Overview
What Pets Cost is an independent pet expense guide covering major US chains such as Petco, PetSmart, Banfield, VCA, Dogtopia, Camp Bow Wow, and Pet Supplies Plus. It brings together starting prices, common add-ons, member discounts, and location-based differences, with figures presented alongside their last-checked dates.
The site focuses on practical costs for grooming, veterinary visits, vaccines, wellness plans, daycare, boarding, and training. Its comparisons distinguish walk-in clinic pricing from full-service veterinary care and note when a provider does not publish a single nationwide rate.
Cost Calculators
Several calculators help estimate a more complete bill rather than showing only a headline price:
- A grooming estimator accounts for dog size, selected add-ons, member discounts, and tips.
- A veterinary visit estimator combines Banfield vaccine charges with the required office visit across six markets.
- A vaccine tool shows Vetco pricing by ZIP-code tier for dogs and cats, including the stated service fee.
- A boarding calculator combines a store's nightly rate with extras and discounts for the full stay.
Price Guide Coverage
The guide compares provider and location pricing across common pet-care needs. Grooming coverage includes baths, haircuts, nail trims, and self-service washes, while veterinary coverage includes office visits, vaccines, spay or neuter procedures, dental cleaning, and monthly wellness plans.
Daycare and boarding guides compile posted rates from multiple centers and identify fees or package options that can alter the final total. The site also records cases where services are priced by quote or where a chain does not publish a standard rate.
Example Price Ranges
Published examples include Petco baths starting at $24 and bath-and-haircut services starting at $46. Nail trims at major chains are listed at $10–$15, while Pet Supplies Plus self-service dog washes are shown at $14.
For veterinary care, Banfield office visits are listed at $69.95–$95.95, with wellness plans starting at $26.95 per month. Daycare examples range from $30–$50 for a full day at Camp Bow Wow and $38–$55 at Dogtopia; Dogtopia boarding is listed at $59–$87 per night. Actual charges can vary by store, market, pet, selected services, and date.