Here's how pet ownership costs are changing (and what owners need to do now)

Sponsored MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money Here's how pet ownership costs are changing (and what owners need to do now) We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Angelica Leicht Angelica Leicht Senior Editor, Managing Your Money Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications. Read Full Bio Angelica Leicht April 29, 2026 / 10:53 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Owning a pet comes with big responsibilities and a hefty financial burden, especially in terms of vet care. Rebecca Nelson/Getty Images About two-thirds of U.S. households now include a pet as one of the family members, and for most people, that relationship is a central part of daily life. But alongside the emotional investment that comes with having a pet, there's a financial one  — and that component is becoming harder to ignore. Whether it's routine care or unexpected emergencies, the cost of keeping a pet healthy and comfortable is climbing, and not always in the ways you'd expect.Pet-related expenses have been surging across multiple categories, according to recent survey data from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, from food and grooming to veterinary services. And while inflation has been climbing recently, driving up the prices of essentials like housing, food and transportation, the rising cost of pet care has outpaced much of it. And, that's particularly true when it comes to medical treatment and services.That, in turn, is leaving many pet owners with the tricky balance of maintaining a high standard of care while trying to keep their budgets intact. Just how much has the...