Annual cost of caring for a dog in Canada 2021, by expense type

In 2021, the annual cost of caring for a dog in Canada amounted to 3,724 Canadian dollars. Canadian dog owners’ highest expenses included food, pet insurance, and professional dental care, respectively.

Cat costs

While owning a cat or a dog comes with many of the same expenses, such as dental care, exams with vaccines, and food, the total yearly cost of caring for a pet cat was significantly lower. Annual dog food expenses, for example, were typically twice as high as annual cat food costs. In 2021, Canadian households spent about 32 percent less per cat.

Pet food types

There are various types dog and cat food on the Canadian market, including canned food and treats. In 2020, dry dog food sales amounted to roughly two billion Canadian dollars, making it the leading type of food for canines. For cats, the leading type of food was also dry cat food.