Approximately how much does it cost to have a dog?

[Miramonti]

Dogs are like people...some stay healthy with few problems, some are a money pit.

Do your research for a good vet in your area that's relatively inexpensive. It will pay off in the long run.

 

[adlep]

Here is a nice breakdown of the costs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l91ISfcuzDw

 

[alkemyst]

Do your research for a good vet in your area that's relatively inexpensive. It will pay off in the long run.

QFT...keep in mind everyone thinks their vet is great. Most are totally proficient at the annual exam, doing declaws, spay/neuters, removing lumps and stitching up wounds.

It's the really good vet that knows how to test, identify and treat those rare things that will kill your pet if not taken care of properly.

The vet I worked for (and chose to work for for this reason) pushes the limits of animal medicine. He sees all species and works with various universities and research centers testing and developing new medicine/treatments.

I have sent a dozen plus pets to him whose owners told me their pets had to be put to sleep. Maybe 1 or 2 were indeed terminal, the rest (including my parent's current cat) recovered quickly once treated properly and are still living or went to the end of their natural lifespans.

 

[DrPizza]

We've had our pyrenees a couple of years. She's been to the vet once, for her rabies shot & whatever other shot is recommended. (Has to have a rabies shot in NY, and NY only recognizes shots given by vets.) She's due to go back to the vet in mid July for another rabies shot. (Every other year, I believe.) I expect the visit to the vet, with a checkup, to cost about $75. The puppy of the household, 1 year old, has been to the vet once, for his rabies shot (plus he got distemper & whatever else is recommended (there are 3 of them mixed together in one shot.)

His cost was $140, which included enough flea stuff for all three of our dogs for the summer. We might pay to get him fixed. We're probably not going to get the pyrenees fixed (and may even breed her soon.) He can't breed her (that would be a miracle) so I'm not wasting money for something that's not going to happen. For dog food, for the three dogs combined, I spend about $50-$75 a month. They don't even know what soft dog food is; their teeth are in excellent shape. We split most of our leftovers among the three dogs, according to how much they should eat - more for the big dogs, less for the little dog. Since we're rural and don't have local garbage pickup (unless I pay through the nose), I pay for a $90 annual dump pass to go to the landfill or one of the transfer stations. It's a 15 mile trip. So, with no food in the trash to spoil or smell, I can make fewer trips. Thus, feeding the leftovers actually saves me money.

So, it averages to less than $50 per dog per year for the vet (we go every other year), and $25 per month for dog food - $350 annually. That's $350 per year. Plus a few other costs - dog collars (and as they grow, you keep buying new ones 2 or 3 times), leashes, food dishes, etc. We've stopped buying those stupid squeek toys - the dogs tear the squeeker part out within days. Most of the cheap toys are ruined pretty quickly. And, there are few toys they enjoy more than sticks/small logs, old shoes, etc.

Over the past 2 decades, our vet bills for the dogs (and cats) for other than routine care have totalled about $3000. That includes 2 dogs for porcupine quills, 1 dog for cancer surgery, the same dog a couple months later for euthanasia & cremation (cancer was a very aggressive form & had probably metasticized. It was February - not going to bury something around here that time of year). And, a cat who the first vet screwed up on - he gave her the vaccine for feline leukemia when we got her. We didn't know (at that time), and unfortunately the vet didn't know (idiot), that if they've already been exposed, perhaps by their own mother, then the shot does nothing. 3 or 4 days at that vet for care, then transferred to one of the regional veterinary "hospitals." Before we were even home from dropping the cat off at the second place, they had left a message on the answering machine - feline leukemia, tumor. We could have prolonged the inevitable by sticking a syringe into the cat daily (which would have been painful) and draining the thoracic cavity of fluids since the tumor was putting pressure against the thoracic duct. We chose euthanasia - otherwise the cat would have been suffering just so we could prolong the time she was with us. Again, wintertime so euthanasia + cremation costs.

Not all dogs/cats will inevitably end up with costs outside routine care. Our previous cat who died last summer in her mid teens, nor either of our current cats who are a few years old have been to the vet for other than shots. None of our three dogs, oldest is in his early teens, have been to the vet for other than routine care. Oh, and the porcupine quills for the oldest. $160. And only because that made my wife feel better; I was half done pulling them out before we took him, and none were inside the mouth.

 

[alfa147x]

Thanks guys! Yeah since my parent aren't hurting for money my dad decided to put $5000 aside for Emergency Dog Fund just in case something happend. The monthly stuff doesn't sound bad at all for them.

Also how often do you guys change dog food? Or do you feed them something different on different days of the week?

 

[DrPizza]

half the time I get them a new bag, it's different than the previous bag. I usually don't get the super-cheap stuff (store brand), but, whatever's on sale for the most part.

 

[alkemyst]

Thanks guys! Yeah since my parent aren't hurting for money my dad decided to put $5000 aside for Emergency Dog Fund just in case something happend. The monthly stuff doesn't sound bad at all for them.

Also how often do you guys change dog food? Or do you feed them something different on different days of the week?

In reality it's not recommended to change dog foods. If you are changing the main ingredient in a food then it's best to do it over the course of a week to prevent problems.

Only here will you find "it's never a problem to do this except rarely".

I am doubting most that say this know what there dogs do out in their yards.

Some dogs are pretty resilient to food change, many aren't.

The best practice is to pick a high quality food and stick with it.

 

[DrPizza]

In reality it's not recommended to change dog foods. If you are changing the main ingredient in a food then it's best to do it over the course of a week to prevent problems.

Only here will you find "it's never a problem to do this except rarely".

I am doubting most that say this know what there dogs do out in their yards.

Some dogs are pretty resilient to food change, many aren't.

The best practice is to pick a high quality food and stick with it.

Oh bullshit. Humans haven't eaten the exact same food day after day after day. And dogs grew up for millenia next to humans, eating the exact same food that the humans ate.

 

[Gothgar]

I spend about $250 per month on food for my dog

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 

[Capt Caveman]

In reality it's not recommended to change dog foods. If you are changing the main ingredient in a food then it's best to do it over the course of a week to prevent problems.

Only here will you find "it's never a problem to do this except rarely".

I am doubting most that say this know what there dogs do out in their yards.

Some dogs are pretty resilient to food change, many aren't.

The best practice is to pick a high quality food and stick with it.

Incorrect, it's recorded to change your dog food on a semi-regular basis, preferably within the same brand. Doing this will help to ensure your dog gets a well balanced set of nutrients without needing to add additional supplements.

 

[alkemyst]

Incorrect, it's recorded to change your dog food on a semi-regular basis, preferably within the same brand. Doing this will help to ensure your dog gets a well balanced set of nutrients without needing to add additional supplements.

A proper dog food will not lack the proper nutrients or supplements.

There is nothing wrong with mixing things up, but all pets vary on tolerance.

Dr. Pizza is way out there on his recommendations. The whole 'dogs have eaten what man has for ....' is fodder and it's application in today's world ignorant.

 

[DrPizza]

That's incredible! Dogs can eat just the exact same type of food for their entire life and not miss out on anything & remain healthy.

I wonder why this can't be done for humans? Must be we're unique. But, I'm no expert. I bow before the expert (working in a vets office, cleaning shit out of cages as a summer job makes Alky the expert here.)

 

[alkemyst]

It could be done for humans.

 

[tcsenter]

Incorrect, it's recorded to change your dog food on a semi-regular basis, preferably within the same brand. Doing this will help to ensure your dog gets a well balanced set of nutrients without needing to add additional supplements.

He is correct about the transition to a different food needing to be done over a period of a few to several days. A lot of dogs (and cats, BTW) will get upset stomachs and produce loose stools/diarrhea for a few days after abruptly changing foods. We see it all the time.

Our dogs get a variety of healthy treats to supplement their kibble, though. They will eat carrots, fruit, nuts, almost anything.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

I spend about $70 on food, $40 on treats,and about $10 on tennis balls per month. Man..that's quite a bit of money. The way I see it I quit smoking months ago and that money now goes to my dog.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

We have a japanese Chin. Awesome dog. It's a loving 9 pound lapdog that rarely barks. Just loves being with people. I figure we go through one bag of dog food every several months. I figure that $10/month on food is an overestimate.

Of course snacks are another thing but even those last a long time.

As for the vet, vet costs are what they are. Maybe $100 a year for hte annual checkup. Maybe 2 emergencies over it's life will occur at maybe $1000 a pop. But that's still $100 each month.

Downside: Small dog requires frequent trips outside. Be aware of this or there will be carpet related costs also. Bigger dogs hold pee better but cost more for food. We had to toss one rug so far in 8 years. It was only $150 thgouh so not hte end of the world.

Upside: Poop inside is so small that it doesn't "sink into" rugs. You can usually get it off pretty easy and spendabout 1 minute whiping the rug.

If money is an issue, stay away from larger dogs like Goldens. They eat a ton of food and usually get hip related problems in old age. I think an Irish Spaniel is the biggest dog I know about that I would want.

Summary:
Japaense Chin:
1) Monthly food: $10-$20
2) Monthly vet: $10 ($120 each year/12 months)
3) Montlly emergency: $11 ($2000 over life (gueessing here). $2000/(12months*15years)
TOTAL: $31-$42 per month

RISKS: Pee on carpet (cost of rug replacement. Not the kind of thing you can clean)

NOTE: When we leave for a long time, the dog goes in the basement. Pee down there is not an issue. Long time being about 4 hours. He can sleep through the night though so that is good.

 

[alfa147x]

They brought the dog home

8 weeks old
She's great, almost potty trained and super quite
She got her first bath at her new house last night and she absolutely loved it

Thanks guys everyone loves her already!