Budget minded pet owners, need your tips!

[undertheradar]

We have 5 dogs: 4 rescues and a purebred. The only dog that likes toys is the purebred. We give them the Trader Joes Unsalted Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels, all 5 get them everyday. We use Hills Science Diet food for all 5, mixing large and small kibble together. We are very lucky, none of our dogs "hogs" the food bowl, so the food is out most of the day.

One of our dogs is on a 25 day steroid shot that costs $55 per shot. We get our purebred groomed monthly at a cost of $30. Once a month all 5 go to the vet's office for a "spa day," baths, glands drained, nails trimmed, all for about $120. Our dogs range from 5 to 65 pounds. All take monthly heartworm medicine, which is not inexpensive. Depending upon where you live, the fleas can be very active.

Yearly license here is $3 per dog.

 

[texasroni75]

Lots of great tips here! Here's our experience...

Yearly vaccinations for our dog are now done at a clinic held twice a year in town (our vet told us about it!) for under $30. We used to pay $300 for the same shots at our old veterinarian's office. We also looked online for reviews of local veterinarians when we moved to this area and found a great vet who is reasonably priced. It's not that I don't love our dog, but it's crazy how some places will present you with an insane price menu, asking for payment upfront before they will even look at your sick pet.

Our purebred dog has a sensitive tummy, so we have to buy gluten free, corn free, wheat free food. It's pricey in chain stores. We found it for much cheaper at the Feed Store in the next town over. Because of her tummy issues, we don't buy treats or snacks, as they just seem to cause issues.

I do not recommend buying treats, food or snacks at the dollar store. But if you find that your dog is able to tear their toys apart in record time, it's more cost-effective to buy rope and chew toys at the dollar store - buy a bunch and replace as needed.

Lucky for us grooming costs are minimal, as our dog has a short coat that requires just a shampoo every other week or so, and she is very good about letting me trim her nails. If you need to have someone else groom your pet often, it really can add up.

If your pet needs to be neutered/spayed, you can also look at local clinics that will do it less expensively. Again, our old vet wanted $400 for the same procedure that a clinic a few miles further down the road did for $150.

 

[Lisa71]

Get a dog from a rescue that has already spayed or neutered him/her and has current shots. We have 4 dogs and 3 cats..get insurance but be aware most need to have a yearly vet check up to remain valid. I always suggest 2 dogs and they so love company and they need their pack. Fewer behavior issues and many rescues have great bonded pairs of dogs that need to be together. Food is important and as PP said Costco brand is a good one. Spend lots of time with your new friend.

 

[abmitch01]

I can't think if the name off the top of my head, but Pet Smart sells a brand of leads and collars that if they get damaged in any way, they will replace them free. My dog ate through the leash and it was replaced at no charge.

we use dog kibble as treats ad they are fine with that

I'd also recommend getting your dog microchipped if he's a runner. I think it cost $60. the company tries to sign you up for a web service that has a fee but you do not have to do that to have the chip work.

 

[sibesx2]

I volunteer with a rescue and currently have 7 dogs in my house. I don't scimp on food, vet care or meds. I use coupons and find sales for treats. Once in a while I get lucky and can combine the two and get free or almost free treats. I stock up on toys, collars and leashes during after holiday clearances. You can find really cheap toys at Target (my favorite!) and Walmart after Christmas.

 

[midwestdee]

I volunteer at an animal shelter (this one 10+ years) - I'm another Trifexis fan. Also, smart move avoiding puppies - very cute - but the same as having a newborn in the house. I am allergic to cats and dogs and have one of each (on the blood tests I react #x as strong to cats). I may be sniffly and have puffy eyes, but I can't live without my pets (and my husband, but I'm not allergic to him). shelters are all volunteers including our web people - find a couple of shelters with adoption hours that work for you and pop on in. MANY dogs get adopted before they ever get on the website. No we can't call you if a certain dog comes in because we don't have the manpower. believe me, the perfect dog for you (any fancy breed you can imagine) is at a shelter. we give them medical care, shots, whole 9 yards. if we seem picky, understand we put heart and soul into caring for them. On Christmas morning, while you are still warm and toasty under the covers, shelter volunteers are taking the dogs out, feeding the cats, etc.... we heal broken hearts and help people find their best friend.

 

[britfish]

I can't think if the name off the top of my head, but Pet Smart sells a brand of leads and collars that if they get damaged in any way, they will replace them free. My dog ate through the leash and it was replaced at no charge. we use dog kibble as treats ad they are fine with that I'd also recommend getting your dog microchipped if he's a runner. I think it cost $60. the company tries to sign you up for a web service that has a fee but you do not have to do that to have the chip work.

Lupine collars and leads does this, they have awesome customer service and cute collars!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I have two dogs. One (a Bichon) has had four cystotomies (bladder surgery due to stones), cataract surgery, and is blind. I've been to the ER with her three times. Our second dog we got from a very good breeder (increasing the likelihood she would be fairly healthy) and we've had no problems at all with her. She's 7.5.

The main way I've saved money is using Costco's pharmacy. I pay just over $4/month/dog for Heartgard vs. about $6 if I bought it from the vet. I also get the older dog's antibiotics there (saves me about $60/year) and her eye drops (2 types).

For Frontline plus, I buy the largest dose they sell and measure it out. This keeps my costs at about $3/month for both dogs vs. about $10/dose/dog.

The younger healthy dog gets Kirkland food. The older dog has to be on prescription food to control the pH of her urine. She's a money pit and I'm a struggling single mom, but I owe it to her to take good care of her.

*** NEVER NEVER EVER buy a higher dose of flea meds. Even if you are measuring it out! I was at the vets office and had to wait close to an hour for my appt. because a family treated their two dogs to a dose of Sentinal that was a higher dose that what was recommended for their weight. Both dogs were having multiple seizures because they were over medicated. It was then that the vet said to never give a higher dose because this is the result.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

*** NEVER NEVER EVER buy a higher dose of flea meds. Even if you are measuring it out! I was at the vets office and had to wait close to an hour for my appt. because a family treated their two dogs to a dose of Sentinal that was a higher dose that what was recommended for their weight. Both dogs were having multiple seizures because they were over medicated. It was then that the vet said to never give a higher dose because this is the result.

I think PP was referring to measuring out Frontline which is a liquid for flea prevention. Home administered heartworm prevention (such as sentinel/heartguard/trifexis) generally comes in pill/tablet form.

Sentinel's main purpose is for heartworm prevention (though it also does help with fleas the milbemycin for heartworm prevention is why you need a heartworm negative blood test to purchase it from a vet), which is what is extremely dangerous in the wrong dose. I have no idea about rationing flea meds but heartworm medication is where the real danger comes in. The ivermectin/milbemycin in heartworm prevention is nasty stuff. Seeing as that comes in pill form though, I doubt it would be possible to really ever measure that out.

 

[havaneselover]

*** NEVER NEVER EVER buy a higher dose of flea meds. Even if you are measuring it out! I was at the vets office and had to wait close to an hour for my appt. because a family treated their two dogs to a dose of Sentinal that was a higher dose that what was recommended for their weight. Both dogs were having multiple seizures because they were over medicated. It was then that the vet said to never give a higher dose because this is the result.

Um, you do some simple math and use a syringe. This is how lots of shelters do it. Tons of information online on dosage per pound. Multiply that by the dog's weight. I've done this for several years as have numerous others with no issues. And they're actually getting less than if I bought the small dog Frontline Plus. My 10 lb. Bichon is getting less than half of what she would be getting if I didn't measure it out.

 

[Happiest mommy]

PET INSURANCE! it has saved us thousands of dollars we have Trupanion and they are so worth it! we also feed them organic dog food which is expensive but they deserve it, as far as toys one loves a simple ball and the other any stuffed lil toy both my dogs were rescues one was 4 months old and then a year later we adopted the second one who was almost 2 years old they are Chihuahuas and are the sweetest dogs not your typical chi's they are snuggle bugs and so apreciative for being rescued, and we love them sooo much! we love to travel and they travel with us so if you guys travel you have to think about that extra expense too, good luck with your new pet!

 

[hsmamato2]

Um, you do some simple math and use a syringe. This is how lots of shelters do it. Tons of information online on dosage per pound. Multiply that by the dog's weight. I've done this for several years as have numerous others with no issues. And they're actually getting less than if I bought the small dog Frontline Plus. My 10 lb. Bichon is getting less than half of what she would be getting if I didn't measure it out.

This....easy enough....

 

[niffer5150]

well if you're budget minded, all i can say is don't get a large or giant breed. everything costs a lot more the bigger your dog is, be it medications or food or even toys. pet insurance is a wise move tho. one of our girls spays was over $800. the other, we had insurance on and it was a $20 co pay.