The boys have been talking about getting a dog when we get our new house and I keep telling them we might have to wait a while before we can do that because having a pet costs money. Well smarty pants Austin want's to know just how much it costs and I didn't know what to tell him. DH keeps saying "it doesn't cost THAT much" but I disagree. I don't think he is thinking of everything.

Our dog is about 65 pounds, and we go through a 40 pound bag of dog food about every 6 weeks (Nutro brand, not something from the grocery store). It's about $32 per bag.

But if you have injuries or illness, vet bills can get really high really fast and you need to keep up with vaccines, licenses, grooming. Of course you can always buy pet insurance but that too doesn't come cheap.

Toys and accessories can be minimal, but you do need a good collar, dog tags, leash, bowls, bed, crate or doghouse etc.

Of course where you get the dog can add up too. Even the Humane Society has adoption fees to help sustain their work. We got Levi from a Retriever rescue org and it was an app fee of $10 plus a $200 adoption fee.

It took awhile to convince dh - but Levi is a wonderful addition to our family. He's got his "baggage" like any rescued animal but he's a sweet love sponge that we adore.

What kind of dog do you think you'd get?

Well, I am one who can tell you that a dog can cost a fortune. We just finished paying $4500 to pay for surgery to fix 2 blown ACL's on our Newfoundland.
:eek:

How is your baby doing Lisa? Poor thing, and your poor checkbook! :big hug:

Our dog is 85 lbs. We go through about the same amount of dog food (and brand!) as Amy. The vet costs us about $100 per year. Our dog is getting older and needs to go in for odds and ends that he didn't need as a puppy. He was run over at 1 year old. That cost about $400. He had a cut from a barbed wire fence that cost about $300 to fix.

So, the day-to-day stuff is absorbed pretty quickly, but you just don't know how often your dog will need to see the vet. Our dog was *free*. If you get a pure-bred dog, you'll pay money. Don't forget either spaying or neutering. That is around $60??? I can't remember much about that as our dog is 9 years old now.

I'd say for routine care? $600-700 a year. Minimum (this amont is for a larger sized dog and would include the dog being protected from fleas and heartworms, as well as on a good food). This is for good care. Vaccines, yearly exam, flea control, decent food, etc. To start up? About $300-800 upfront depending on the type of dog you get. If you want a purebred, be prepared for more problems and more $$...and about $400 and up for a good lined dog. A mutt will be healthier overall, in most cases, but will still need puppy vaccines (sets of shots every 3-4 weeks for 3 months), a neuter or spay, worming, licensing, etc. Food bowls, leashes, collars....all those start up costs. But the biggie will be making sure you always have money set aside for emergency. Dog runs out door or slips out of collar and is hit by a car.....that is easily $1000. Dog drinks spilled antifreeze in carport/garage....about $500 vet bill. Dog eats chocolate left out by kids, depending on type and dog, could easily also be $500 vet bill. Dog tears toenail on who knows what in the yard, $100. It can all add up. There is no way I could afford all my animals without working for the vet. LOL. Seriously. Good care is expensive. Heck, animals need dental cleanings every 1-3 years and I am still saving for those for my own pets. I could not do them, but then we'd see rotten teeth, breath, falling out teeth, pain while eating, etc. I think as long as you have the start up costs and can place money aside monthly for all the necessities and for emergency fund, you will be ok.

Originally posted by ~Denise~
I'd say for routine care? $600-700 a year. Minimum (this amont is for a larger sized dog and would include the dog being protected from fleas and heartworms, as well as on a good food). This is for good care. . \

Ouch!! I probably do spend more than I'm thinking then, but I don't do everything regularly.

I do vaccinations and exam yearly. I haven't done any tooth care. :( I also treat for heartworms and fleas/ticks seasonally vs. continuously. We do give him good food. Next year we may have to put him on arthritis medicine as he is getting much worse. :(

Oh yeah, forgot about flea control! That runs us about $10 per month (I think).

We also have an older dog - he's 7, so I expect in the coming years he will have more health issues come up.

Stacy, yes, I bet if you added up the routine things you'd be saying more. It is hard to add up all the little things, but assuming a pet is protected from heartworms, that costs about $10-20 a month depending on size and med used, same for flea control...and then food.....vaccines yearly (some are still yearly, some are every 2-3 years), yearly exam, bloodwork in older pets to check for routine things like kidney and liver values...most vets recommend this every 1-3 years depending on age, etc. Toys, etc. It all adds up. I do not want to add it up for my house though.....:eek: I easily spend $1200 a year in food alone. (But have 3 dogs and 7 cats too.....)

You can do it cheaply. We cook our own dog food, doesn't cost much and it is healthier. We do our own worming, don't bother with the vet (sorry, I'm anti drs for my kids unless emergency, feel the same about my dog). You can vax your own animal also, except rabies. You just buy them at the grainery. Also, you don't have to do all the vaxes, do the research (yes, I treat my dog like one of the kids). My parents had two dogs die from vax reactions and I had one cat die from the same thing.

You can get lots pet things at garage sales (especially crates if you want to crate train). We spent about $100 on "start up" costs (crate, toys, dishes, leash, collar). We spent more on the dog, but my mom bought him as a gift for our birthdays. He came with his initial 2 sets of shots and wormings.

When budgeting, remember you will have to pay for care or take the dog whenever you go out of town. Kennels aren't cheap.

Thanks ladies. I really have no idea what kind yet as that is pretty far off but just trying to get some general ideas to share with the BOYS (all 3 of them). I know we can get a dog from my grandma she breeds larger dogs but she also has a kennel and seems to take in all the strays LOL. She also said we could get the shots, grooming, etc... MUCH cheaper through her.

I know I want a short haired dog so I don't have to deal with hair as much but other than that I guess I need to research and see what breeds are good with kids.

I have 2 dogs. One is 45 lbs and one is 75 lbs. I got them both at shelters. Adoption fees were 50$ each including neutering, first set of shots and flea prevention. I buy them Nature's recipe Vegetarian dog food. It takes them a month to finish a $30 bag. (plus at petco for every ten bags you get one free) For annual vaccines I seek out low cost clinics and mobile vet vaccine sights which is $30 a dog a year. I buy my heartworm prevention cheap from an Australian Internet company for like $60 a year total. I dont think owning a dog is expensive at all.

That *is* cheap. LOL. I am too nervous about those mobile vaccine vans after the big controversay about them not keeping the vaccines cold enough and the issue with the dogs becoming ill from the bad vaccines, etc. Heck, to license a dog here it's $30 a year alone, and with the perfect for fleas damp temps and weather here, we do year round flea control usually, and that's about $10 a month per pet. $50 to adopt an already altered animal is awesome.....must be your area is lower cost for that. Here it is more and they help pay for the spay/neuter, but not 100% unless you are willing to go to the el cheapo vets and risk them. :eek: Add in dentals and things that should be routine care, and money placed aside for emergency things, pets can be pretty costly imo. I'd like to say I wish it was cheaper, but I understand why it's not. Vets go to school for their doctorates, and they come out making much, much less over other doctors. It's a big issue amongst the field in ragards to "cheapening the trade". Another biggie is that animals now get closer and closer to human care, we do ultrasounds for them, fillings, root canals, etc., and people balk at the costs....yet human care is still way more $$, you just don't see the bill til after insurance usually.

It's a big variance though. There is bare minimum care and then there is the extreme of cosmetic dental care for pets. LOL. (No, no, I don't go that far. LOL. But my dogs and cats do get dental cleanings to prevent pain and rotted abscessed teeth.....:heart: )

Ok, I've added up approximately how much my Yorkie costed us yearly -- he had serious health problems (Cushing's disease, deaf, blind, and dental problems since birth.) He cost us about $1,500+ yearly. We pay for ACTH testings, medicines, food, lab costs, veterinary care, vaxs, grooming, etc.

Now, my German Shepherd (who has lymphoma now :wah:) costs us about $900 yearly including food, vet care, vaxs, and grooming. But that does NOT include $30/month for Rimadyl for arthritis and $40/month for joint supplement.

I treat my dogs as they are my children so I make sure they have good veterinary care, good food, etc. Some people can just have the vet give vaxs as a run-back and not need an examination, but I always make sure my dogs get examined yearly (or sometimes, twice a year.)

It just all depends! :) But there are costs involved, no doubt. Always plan for emergencies.

Doubleblessed, very true! When thinking of costs, remember there is a chance your pet will develop something like a thyroid issue and need meds and testing, or diabetes and need meds, special food and lots of testing, or any one of many conditions that pets get too, and that are treatable with testing and meds, like people with thyroid issues, but where there will be costs involved. It's not rare nowadays, and pets are living longer and happier because of it....but we are paying for it, lol. Imagine becoming close to your family pet and he ends up needing monthly meds for a condition? Be prepared for those things too. It's hard, but worth thinking about. (o: Or discipline things and behavior training.....for dogs a good trainer can be costly and you may need to spend several hundred on puppy training, etc.

Originally posted by ~Denise~
Doubleblessed, very true! When thinking of costs, remember there is a chance your pet will develop something like a thyroid issue and need meds and testing, or diabetes and need meds, special food and lots of testing, or any one of many conditions that pets get too, and that are treatable with testing and meds, like people with thyroid issues, but where there will be costs involved. It's not rare nowadays, and pets are living longer and happier because of it....but we are paying for it, lol. Imagine becoming close to your family pet and he ends up needing monthly meds for a condition? Be prepared for those things too. It's hard, but worth thinking about. (o: Or discipline things and behavior training.....for dogs a good trainer can be costly and you may need to spend several hundred on puppy training, etc.

:ditto:

ITA with what Denise said! A lot of older dogs in pounds are waiting to be adopted -- people can't afford the medical expenses for monthly meds, check ups, etc. So think about it ~ my philosophy is that pets ARE family! :)

I met a lady at a vet not too long ago -- she has a poodle. Serious allergy problems so she comes in every week for allergy shot! :eek: I never THOUGHT about that!

Our dog was a stray that my father picked up on the road Christmas Eve in 2000.
We get him groomed (25$/mo), take him to our vet on "clinic day" and get his yearly shots for 15$ and we keep him heartworm and flea preventative which comes in ONE dose now and it works out to 12$/mo. His dog food is about 15$/mo.
We also have two kitties and THEY cost more than ol' Buddy.
here's a pic of my little furball..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/MarionIce/040516073154.jpg
He's getting soooooo old looking!:) He's about 11 years old and that's pushing it for cockers.


Sabreena now has her heart set on another dog but we're trying to talk her into a fish instead. Dogs can be inexpensive but they're really trying when you want to keep a clean house. We just moved into our new home and it's a bear trying to keep the dog from coming in with wet/dirty paws. Also, he likes to rub on the furniture (which is new) and tends to rub all over the carpet. He's not left any stains/dirt yet but it makes me a nervous wreck to see him do those things because I don't want my nice things all "dogged" up LOL

Originally posted by Dancing~Giraffe
How is your baby doing Lisa? Poor thing, and your poor checkbook! :big hug:

Yeah, we took a big hit. She had her second surgery 3 weeks ago and is having trouble with infection right now. Last week they drew 2 cups (yes, 2 cups) of fluid off her one leg. It had gotten so swollen that it literally was oozing out of her incision (sorry, TMI I know). It looks better this week so we're crossing our fingers.....

I also wanted to add that you can do your own grooming. We will groom this dog ourselves and we use to groom both our springer spaniels. If you take them once, stay in the room and watch how they do it, then you can do it yourself at home. You can get a grooming kit for $20.

I cut my kids and dh's hair, I figure I can do the dogs. If I mess up, the other neighborhood dogs won't notice.

Also, if anyone is interested, an awesome book for animal health is The Nature of Animal Healing by Martin Goldstein. It is all holistic health care.

Don't use a real razor...I am sure you know that, but just in case. :eek: And remember, dogs and cats have thinner skin than people, so it is easy to nic and cut them. It usually takes 2 people unless the pet is used to it and is ok with it. I don't have the patience for it, but we shave our Pugs down with the lowest blade on the shaver.....well, the groomer does. It is sooo worth it, there is hardly any shedding now. :heart: I wish I had the patience to do it myself, it's $30-35 a dog to shave them down.......:rolleyes:

I'm assuming Laurie means clippers, not a razor. I think shaving is easy. I give dh a decent cut with clippers, the dog isn't any harder. If they are use to going to a groomers, you should have any problem doing them at home. We always started our dogs on clippers when they were very young do the noise wouldn't scare them. All our dogs enjoyed the attention :thumbsup:

I like keeping dogs short for the reason denise stated - shedding!

You can do it Laurie. They will forgive you if you give them an ugly hair do ;)

There are lots of videos and books you can get that walk you through it. Your library may have some. Amazon has lots used.

;) I'm glad you knew and meant electric razor. LOL. I have helped stitch up some nasty gashes from well meaning owners trying to "shave that matt off" or "be careful but shave down the dog"......:eek:

Dang! I have been raising my dog cheap,lol. I only have to spend for good food 15 every month and a half. Her bed is our bed or the couch, her hair brush was like 4.00. No toys for she don't play with them. Her dog food dish was 1.00 from the dollar store, her coller was maybe 5.00, her lease was maybe 10.00. Shots we do ourself for no more then 4.00 then rabies here is like 10-15.00 for the 3 year dose. We buy her bones for about 4.00 and that last months. I think the most money we spent on her was for vacum bags before we got our bagless. Huskys have alot of sheding.

I guess we have been lucky no major vet bills all except the time my mom's dogs attacked her twice. I had to pay 30.00 the first time for stiches and my mom paid the second time.

Now my cat has cost a little. For he's first shots ( got them done at the spca cheap) and to neuter him I paid about 63.00. I buy him good food for about 12.00 and that last about 2 months. He has to have toys but he takes them from the kids room so no money there, lol ( Hamtaro dolls are he's favorite)

Now if you would take the cost of my birds I had, yikes.