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Key takeaways

• Chronic conditions like arthritis, allergies and dental disease are making pet care more expensive than ever, according to research from Money.com and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
• Most pet owners spend up to $250 a month on chronic issues, but emergencies often run between $1,000 and $5,000, if not higher.
• Many owners rely on credit cards or savings to cover vet bills, while a smaller share use pet insurance to help manage sudden expenses.

Veterinary medicine has advanced significantly in recent years, but so has the price tag attached to the treatments and services pets need to thrive.

Costs are particularly steep for owners of cats and dogs with one or more chronic issues like arthritis, joint pain, allergies and dental illnesses, common conditions and ailments that afflict pets. New research from Money.com and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance found that owners of pets with multiple medical conditions spend more not just on routine pet care goods and services, but on medical emergencies triggered by their pets' health challenges.

Let's get into it.

Arthritis and joint problems

Nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents said their pets struggle with arthritis or joint problems. This includes hip dysplasia and ligament tears that are common among some breeds, like German Shepherds and Maine coon cats, as well as injuries sustained during accidents or while playing.

Once a pet is diagnosed with arthritis, it needs lifelong care to minimize joint pain and slow down the progression of the disease. This includes diet changes, physical therapy, daily pain medications, supplements and more modern treatments like monthly injections to block the pain. By some estimates, these injections cost between $40 to $155 per dose, depending on factors like the animal's size and weight. Because these shots are typically given monthly, this adds up to nearly $500 to $1,800 annually, on top of your pet's regular care, along with other supplements and pain medications your vet may recommend.

Food and environmental allergies

The second most common condition in pets are allergies to ingredients in their food or the environment like pollen, mold or grass, marked by 20% of people caring for a sick pet in the report.

When an allergic pet eats or touches a trigger, their immune system overreacts. This can cause itchiness, hair loss and stomach problems.

A single allergy test can set you back about $300, on average, and many pets require multiple tests to correctly identify the allergen. Future expenses depend on what your pet is diagnosed with and whether your vet recommends routine allergy shots. These cost an average of $78 per shot, according to data from medical financing provider CareCredit. Other treatment plans, like oral allergy meds, steroids or medicated sprays, cost anywhere from $1 to $275 per dose, according to rates available on vet telehealth platform Vetster.

Dental disease

In our survey, 17% of pet owners reported dealing with dental disease in their pets. In particular, periodontal disease — inflammation or infection of your pet's gums — affects around 80% to 90% of dogs after the age of three, according to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.

CareCredit data shows that professional dental cleanings range from $300 to $702 for both cats and dogs, but complications like extractions or advanced gum disease that require surgery or lifelong care can derail your budget by thousands of dollars.

How much do pet owners spend yearly on chronic conditions?

According to data from Money and Healthy Paws, 66% of pet owners caring for chronically ill pets spend up to $250 a month to manage conditions like arthritis, dental disease, joint problems and diabetes. A quarter (25%) reported spending up to $1,200 a year.

And that reflects only baseline expenses. If a chronically ill pet has an emergency, the yearly cost of care shoots up. Almost half (45%) of pet owners who rushed to the vet because their pet suddenly got very ill said they paid between $1,000 and $5,000 for urgent care.

These pet owners aren't paying with cash, for the most part. The survey found that most (75%) charged these bills to their credit cards or used money from their savings, while 20% said pet insurance covered some or all of the costs, and 17% set up a payment plan with their veterinarian.

This financial reality has led many owners to consider pet insurance as a way to manage risk. Nearly a quarter (20%) of pet owners caring for a sick pet said pet insurance helped cover sudden expenses.

Pet insurance can help keep your cash flow predictable. For instance, if you charge an emergency vet bill on your credit card and file a claim with your insurer as soon as possible, you could get your reimbursement within a few weeks and settle the credit card debt relatively quickly. While pet insurance does not eliminate your pet's health care expenses entirely, it can buffer the financial hit of a veterinary emergency.

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