About VetVerdict

VetVerdict started with a simple, frustrating question: what does it actually cost to own a dog or cat, and is the thing my pet just ate actually dangerous? Most answers online were either buried in dense veterinary jargon, hidden behind a dozen ads, or vague enough to be useless in the moment. VetVerdict is an attempt to fix that — two focused, free tools that give you a straight, practical answer without the runaround.

What we do

The Pet Annual Cost Calculator breaks down realistic yearly ownership costs — food, routine vet care, preventive medication, grooming, and optional insurance — by pet type, location cost of living, and care style, plus the one-time setup costs that hit hardest in year one. The Pet-Safe Food & Plant Checker covers over 50 common foods and houseplants with separate, plain-language safety information for dogs and cats, since the two species often react very differently to the same substance.

Where our information comes from

The cost estimates on this site are built from ranges commonly cited by veterinary and pet insurance industry sources — not a single provider's pricing, but a realistic band based on typical U.S. costs. The toxicity information in our Food & Plant Checker reflects widely reported veterinary guidance on common household hazards. Neither tool replaces professional advice: our Disclaimer spells out exactly what these tools are (and aren't) meant to do, and our checker links directly to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for anything urgent.

Why free, no login

We think a pet-cost calculator or a "is this toxic" lookup should be something you can use in thirty seconds, not something gated behind an account. Every tool on this site works without signing up, and none of your inputs are sent anywhere — everything runs directly in your browser. You can read exactly what data we do and don't collect in our Privacy Policy.

Get in touch

Found an error, have a suggestion for another food or plant to add, or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime — see our Contact page for details.