animal expenses Archives — Beating Broke

When our family friend passed away, she left us her six-year-old cat, Miss Kitty. Miss Kitty was a skittish, fearful cat. She is still that way, but she has come to love us, and we, her. However, this cat has cost us a small fortune! We discovered she is prone to urinary crystals, so she has to have special diet cat food that costs approximately $500 a year. She also has dental issues. Just recently, we had to pay $1,600 to have five of her teeth pulled. Owning Miss Kitty has not been a cheap venture. Unfortunately, our experience is not unique. Many loving pet owners discover their pets have health issues that cost a lot of money. If that is your experience, you may wonder how to afford a pet when it has ongoing medical issues.

Ask What Services Are Absolutely Necessary

Often, veterinarians will suggest many services that your pet needs. Feel free to ask the vet which services the animal needs immediately and which you can delay without harming the animal’s health. This strategy can allow you to pay for treatments that are needed now. Then, you can save for the other treatments that aren’t as urgent. When you have money saved, you can get the next treatment.

Ask the Vet about a Payment Plan

Before the vet begins treating your animal, ask if she has a payment plan. Some vets do. Often, vets offer these payment plans with zero percent interest. Our vet did not have a payment plan, but he waived fees like her recheck appointment (saving us $56) and her antibiotics. If your vet knows that money is a concern, she may offer some discounts.

Utilize Care Credit

If your vet doesn’t offer a payment plan, consider using Care Credit. Care Credit is different than a credit card, but you still should use it conservatively. You can get short-term credit with zero percent interest as long as you make the minimum payment on time and have the balance paid off by the end of the promotional period. If you don’t, you’ll be charged interest from the time of the initial charge.

Get Care at a Veterinarian School

If you have a veterinarian school nearby, inquire about seeking treatment there. While you may worry about the quality of care, experienced vets supervise veterinarian students, so you should feel comfortable having your animal treated there.

In addition, because your animal gives the vets-in-training experience, you’ll likely be charged less than if you went to a vet who already has her degree.

Utilize Chewy.com

If your animal requires special food or medicine, consider using Chewy.com. We buy all of Miss Kitty’s food from Chewy, and they’re a fabulous company. Their prescription food prices are lower than what you’ll get at your vet’s office, and their medicine is cheaper, too.

Find a Way to Make Extra Money

If your animal has a one-time expense such as Miss Kitty needing her teeth extracted, you may be able to make additional money quickly. One woman who had to pay for an emergency visit for her dog donated her plasma for two months to pay off the bill.

Final Thoughts

For many of us, pets are part of our family. If you’re wondering how to afford a pet when it has ongoing medical issues, know that there are places you can go to get cheaper service to afford your pet’s care.

Prepare for These Expenses When Getting a Dog

Natural, Low-Cost Flea Treatments

MelissaB

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in New York, where she loves the natural beauty of the area.

www.momsplans.com/

Have the kids been begging you to buy a dog? Or, are you a couple looking into getting a dog before you’re ready to tackle having kids? A dog can be a great companion and faithful member of the family, but if you’re not prepared for the expenses, you may be shocked. Before you commit yourself, make sure you prepare for these expenses (expected and unexpected) when getting a dog.

Initial Expenses

When you first get your puppy or dog, you’ll have a number of start-up costs.

Basic Living Supplies

Your dog will need some supplies immediately, from the time you pick him up, which include a dog crate, food, leash, a bed, and some toys. This immediate outlay will likely cost you several hundred dollars.

Heartworm & Flea and Tick Prevention

These medications typically cost anywhere from $25 to $50 for a three to six-month dose, so between the two, you’ll be spending a couple of hundred dollars a year.

Regular Expenses

Once you’ve paid for the initial outlay of preparing your home for a pet, you’ll then be facing regularly, recurring expenses.

Food

The price of food varies greatly depending on how large your dog is and what type of food you buy the dog. If you buy specialty food, you’ll likely be paying much more.

Nail Trimming

While you can attempt to trim your dog’s nails on your own, most people don’t, especially if your dog has black nails. In general, plan on $15 every 6 weeks for this service.

Grooming

Prepare for These Expenses When Getting a Dog — Photo by Edson Torres on Unsplash

Some dogs don’t need regular grooming, but certain breeds such as poodles, Portugese Water Dogs and Pulis, to name a few, need grooming regularly. Depending on the size of your dog and the breed, you could be looking at roughly $30 to $90 every time you take your dog in for grooming.

Extra Expenses

Many dogs require extra care beyond the basics, especially if you work out of the home or have a particularly energetic or anxious dog.

Dog Walker

A dog walker can come to your house and walk your dog during the day, allowing the animal to relieve himself and to burn off some energy, not to mention getting some human companionship while you’re gone. Depending on who provides the services and what area of the country you live in, hiring a dog walker could run $15 to $45 a day.

Doggie Daycare

Dogs are social animals and like to be around others. In addition, some dogs have special needs that are best addressed by doggie daycare. For example, our family friend had a golden retriever that was so energetic, she took him to doggie daycare just to tire him out. Doggie daycare is also a good option if you have a particularly anxious dog who doesn’t do well home alone. Expect to pay $12 to $38 for a full day of doggie day care or $240 to $550 a month.

In addition to these expenses, you may also want to pay for pet insurance, kenneling when you travel, and obedience class, if necessary.

Having a dog can be a good experience for your family and the dog; indeed, a dog can feel like a member of the family. However, before you buy one, make sure you’re aware of the full range of expenses when getting a dog and how much you’ll likely be paying every year for the privilege of dog ownership.

Do you have a dog? If so, how much do you pay per year for all that your dog needs?

MelissaB