As the cost of caring for our pets increases year over year, so do the options we have for spoiling our four-legged family friends. In 2025, we found that the annual cost of caring for a dog falls between $1,390 and $5,295. For cats, the cost of care is between $830 and $3,095. While factors like size, breed, medical conditions, and location can heavily influence how much you spend, there are also ways to save.
The American Pet Products Association found that pet parents consistently spend more on health and wellness goods for their pets than themselves. Rover’s survey of over 1,000 pet parents also confirms this: 66% of pet parents say they look for pet products and services that are similar in quality to what they would purchase for themselves.
However, we also found that 34% of pet parents have not sought out resources for reducing pet-related expenses. This may be because pet spending is the last area they want to cut — but decreasing how much you spend on your pet doesn’t mean they will get less care. In fact, some of our budgeting tips may help improve your pet’s care.
Keep reading for tips on how to save money on pet care.
1. Start Training In Cooperative Care
Cooperative care teaches dogs that body handling and grooming is safe so they are less stressed. This can lead to dogs feeling more relaxed at the vet and reduce the need for sedation. Training your dog in cooperative care can save between $300 and $2,160 annually as dogs are more likely to accept procedures such as nail trimming, teeth brushing, or diabetes shots from their caretaker.
All of these procedures are part of body handling and at-home grooming. Grooming your pets at home doesn’t just save money, it can also help you spot illnesses and infections before they become expensive medical emergencies.
Speak to a dog trainer to learn more about cooperative care!
2. Buy Your Pet Meds Online
Pet medications can also be bought online via subscription. Auto-ship subscriptions often offer anywhere from 5 to 10% discounts and can be cheaper than ordering meds through your vet. Search for reputable online pet pharmacies, compare costs to find the best price, and make a quick call to your vet to make sure they can authorize fulfillment.
3. Go Low(er) Tech
Fancy pet cameras that shoot treats out to GPS trackers with realtime updates are expensive one-time costs — but do you really need to splurge for them? It depends.
According to Wirecutter, a home security camera works just as well as a pet camera. We tested a low-cost security camera ($30) for a pup with separation anxiety and found it to meet our monitoring needs.
For a pet tracker, the trade-offs are trickier. Most pet GPS trackers require a subscription, which can cost anywhere from $99 to $120 per year. Some parents who live in more populous areas have found comfort with an AirTag or bluetooth trackers. Switching to a radio tracker may save you $300 to $500 over the course of your dog’s life but the upfront costs are higher.
For people with outdoor cats, a good GPS cat tracker may be a non-negotiable. However, there are other places to save, such as sticking to a traditional litter box over an automatic one.
4. Make Use of Online Subscriptions
You don’t have to be an extreme couponer to find deals on pet essentials. Many online pet stores offer a subscription discount from 5% to 10%. Some will offer up to 50% off on your first purchase.
Many apps can help you find the lowest price of a specific product or allow you to set a notification for when a product enters your price range. Your local pet stores may also have a credit or rewards program, allowing you to redeem points in for free services or products. We found that only 19% of pet parents rely on subscriptions to save on toys and treats.
5. Find Your Local Pet Community
Many resources and supplies are available through your local clinics and BuyNothing groups. People often give away products like pee pads or a dog GPS tracker because they don’t need them anymore. Others may offer like-new items, like pet ramps, cat trees, or orthopedic beds, because their pet refuses to use them. Based on the supplies typically found in these groups, you may be able to save up to $200 on gear and supplies.
You can find low-cost veterinary services (or ones on a sliding scale) at adoptions clinics or humane shelters. The ASPCA website lists veterinary services in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and more. Note: These services are often offered for people at lower income levels. Our survey data reflects this, finding that only 8% have sought help for their pet from a shelter or other organization.
6. Switch to Dry Dog Food
We found that by switching from fresh to dry, you can save up to $3,000 per year. This could result in up to 78% decrease in costs for dog food. In fact, one in four (25%) of pet parents have said they made lifestyle changes, such as switching to a more affordable food or pet care, to help reduce pet spending.
Switching to dry dog food is not compromising on your dog’s health. Many commercial brands do feeding trials and have full-time veterinary nutritionists on their panel ensure that the brand’s dog food formulations meet your dog’s daily nutritional needs.
Bonus: Some veterinarians have stated that because dry dog food is so well formulated, toppers and supplements are not necessary. Eliminating toppers and sticking with treats to please your dog can help you save about $35 per month.
7. Don’t Avoid Pet Insurance
Getting pet insurance in the first year, especially for puppies, is a helpful aid in paying for unexpected expenses. Some pet insurances offer wellness packages that cover or offer a copay for the cost of vaccinations and spay/neuter. One alternative to pet insurance is a savings account. However, you do run the risk of not having saved enough when surgery is needed.
The exact cost of pet insurance over a dog’s lifetime is hard to pinpoint because policies will vary based on your dog’s breed, size, and age. On the low end, we estimate one may spend $6,164 or more for pet insurance on a 10 year old dog. This cost increases if your dog develops health conditions or gets into many accidents, causing an increase in claims.
However, 33% of pet parents still agree that pet insurance is worth the added cost. To put this in perspective, an emergency surgery for bloat can cost up to $7,500, according to Embrace Pet Insurance.
Make a Budget for Your Pet
Budgeting can be a daunting task but it’s possible. Almost one-third (30%) of pet parents do set a budget to keep track of expenses to help with surprise expenses like an unplanned vet trip.
The following tips may help with starting a budget or budget plan:
- Calculate your average monthly and annual cost. If you need a place to start, check out our research on the monthly spend for cost of dog care and cost of cat care by category.
- Assign fixed and variable costs for each category. This can help you understand how much money you need on hand vs. how much you should put aside each month. For example, dog food may be a monthly fixed cost to assume in your budget while an emergency vet visit is a variable cost that you can save towards.
- Create savings categories in your bank app or use a spreadsheet to create visual pie charts. For visual learners, this step can be crucial to feeling motivated with budget upkeep and organizing.
