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.
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! I never THOUGHT about that!
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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..
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!
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.....
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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. 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. I wish I had the patience to do it myself, it's $30-35 a dog to shave them down.......
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
I like keeping dogs short for the reason denise stated - shedding!
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"......
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.
I never THOUGHT about that!
I wish I had the patience to do it myself, it's $30-35 a dog to shave them down.......
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