.1 million pets are covered by pet insurance, with 83% of the animals insured being dogs. There are many benefits to having pet insurance. The basics of pet insurance coverage include wellness – routine care, dental cleaning, blood tests, vaccinations, and exams. More complex plans cost higher annual premiums, but they can save you the cost of more serious vet procedures. Accidents alone, for example, cover ingestion of foreign bodies, vehicle accidents, poisonings, etc. An accident and sickness plan includes coverage for cancer, infections, and digestive issues.
Learn more about how to be a responsible pet parent below:
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