Dogflation: The rising cost of food, grooming, and vet care for pets is outpacing other bills

Owners across the country will tell you that a house isn’t a home without a dog. But the cost of keeping our best friends in the comforts they’re used to is skyrocketing.

Owning a mutt now costs an extra £256 a year – bringing the figure to £2,500 – according to a Money Mail analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

This means families can expect to pay as much as £27,800 over the average life of their dog, with price increases over the past 12 months adding £2,867 to the total maintenance cost.

Pet care costs have increased 12.8 percent in the past year, according to the ONS.

Dogs are often treated like another member of the family, with money spent on fresh food, regular grooming and the best medical treatment.

But with households already under strain, more and more of Britain’s 17 million dog owners are struggling.

New figures from the charity Dogs Trust today show that four in five people are financially concerned about caring for their dog. And almost one in ten say they are ‘very concerned’.

But how much you spend depends on the size and breed of your dog. Some families will spend more than £39,078 over the lifetime of the pet, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home reports.

Expensive grooming, dog walking, treats, and vacation kennels can easily add up to additional costs.

According to a survey by ferry company Red Funnel, one in eight owners spend more than £500 a year on dog sitting services.

One-off expenses in the first year, such as vaccinations, a collar and leash, toys and a bed, add another £755.

In comparison, the price of a child’s basic needs has increased by 3.6 percent over the past 12 months.

According to the charity Child Poverty Action Group, it now costs £3,864 a year to cover a child’s basic needs from birth to the age of 18.

Meanwhile, a basic standard of living in retirement costs an average of £829 a month – and that includes all housing, food, transport and leisure costs, according to the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association. This amount has increased by 19 percent in just one year.

Dog salon

According to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, a dog earns an average of £7,800 over the course of its life in grooming costs, which includes trimming, washing and nail clipping.

Pet care costs have increased by 12.8 percent, according to official data. This added £54 a year to the dog salon bill.

Prices vary depending on location and breed of dog. For example, the Tunbridge Wells Grooming Center in Kent charges £36 to £102 for full grooming, with bath and blow-dry services.

At the London Dog Grooming Company luxury salon in upmarket Liberty department store, customers can expect to pay up to £150 for a full groom.

Polly Arrowsmith, 56, of Islington, north London, spends more each year on grooming her poodle Hattie than she does on her own.

The director of marketing spends up to £55 a month trimming, blow-drying and washing the fur for her beloved pet, which she bought nearly twelve years ago. However, Polly only spends £80 a year on her hair.

Poodles require more grooming than other dogs because their hair can become matted and tangled. We’ve tried to groom her ourselves, but she gets upset and sometimes tries to bite,” she says.

In total, Polly spends about £417 a month on Hattie, including £240 on doggy daycare and £65 on insurance.

“Since the pandemic, there have been more puppies, which has driven up costs. I’ve had to make cuts to afford Hattie, such as cutting my hair less often, buying less luxury or going out less,” Polly added.

“Though she’s expensive, I don’t compromise on Hattie.”

Vet costs

According to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, pet insurance is the most expensive cost item, with bills running up to £720 a year.

Maximum benefits insurance (covers injury or illness up to a predetermined limit) will cost an average of £144 a year by 2023, according to price comparison site Comparethemarket.

However, the price can be much higher for older dogs, with some owners spending at least £120 a month on pets with a history of problems.

Anna McEntee, insurance director at Comparethemarket, says: ‘Older dogs tend to be more expensive to insure as they tend to require more medical care.

“As the cost of veterinary treatments and procedures rises, it’s possible that some pet owners, especially those with older pets, will see their extensions increase.”

On average, the cost of medical treatment has increased by 13 percent in the past year, the ONS reports. This would add £41 to household bills, Money Mail’s analysis shows.

Sonali Saujani, 35, has had to cut back to afford her beloved five-year-old dog, Luna. The holistic healer from Offenham, Worcestershire, now spends £1,740 a year insuring Luna – £564 more than four years ago.

‘Luna is my biggest expense. French bulldogs are notorious for their health problems. Luna’s breathing problems, skin condition and allergies make her more expensive to insure than other breeds,” says Sonali.

‘I probably spend around £500 a month on Luna, including her childcare, supplements and physiotherapy.

“But I’d rather sacrifice clothes or very expensive vacations to pay for her.”

Food and snacks

The average cost of dog food has risen by 21 per cent over the past year, adding £76 to annual household bills, according to the ONS. Meanwhile, the price of dog treats is up 16 percent year over year, it turns out.

But in the most extreme cases, costs have risen nearly 58 percent in the past year, according to The Grocer magazine. Food and treats can easily run up to £960 a year, according to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

As costs rise, more and more families are turning to private label food for their dogs, according to supplier Pets at Home.

“Our private label products are significantly cheaper than comparable branded products, and we’ve seen them grow in popularity as discretionary spending has come under pressure,” a spokesperson told Money Mail.

a.cooke@dailymail.co.uk