How Much Will That Dog Really Cost?

What if your dog has a chronic health problem or develops one? Not all hereditary issues are present at birth and many can take years to crop up. A good breeder will do all possible to breed only the healthiest dogs but still, genetics are funny and things can show up down the road. Can you afford to care for a chronic condition? What if your pet develops a problem that is not hereditary but something that just can happen like diabetes or an autoimmune issue?

Can you afford the medications and multiple vet trips during the course of the dog's life above and beyond what is normal for a healthy dog? You can spend hundreds of dollars in a few weeks with testing and finding the best medications alone. If the dog has to be on constant medication for a problem, you can end up spending hundreds of dollars or more in a year on the medications alone. Years ago I had a dog with Cushing's disease. Her medications per month were close to $50. Multiply that by twelve and then add in vet trips every few months while we stabilized her medications.

As a Senior

Senior pets have issues of their own. Once your pet hits senior age, it is a good idea to have baseline bloods run. This will give an idea as to Senior pets are prone to more health issues than a younger pet and these issues can be costlier. Many vets recommend a senior dog come in twice a year for physicals as so much can change within a short period as a dog hits his golden years. Can you afford to have various bumps that may develop checked out? Some may be age-related, some may not be. Can you afford the extra vet trips? Can you afford any extras a senior pet may need for comfort?

Other Expenses

Grooming Supplies and/or Grooming Services
Do you have a breed that may require professional grooming? Depending on where you go, the size of the dog and type of grooming, you can pay as little as $30 or over $100. And depending on how often you have the dog groomed, expect to pay this as often as every four weeks.

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