Cost of dog ownership rises to almost £250 a month, survey finds

The true cost of owning a dog has risen to almost £250 a month and could add up to nearly £40,000 for a pet’s average lifetime, according to a recent survey from Burns Pet Nutrition.

Burns said that the new figures could prompt fears that animal lovers may be “forced to give up their dogs as the recent cost-of-living crisis starts to set in”.

The survey has revealed that pet owners’ current monthly spending on their dogs includes £50 on food, £35 on insurance and £32 on dog walkers and doggy day-care. Experts are warning that these figures could easily rise by at least 10% before the end of the year as inflation and the war in Ukraine pushes up the cost of raw materials and transport.

However, Burns’ founder and veterinary surgeon John Burns urged owners to think carefully before switching to cheaper food for their pets.

He said: “Poor-quality pet food is often packed with bulking agents that have no nutritional benefit at all. Better quality dog food can often work out just as cost-effective because it is packed with nutrition and the animal needs less of it.”