Aussies spending up big on pampered dogs

If you are spoiling your puppy with more than a few luxuries you are not the only one. Australian pet owners spent $12.2 billion on their fur babies last year. 

In a national study of pet ownership, Animal Medicines Australia (AMA) found that nearly two in three Australian households own a pet.

While total cat and dog ownership numbers show a small increase average household expenditure on pets increased by 31% per animal.

Executive director Ben Stapley told ABC Radio Canberra pet owners are indulging their pets with premium pet services.

“A number of the services that people are spending money on didn’t even exist three or four years ago when we last did this survey,” he said.

“We found that people are spending their money on premium products and service,”

“Things like doggy day spas, for example, rather than just the basic pet grooming.”

Spending in Australian dogs is on average almost twice as much as pet spending by those who own a cat.

The average dog-owning Australian household spend an estimated $1,975 a year on their dogs, including $622 annually on pet food and $397 on veterinary services.

And the average cat owning household is spending $1,480 on their furry friends a year.

Mr Stapley said the cost increase was associated with people choosing to spend more.

“Most pet owners want to provide their pets with the best possible life, and are now spending more across an increasing range of pet supplies and services to keep them healthy and happy,” he said.