My Dog Is Almost 17. Here's Exactly How Much I Spent on Vet Bills for Her Last Year

My beloved dog will celebrate her 17th birthday on Dec. 24, 2023. She is a member of the family -- and one of the more expensive members to take care of, thanks to the cost of her veterinary bills.

Now, I'm very lucky that my dog is in great health for her age. But, that doesn't mean caring for her comes cheap. I kept track of every dollar I put on my credit card for her vet care last year, and here's exactly how much I spent.

This was how much my dog cost over the course of the last year

According to Rover, the annual cost of a check-up for a pet is between $70 and $110. But while my dog is in good health, she needs more than just a single annual check-up at her age. Here's what I spent:

• Two visits to the cardiologist for echocardiograms and complete blood panel: $1,800 (Molly the beagle had a mitral valve defect, which was surgically repaired five years ago. So while her heart is in great shape, she goes to the cardiologist twice a year.)
• Monthly chiropractic visits: $540 (At age 17, she walks five miles daily, which I credit to her chiropractic care.)
• Annual check-up: $110
• Four annual visits for gland emptying: $220 (If you know, you know, and I'll say nothing more about this, as it's not a pleasant subject.)
• One vet visit for tummy trouble: $95

So, the total costs for a pretty healthy senior dog came in at $2,765. Now, I theoretically could have spent less if I skipped out on the heart check-ups or chiropractic visits. But doing so would mean compromising on her health, so I just wasn't willing to do that -- despite the damage to my bank account.

How to make sure you can afford your furry family member's needs

I'm very lucky to be in a position to be able to afford all the care she needs, but that's definitely not the case for every pet owner.

Before you get a pet, be sure to think about not just the cost of caring for a puppy, but the price of caring for a senior dog. Expenses are inevitably going to go up as your dog ages. This doesn't mean you shouldn't adopt a furry friend. And the privilege of having a dog live to old age is worth the price. But it does mean it's a good idea to save throughout your dog's life so you're prepared and ready to pay for that senior care.

Buying pet insurance can also help to defray a lot of these costs -- especially if you get a policy early in a pet's life. I did not buy pet insurance when Molly came to live with me in college and it wouldn't have helped much to buy it now, since her heart condition is a pre-existing one that wouldn't be covered. Plus, much of the care she gets is for well visits, which insurance policies typically won't pay for.

The bottom line is, pets are expensive, so getting pet insurance early and padding your savings account should both be on your to-do list if you want the joy of a loving animal companion in your life.