Some Bowling Green residents, like many Americans, spend thousands each year on their pets.

Brittany York of Bowling Green estimated that she spent about $4,500 last year on Rambo, a mutt who is part chihuahua. That money includes $100 to $150 per month on medication for Rambo’s Cushing’s disease – a hormone imbalance – about $16 every month or so for allergy pills, $1,200 per year on veterinary visits and tests and the rest on toys, clothes and food.

Because she doesn’t have children, “He’s my life,” York said of Rambo.

Rambo’s medical problems drive up what York spends on him, but she said she doesn’t mind. After hearing about cases where contaminated dog food poisoned or killed thousands of dogs, York now plans to cook all of Rambo’s food with fresh eggs, peas, carrots and white rice.

“I would do anything for him,” York said.

York isn’t alone in her extensive care for her pet. The American Pets Products Association released an annual report last week on pet industry spending, revealing that Americans spent $58 billion on their 397 million pets last year, according to The Associated Press. The 2013 report showed pet spending totaled $55.72 billion, according to the APPA. Spending on pets has increased about $2 billion per year every year since 2003.

Pet owners spent $22 billion last year on food, $15 billion on veterinary care, $14 billion on supplies such as beds, bowls, collars and over-the-counter medicine to fight fleas, ticks and colds, $4.8 billion on other services such as grooming, boarding, training or trips to the spa and $2 billion on animals themselves, according to the AP. The APPA surveyed pet owners with birds, cats, dogs, horses, fresh and salt water fish, reptiles and other small animals. There were about 56.7 million dogs, 45 million freshwater fish and 95.6 million cats in homes in 2013.

Stephanie Phelps of Bowling Green and her husband own a Shih Tzu named Sugar. Last year, they spent $400 to $500 on Sugar.

“We don’t have any children, so we consider him our child,” Phelps said.

Almost every time the Phelpses go to the store, they get a toy for Sugar. He gets a new bag of treats every month and his own Christmas tree in December. Phelps said she figures a lot of people shower their dogs with affection because of the companionship and love the dogs provide.

“They’re just always going to be there (for you), no matter what,” Phelps said.

Zack Powers of Bowling Green and his partner own a miniature dachshund named Lucie and a Jack Russell terrier named Leo, both with medical issues. He estimated that they spent $10,000 to $12,000 on the dogs last year, most of which was medical expenses, but included organic treats, toys and other items.

Lucie’s medication for Cushing’s disease and diabetes totaled about $200 per month. A bottle of serum for allergy shots for both dogs costs about $350. An $8,000 emergency surgery and $100 lab tests throughout the year also added up.

Other than monetary expenses, Powers and his partner go home for lunch to let the dogs out and often return a few times throughout the day.

“If your child was sick, wouldn’t you want to get the best care for your child?” Powers said he tells people who ask why he spends a lot on his dogs.

Although Powers said he knows his dogs’ medical expenses aren’t normal for most pet owners, he said he would still spend a lot on the pooches even if they didn’t have special needs.

“If it wasn’t for the medical expenses, it’d probably still be up there what we spend on them because we do spoil them,” Powers said.

Powers spends quite a bit more than the national average for routine vet visits annually, which totaled $231 for dogs and $193 for cats in 2013, according to the APPA. 

Stan Snodgrass of Snodgrass Veterinary Medical Center said the average client at his clinic spent $250 for a dog and $140 for a cat  in 2012. In October, the average visit cost $101 at Snodgrass Veterninary Medical Center, $120 regionally and $145 nationally, Snodgrass said. If a pet owner buys heartworm and flea and tick medication monthly as Snodgrass recommends, that could run about $400 yearly.

Although the amount people spend on their pets has increased nationally over the years, Snodgrass said he doesn’t think that means people are spending on more items for their pets, but rather that pet needs have gotten more expensive.

“I don’t think people (can) spend much more (on their pets) because I don’t think the economy will let them,” Snodgrass said.

— Follow business beat reporter Monica Spees on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.