Budget tips for dog!

[DisneyMandC]

I wonder if it would work for our dogs. They go to doggy day care and boarding. The places policy is up to date on vaccinations so I'm unsure if they will take the test as "up to date".

Yeah, you might run into problems there, unfortunately. I know none in my area will allow it if your dogs aren't vaccinated. I wish they were more understanding. Our last dog could not get vaccines when he was older as they caused him to have seizures, so it was totally out for us to take him to anywhere like that.

 

[disney144]

When it comes to toys, literally most things can be used for enrichment. Someone mentioned water bottles, but if you invest maybe $15 in a good quality Kong, you can use that over and over as long as your dog doesn't turn out to be an extreme chewer. You can fill it with peanut butter, cheap treats, etc.

We bought a Kong already, and the dog isn't even home yet!

 

[disney144]

We use the kong and our guys love it. Just be careful filling it with peanut butter. Some peanut butters are now sweetened with a synthetic sweetener that even in small doses can kill a dog. It is the same stuff in sugar free gum that even one strip can kill a medium size dog. My friend made that mistake and gave his pup a table spoon of his low sugar peanut butter thinking it was no big deal. His poor pup was in doggy ICU for a week. We have a jar of regular organic peanut butter just for the pups for that very reason.

Great to know! We usually buy the peanut butter that's only peanuts, salt, and oil, but I will be sure to check with each jar

 

[disney144]

Thanks for all of the tips! Does anyone have experience with prescription flea/tick meds? Apparently frontline and the others don't work in my area

 

[Pembo]

We have 3 golden retrievers and the youngest joined our family in July.
We use Revolution. It's expensive but it works for everything. I haven't found it any cheaper than my vet.
We recently joined Costco specifically to buy dog food. The boys love it and the price is good.
Our oldest needs regular pain meds. One we get at the Walmart pharmacy, the vet writes the script. He told us it was cheapest there. The other med is a canine one. I get it at the vet. They price match and I save $80 each refill.

Enjoy your new puppy.

 

[kandeebunny]

Don't get a dog that requires grooming you can't do at home. Grooming is EXPENSIVE.

We get our dog food on amazon for less than anywhere else.

We bought pet insurance through ASPCA, and while we didn't do the preventative plan we have the accident/illness plan. It has already paid for itself 3 times over (UTI, reaction to pain meds from spay) They pay based on symptoms not diagnoses. It's saved us so much money.

 

[havaneselover]

Don't get a dog that requires grooming you can't do at home. Grooming is EXPENSIVE.

We get our dog food on amazon for less than anywhere else.

We bought pet insurance through ASPCA, and while we didn't do the preventative plan we have the accident/illness plan. It has already paid for itself 3 times over (UTI, reaction to pain meds from spay) They pay based on symptoms not diagnoses. It's saved us so much money.

Lol. So subjective. I would never own a dog which sheds. I pay about $360 a year for grooming (two dogs) which is expensive but well worth it not to have dog hair on my clothes and all over my house.

 

[jennasmommyinMS]

This is the flea and tick collar that I use for my dog: http://www.amazon.com/Bayer-Seresto...446773816&sr=1-1&keywords=seresto+flea+collar

It sounds expensive at first, but it lasts a long time. I replace it about every 9 months, and we have absolutely no flea or tick issues.

 

[Lvsdisney]

Amazon has a subscribe and save for dog food. It saves me about $5 and it's free shipping if you have prime.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Thanks for all of the tips! Does anyone have experience with prescription flea/tick meds? Apparently frontline and the others don't work in my area

This is the flea and tick collar that I use for my dog: http://www.amazon.com/Bayer-Seresto...446773816&sr=1-1&keywords=seresto+flea+collar

It sounds expensive at first, but it lasts a long time. I replace it about every 9 months, and we have absolutely no flea or tick issues.

We recently had a flea issue for the first time ever, and Frontline didn't even touch the fleas. We got the Seresto collar and that's been great! My in-laws recommended it, and they also used it when their three dogs got fleas.

 

[bcwife76]

I buy dry dog food at Costco but I make my own 'wet' food for our dog (who is 14yrs old). Brown rice, veggies (usually peas) and ground turkey. I make about 10-12 portions at a time, freeze them in snack size ziplock bags and pull one out each morning to defrost in the fridge, ready for her dinner that night (which I mix with dry). Costs us about $7 to make the 10-12 portions.

 

[wekhogan]

Parvo, distemper and rabies are terrible diseases. There are severe repercussions if your dog bites someone and you can't prove vaccinations - and a titre won't do. As mentioned, if you board or do any grooming, you have to prove them, also. Lyme is rampant here in the Northeast and has horrible consequences if not caught (just like for people). I understand the theory behind titres, but it seems that by the time you've paid for the vet visit and the titre test, you might as well have just gotten the vaccines. You can usually find low cost shots - here our drug store Walgreens offers them intermittently. You could check with rescue organizations and Google - usually you can find.
Enjoy your new bundle of joy - I totally second the advice to start clipping nails early and often. I'd add brushing teeth, too. If you start early, they'll be used to it.

 

[NinaBella]

I did not read all the replies, but you can save on dog beds by going to Goodwill and buying a crib mattress. Ours cost $7. My dogs were constantly tearing up the expensive dog beds from the pet store $60-100 each. Finally found this tip and have only had the crib mattress since. We put a sheet around it an their favorite Korean mink blanket and a couple pillow pets. Haven't had to buy a new dog bed since.

We have many Korean mink blankets that we bought while living in Korea for extremely cheap prices. Now that we live in Florida we rarely use them but the dogs love to lay on them. If I put the blanket on the floor and the sheet on the crib mattress they will choose to lay on the floor on the blanket. If I put the blanket on the crib mattress they lay on the crib mattress. Funny dogs.

 

[Judique]

We have 3 golden retrievers and the youngest joined our family in July.
We use Revolution. It's expensive but it works for everything. I haven't found it any cheaper than my vet.
We recently joined Costco specifically to buy dog food. The boys love it and the price is good.
Our oldest needs regular pain meds. One we get at the Walmart pharmacy, the vet writes the script. He told us it was cheapest there. The other med is a canine one. I get it at the vet. They price match and I save $80 each refill.

Enjoy your new puppy.

Have you checked your Costco pharmacy for these meds?

 

[disney144]

Have you checked your Costco pharmacy for these meds?

How can you tell which meds are available at a human pharmacy? Just call? If they aren't available, online is probably cheaper than the vet right?

 

[Judique]

How can you tell which meds are available at a human pharmacy? Just call? If they aren't available, online is probably cheaper than the vet right?

I would call.

I have a lot of pets, but some things I get at Costco such as flea and tick treatment.

Up to now, the few meds I've had to buy at the vet were a small price to begin with (under $20) so I've not used online. If my pets required a med that had to be given every day for life, I would definitely seek out online and price compare.

The reality is, if the dog or cat needs a medication immediately and the vet is writing a script for it you have an option to go outside and buy it. Most of the time my vet is handing me something and I'm saying 'thanks'!

 

[Cadiewampus]

This is the flea and tick collar that I use for my dog: http://www.amazon.com/Bayer-Seresto...446773816&sr=1-1&keywords=seresto+flea+collar

It sounds expensive at first, but it lasts a long time. I replace it about every 9 months, and we have absolutely no flea or tick issues.

Think I may try these. Had my dogs on Frontline and it quit working. Started using Advantix on vet recommendation but not real happy with it.

 

[weeniecat2442]

Don't skimp on vet care...in the short term it may seem expensive but in the long run it will save your money by catching things quickly and making sure you have a healthy dog. Keep up on wellness exams every year. Do some research on what vaccines are recommended for your area and your lifestyle. Depending on where you live and what activities your dog will do will make a big difference on what vaccines you may chose.

I second investing in the Seresto collars. They seem expensive at first but last 8-9 months, are water proof and protect against fleas and ticks. We use one on our guy and I didn't find one tick on him all summer (ticks are a huge problem where we live).

Tri heart brand for heartworm medicine is a generic form that is really affordable. Heartworm meds are another thing that may seem like you're paying extra for but it such an easy thing to prevent and if you're dog should get it, it is expensive and very long process to treat.

Another thing I would recommend is puppy insurance. Again, another expense upfront but something that I LOVE knowing I have. I use Trupanion and you can set your own deductible. I pay $48 a month but that all depends on what you choose. It does not cover routine visits and exams but should you have an emergency like a foreign body, broken leg etc you will be covered. My dog eats anything and everything so I expect someday this will come in handy. I also like knowing that I will have it in place for when he's older and older dog issues pop up. Another alternative to this is just putting some money aside into a an emergency pet fund to have handy.

Have fun with your new dog!

 

[loves to dive]

If you haven't already, do a little research on your breed. There are some care items that some breeds need that others don't. We have a yorkie, talk about high maintenance. We wouldn't trade her for anything (I'm pretty sure if the house caught on fire DH would grab her before me). Ours is a picky eater, which is a thing with Yorkie's. There are days she will eat everything not tied down and days she won't eat anything. It took us about 6 months to find a dry food she would eat. Turned out to be the one my son used for his dogs. They were staying with us for a month until he got all his Navy retirement stuff worked out, his dogs thought our dogs food was much better than theirs. So pay back, ours started eating their food. Now we buy the same thing and they still eat each other's food when visiting. Our little princess will only eat one type of wet food, they kind you buy in the fridge section of the store and will only eat it the first 3 or 4 days after it's opened, after that she ain't touching it. It's not expensive but one roll usually gets about 6 or 7 portions for her so the last few portions get thrown away or given to my son's dogs, who will eat anything.

 

[Eastern]

I usually buy all my supplies online from Petco. They have some really good deals if you watch. Sign up for emails and you will see occasional free shipping and % off coupons. I think if you spend over $49 it is always free shipping.