How to save on vet bills?

[MrsSpendyPants]

Spent $200 on a non-regular vet visit and it's driving me up the wall.

Dog's eye started getting puffy last week, called vet, earliest they could get me in was today.  Went in today to say it was just overactive allergies and spent $85 on antibiotics which are $20 on Chewy, a cream for $29 that's $7 on Chewy, and probably way too much on a steroid as well, along with $48 for a five minute visit that the vet was thirty minutes late too.

My vet will not fax prescriptions so if I want to go to another pharmacy, I have to get a prescription and drive 20 minutes out of my way to have them fill it and risk them not having it (obviously when my dog's eye is shut I don't take that chance).

I tried a less expensive vet in the area but they didn't have the equipment to take XRays and do large dog surgery so each time something like that was needed I had to make another appointment somewhere else and then schedule the surgery which felt like a waste.

I tried saving on the vaccination appointments by using the clinic at Tractor Supply but it was still $99 for annual shots and no exam nor anyone that knew my dog's history.


How is everyone not spending hundreds of dollars on vet bills?  There's got to be a smarter way to do this.
Thanks!

[MudPuppy]

It pays to know basic dog first aid and some OTC stuff. I have three dogs and two have special needs. Ultimately, though, you need to understand that that’s just how much vet visits cost. $50 is a pretty standard charge for an office visit.

[MrsSpendyPants]

It pays to know basic dog first aid and some OTC stuff. I have three dogs and two have special needs. Ultimately, though, you need to understand that that’s just how much vet visits cost. $50 is a pretty standard charge for an office visit.

Thank you for your response!  Do you mind if I ask how much you spend on vet bills on your dogs?  I have three as well so maybe it’s unrealistic to think I can cut this expense.  Appreciate your input!

[SunnyDays]

Some things you can do “watchful waiting” for and try OTC measures, but whenever in doubt, it’s best to go to the vet.  Waiting can end up costing more if the situation worsens as well as making the animal suffer unnecessarily.  I pay almost 70.00 Cdn just for the visit plus whatever meds are needed.  I never get out of there paying less than 200.00.  And I have 3 pets.

(Did you know that lots of people pharmacies will fill vet Rxs?  Mostly for cheaper.)

[hops]

Adopting a pet is a big financial crapshoot. In retrospect, after a very expensive year so far (almost $2k just for an MRI!), we would've been better off purchasing a health insurance policy for our dog while she was still young and it was cheap. Would've cost $25 to $30 per month through Trupanion or similar companies and limited our exposure quite a bit.

Now that our two-year-old pup has been diagnosed with a spinal condition normally found in older dogs we have no idea when or if the expenses will stop piling up. We feel lucky to have enough money to handle it without having to make difficult decisions about her care. The only expense we've been able to reduce so far is prescriptions. The specialty vet is less expensive than her "regular" vet, and non-veterinary pharmacies are even cheaper.

[middo]

It is a little late now, but we had a poodle until about 5 years ago, and she was a fairly expensive dog to maintain as she got grass seeds burrow into her skin regularly, which sometimes needed to be removed surgically if we didn't see them in time.  She also had eye issues as well.

When we got our current dog, we got a breed that is less maintenance, (and doesn't need shaving regularly).  We got a kelpie, but there are other breeds that are much less prone to allergies, hip issues or whatever.

As I said, a little late now, but maybe try a different breed next time?

[MudPuppy]

It pays to know basic dog first aid and some OTC stuff. I have three dogs and two have special needs. Ultimately, though, you need to understand that that’s just how much vet visits cost. $50 is a pretty standard charge for an office visit.

Thank you for your response!  Do you mind if I ask how much you spend on vet bills on your dogs?  I have three as well so maybe it’s unrealistic to think I can cut this expense.  Appreciate your input!

Honestly we spend about $400 a month. Heartworm and flea and tick prevention, food, and then the daily meds. My dogs are on the large side which makes weight based meds more expensive.

[former player]

I tried insurance with my previous dog, because he was my first and I didn't want cost to factor into decisions about his health.  Used it a little but probably not enough to make it financially worth while.  I decided not to insure the current dog who is young and healthy: I had a scare early on when it looked as though an operation might be needed but luckily the problem came right with complete rest for several weeks.

What is worth it I think is developing a good relationship with a good vet surgery.  I'm lucky to have what I think is a good surgery near by and I've learnt which vets there take the most care and give the best advice and try to book appointments with them.  I do go to them for things like flea and worm medication (on a discount for regular use) and always pay promptly.  I think being known as a regular customer who takes the dog to them from adoption to grave helps both with getting good service and occasional discounts.

[zygote]

$48 is a very reasonable price for a vet visit.

Depending on how urgent the issue is, you can always get the prescriptions from your vet and order the medicine from chewy. It sounds like you would have saved a lot doing that on this visit, but that perhaps for this particular issue your dog would have suffered waiting for the meds to ship.

Another way I save money is by emailing the vet. Our vet is happy to give advice and dispense prescriptions over email as long as the pet is current on their checkups (i.e. they have seen the pet in person somewhat recently). This does depends on the issue, though. She uses her judgement on whether a description and photo is enough, or whether she needs to see the problem in person. But when email suffices, we save the money on the office visit and can get any meds from a local pharmacy or chewy.

But honestly, some of this is just the cost of having a pet. We definitely drop $200 (or more...) on vet visits when there is an issue that can't be handled over email.

[Linea_Norway]

It is a little late now, but we had a poodle until about 5 years ago, and she was a fairly expensive dog to maintain as she got grass seeds burrow into her skin regularly, which sometimes needed to be removed surgically if we didn't see them in time.  She also had eye issues as well.

When we got our current dog, we got a breed that is less maintenance, (and doesn't need shaving regularly).  We got a kelpie, but there are other breeds that are much less prone to allergies, hip issues or whatever.

As I said, a little late now, but maybe try a different breed next time?

I heard on a podcast the mixed breed dogs have much less health problems than pure breed dogs. It is because many seldom illnesses are on recessive genes. Pure breeds have a much smaller gene pool and therefore get more double versions of recessive genes. Mixed breeds don't have that problem.

[MudPuppy]

I also want to point out that I knew my dogs had special needs when I adopted them. All three are rescues. I chose them anyway. One of them actually take way fewer meds than when she came to live with us because correct care makes a huge difference. Another we weren't sure what long term consequences of his illness would be, but we got lucky and he's pretty healthy. The $400/mo is basic food, vaccines, and day to day medicines. Any sick visits are on top of that. One needed a 5K surgery to remove her ear canals last year and her quality of life has skyrocketed since we had that done.

Lots of mmm posters don't find that much money acceptable to spend on a pet, but we do.

[kanga1622]

We have not found much in the way to reduce vet expenses. Our vet is good about not charging the "office visit" if it is a recheck or shots after he was just in with a health visit. We budget $200 a month for dog food and $100 for vet/meds/grooming/toys/supplies. When his sinking fund gets to our set level, we quit adding to it unless we had to dip into it.

This is for a young but large dog (under 2 and over 80 lbs). He also requires regular grooming which I do at home but my equipment requires maintenance or replacement. He's had fairly consistent problems with ear infections so we are on an expensive prescription food ATM. But meds for big dogs just cost more so even heartworm or flea/tick preventatives are just more expensive.

Having a dog is expensive but we knew that going in. Our 10 lb dog that we had for 8 years averaged $1000 a year. We spent about $150 a year on food/treats because he ate so little - the rest was all vet visits and grooming.

[BlueHouse]

I heard on a podcast the mixed breed dogs have much less health problems than pure breed dogs. It is because many seldom illnesses are on recessive genes. Pure breeds have a much smaller gene pool and therefore get more double versions of recessive genes. Mixed breeds don't have that problem.

This is true in general, but nowadays, people are breeding mixes to capture the desired traits of one or more breeds.   
In the US, anything mixed with poodle (labradoodle, bernedoodle, schnoodle, yorkipoo, maltipoo, etc) is extremely popular right now.  unfortunately, breeders who are selectively breeding for size, shed, or temperment are minimizing the gene pool too.  it's the minimizing of the gene pool that causes the problems, as you've stated above and as I understand it as well. 

[ketchup]

It can help to have a little doggie first aid kit handy.  And research ahead of time what OTC stuff can be used.  When one of our dogs got poison ivy on her face, we gave her half a baby benadryl (dose depends on size of the dog obviously) and used some OTC cream (don't remember what offhand), and that did the trick.

However if your due-in-three-weeks pregnant bitch wanders off during walk in the woods and comes back a minute later with her paw sliced open and gushing blood (my eyes have never been so wide), you don't give half a shit what it costs to pay the emergency visit fee and get her fixed up.  It ended up around $300 and I'd have happily paid more.

From what I can tell, pet insurance is mostly a joke.  It almost never pencils out over the long term.  We've spent probably just over a grand total on emergency vet services in the past ten years including the above incident, and we have a whole pack of Australian Shepherds.  I ran a quote a few weeks ago just for giggles, and they wanted $304/mo with a $250 deductible for eight dogs and did not cover preventative care at all.  No.

[Sibley]

To answer your question "How to save on vet bills?": Don't have pets?

This stuff happens. It sucks, but it's part of the territory.


Edit:
Less snarky answer. Sorry, you hit a nerve with your question.

To a certain extent, I am unwilling to cut costs. I made a commitment to care for my cat(s) for their entire lives with me, and I take that seriously. However, within that there is some room for flexibility. I buy flea treatments online from reputable vendors, it's the same stuff that the vet has but costs less. I'm not willing to switch to an off brand however because of the increased risk to the animal.

I won't feed the cheapest available food, but I do start with the cheapest acceptable quality food. If for whatever reason the cat isn't doing well on that, then I try something else. Currently, I feed Purina One dry food and Fancy Feast wet. That's pretty much the minimum I'm willing to do, and Arwen is healthy and happy, so no reason to change.

Medically, if the cat needs to go to the vet, then I take them. I have a certain philosophy about animal care however which tends to preclude the most expensive stuff. I don't do chemo or radiation for example - if the animal gets cancer, we're likely doing palliative care. I finally found a vet in my area whose treat philosophy lines up with mine pretty well. It helps. My cats haven't needed regular medication that is easy to buy online. Arwen gets an injection of asthma meds periodically. Sibley before she died needed heart meds which wasn't too bad but the compounding into a liquid form added a bunch. It was end of life care and I knew it, so I paid it.

I do get creative with other things. Arwen loves fleece. Rather than spending gobs of money on fleece blankets, I go to the fabric store and by a couple yards of fleece and cut it to the size I need. She's happy, and I probably spent $10-20 depending on sales and how much I get. You can try to buy discounted gift cards for the pet store. That can save a decent chunk.

But really, sometimes it's just expensive. It is the price of having an animal that brings me joy.

[Frankies Girl]

My suggestion is to find a new full service clinic that allows you to fill prescriptions online, and start questioning things they are charging. Politely. I usually state the obvious: "I have too many animals/failed foster parent/please take pity on me" but ask. If they can work with you (and feel like doing so) you should get an occasional break on things.



I have a vet that we love at a full service clinic about a half hour from us, but unfortunately the clinic's owner died and his family sold it to the evil empire and prices went up significantly. The medical director that had been there since the before times is very diplomatic (all the vets/tech are fantastic) but works with us on getting creative with how they charge things. I just explain up front I understand pricing is set elsewhere, but if there is anything we can avoid doing or alternatives (cheaper meds/pills instead of shot) without compromising the animal's health or the vet/animal safety, it would be greatly appreciated. We drive out of our way for them. In the event of a scary 911 emergency, we know there's a clinic less than 5 minutes from our house, but they are ONLY for emergency; once stabilized, we will be continuing the rest of the care with the regular trusted-but-further-from-us vet clinic.


I also do research online for alternatives that make sense if my pet runs into a chronic or ongoing health issue. I won't go totally nuts trying unproven/non-science backed theories but if several vet studies say "this may be a good alternative" and it's not hard or expensive or risks the animal's health or comfort levels, it's worth a shot. Like switching to a primarily wet cat food diet instead of buying the hella expensive prescription diet dry kibble that would control a pet's propensity to develop crystals/UTIs. Wet food diets with a small amount of dry food for convenience (still is a urinary tract formulation that is available from regular stores and frequently on sale) eliminated the problems completely and the cats are now healthy, and the food changes were minimal inconvenience compared to the costs (and worth it considering we also avoid the poor cat being traumatized by any more pain from UTI/vet visits).

[RetiredAt63]

I heard on a podcast the mixed breed dogs have much less health problems than pure breed dogs. It is because many seldom illnesses are on recessive genes. Pure breeds have a much smaller gene pool and therefore get more double versions of recessive genes. Mixed breeds don't have that problem.

This is true in general, but nowadays, people are breeding mixes to capture the desired traits of one or more breeds.   
In the US, anything mixed with poodle (labradoodle, bernedoodle, schnoodle, yorkipoo, maltipoo, etc) is extremely popular right now.  unfortunately, breeders who are selectively breeding for size, shed, or temperment are minimizing the gene pool too.  it's the minimizing of the gene pool that causes the problems, as you've stated above and as I understand it as well.

A poodle with bad hips crossed with a golden with bad hips is going to produce mixes with bad hips.  Mixes are no guarantee of good health. 

Some issues can be avoided by making careful choices. Breeds with floppy ears get more ear infections. Get a dog with prick ears if you live in a humid area.   Get a dog that you can easily groom, to catch skin problems early.  Train your puppy to cooperate with nail trimming. A dog with a good bite has fewer dental issues.  The nice thing about a good breeder is that they care about health and will have tested for hip and elbow displasia, genetic cataracts, etc., whatever their breed is vulnerable to.

[MudPuppy]

I can't justify buying a dog from a breeder when there are so many perfectly good dogs in need of homes at shelters.

[K_in_the_kitchen]

I've learned it helps to ask if there is a less expensive medication alternative. In one case I asked and my dog was switched from a $125 antibiotic to one that cost $30 -- it worked fine. This wasn't at my regular vet, we had a weekend emergency and were at at PetsMart vet.  DH did the same thing another time at another Sunday PetsMart visit.

I also ask to watch and wait.  My small dog had some weird symptoms in early March -- he was clingy and was trembling in a sort of rhythmic manner. A small amount of internet research suggested full/ impacted anal glands, so we had the groomer empty them -- they said they were very full.  It reduced the trembling but didn't eliminate it.  I took him to the vet to have them do the glands from the inside (I suppose we're going to have to learn to do this -- this is our first small dog and we've never had this issue before). The vet was perplexed by his symptoms because he was still active and eating, had no fever, etc.  She said if it was overly full glands he might be in pain, and she could give a Rx for a pain med, but then she suggested doing an X-ray to check for anything out of the ordinary.  I decided I would rather watch and wait.

Like other posters, we reference the Benadryl dosage for dogs by weight -- this was first suggested by our old vet.

Our current vet office has changed up completely (we've been using this vet since 1992). I still like the vets, but everything is more expensive now that our favorite vet retired and sold the practice to another one of the vets. Clipping nails used to be complementary as long as the pet was well-behaved, and now it's $30. The vet who bought the practice is the one we knew always suggested the most interventions and testing, whereas the vet who retired always gave us ways to save money, and was more practical overall.  We could look for another practice, but this one is close to our house.  They aren't full service with major surgeries or anything like that anymore -- we have to drive 40 minutes to get to that vet.

I have heard of a vet that's less expensive, he's about 15 minutes away and doesn't do appointments -- it's all walk-ins and waiting.  For us, the time loss probably isn't worth the lower prices.

The two dogs we have now haven't been expensive in terms of vet bills.  One is a German Shepherd dog and he's our first GSD not to have chronic medical issues.  The small dog is a chihuahua mix, and he's pretty healthy too.  As I mentioned he's our first small dog, and wow, small dogs are less expensive to maintain!  They eat less food and cost less to groom.  But I guess his teeth are a bigger concern.  We already had to have his baby canines extracted when his adult canines came in without the baby teeth falling out.  Now they want us to get started on a small dog teeth cleaning program -- if we start before his 3rd birthday it will be $200 per year as long as we don't let more than 14 months go between cleanings.  I have to research to see if that's a good price -- the vet says it would be $400 otherwise.

[MudPuppy]

@K_in_SoCal re: teeth

Virbac makes some excellent daily chews that have been stellar for the oral health of my dogs. Since starting these, I have had zero need to take them in for dental cleanings. Some fosters I have had actually had noticeable decrease in plaque and tartar. I like these and these.

[K_in_the_kitchen]

Some issues can be avoided by making careful choices. Breeds with floppy ears get more ear infections. Get a dog with prick ears if you live in a humid area.   Get a dog that you can easily groom, to catch skin problems early.  Train your puppy to cooperate with nail trimming. A dog with a good bite has fewer dental issues.  The nice thing about a good breeder is that they care about health and will have tested for hip and elbow displasia, genetic cataracts, etc., whatever their breed is vulnerable to.

We've never bought a dog from a breeder in the past, but our next puppy will be a GSD from a reputable breeder.  Our first rescue GSD had hip dysplasia and pannus, and the pannus required compounded eye drops.  Our second rescue GSD had hip dysplasia, chronic infections, a neurological disorder, and her temperament was awful -- the trainer we took her to said she'd been bred badly and her nervous system was bad.  Her fear aggression had to be managed her entire life, and wasn't easy despite all the trainman we did with her.  We love GSDs, but we want to raise a puppy and to hopefully avoid some of the issues we've had with adopting adult dogs (destructive separation anxiety, thunder phobic, overprotective to the point of biting family members, aggression toward other dogs, chronic health issues, etc.).  For the first two decades of our marriage we had mixed breeds, then moved to adopting rescue GSDs because they're my favorite dog.  We're getting older now, and need our next dog to be more solid in temperament, healthy, and trained from the beginning to be a canine good citizen (in reality as well as earning his certificate).

To bring this back on topic, I believe we can save on vet bills by raising a dog that doesn't hurt himself because of separation anxiety (we had a mix who would tear her paws bloody), doesn't fight with other dogs and require medical care (or cause another dog in the household to require medical care), is certified free of hip and elbow dysplasia, comes from parents who don't carry degenerative diseases, etc.

[K_in_the_kitchen]

@K_in_SoCal re: teeth

Virbac makes some excellent daily chews that have been stellar for the oral health of my dogs. Since starting these, I have had zero need to take them in for dental cleanings. Some fosters I have had actually had noticeable decrease in plaque and tartar. I like these and these.

Thanks for the idea!  Do you have small dogs?  I'd love to find an answer to small dog teeth problems without yearly cleanings under anesthesia.  The chihuahua mix is big for a small dog, about 14 pounds.

[MudPuppy]

No, I have three large pitbull types, but I've fostered all ages and sizes. I have friends who work in in the vet field who agree that these do help with small dog oral hygiene.

[Captain Cactus]

Vets have been hurt badly clients taking their pharmacy business to the online retailers... historically the veterinarian's pharmacy represents about 25%-35% of their annual revenue but the online retailers have brought that down a bit. 

So it's true that you can get the meds, preventives, etc... a little cheaper online... but guess what?  Hospital costs remain the same (business loan, payroll, utilities, etc...) so guess how they make up for that lost revenue to Chewy?  Over time they increase the costs of their services that can't be outsourced (surgery, office visits, diagnostics, etc...).

Who would you rather support?  A local business that serves their local community?  Or a large online pharmacy that serves their shareholders?  If you don't support your local businesses then they won't be there.

I do have some opinions on the topic:  If one cannot afford to take care of their pets (food, medication, unexpected emergencies, etc...) they should not take on the responsibility of pet ownership.  Rescuing a bunch of special needs dogs and slapping on the "who rescued who" bumper sticker is all well and good and makes one feel fuzzy inside, but remember that pet ownership is a huge emotional and financial responsibility...don't do it unless you can afford it long term...and remember that medical care costs the most at the end of the pet's (and humans...) life.  Prepare for this...have an emergency fund.

Veterinary medicine is real medicine... there are doctors, nurses, medicines, surgery, etc... there is a real cost for this care...plus it's a cash business so you see the full cost of care.  Compare this to human medicine with a cost generally hidden by insurance and it can feeeel like veterinary medicine costs a lot more. 

Shop around for vets if you must but know that in veterinary medicine you get what you pay for.  Once you find a vet you like I would encourage you to support them by not buying your prescriptions online.  Yes, you can "optimize" and save some money but the savings won't be thaaaat substantial over time and you're royally screwing your local vet and supporting The Man by buying your stuff online.  Just a thought.

PS, a large percentage of medications, flea/tick/heartworm preventives in the online pharmacies are grey market product.  Buyer beware.

[RetiredAt63]

I can't justify buying a dog from a breeder when there are so many perfectly good dogs in need of homes at shelters.

Not saying you have to, just pointing it out as an option.  And dogs do get returned to breeders through no fault of their own.  If you (generic you) fall in love with a specific breed, like I did, you don't find the canine love of your life at a shelter very often.  You may have some luck with a breed specific rescue group.

Also please remember I did say good breeders.  Good breeders love their breed, consider health and temperament when they breed, and they are lucky if they break even financially.  I loathe puppy mills. 

[Frankies Girl]

Vets have been hurt badly clients taking their pharmacy business to the online retailers... historically the veterinarian's pharmacy represents about 25%-35% of their annual revenue but the online retailers have brought that down a bit. 

So it's true that you can get the meds, preventives, etc... a little cheaper online... but guess what?  Hospital costs remain the same (business loan, payroll, utilities, etc...) so guess how they make up for that lost revenue to Chewy?  Over time they increase the costs of their services that can't be outsourced (surgery, office visits, diagnostics, etc...).

Who would you rather support?  A local business that serves their local community?  Or a large online pharmacy that serves their shareholders?  If you don't support your local businesses then they won't be there.

I do have some opinions on the topic:  If one cannot afford to take care of their pets (food, medication, unexpected emergencies, etc...) they should not take on the responsibility of pet ownership.  Rescuing a bunch of special needs dogs and slapping on the "who rescued who" bumper sticker is all well and good and makes one feel fuzzy inside, but remember that pet ownership is a huge emotional and financial responsibility...don't do it unless you can afford it long term...and remember that medical care costs the most at the end of the pet's (and humans...) life.  Prepare for this...have an emergency fund.

Veterinary medicine is real medicine... there are doctors, nurses, medicines, surgery, etc... there is a real cost for this care...plus it's a cash business so you see the full cost of care.  Compare this to human medicine with a cost generally hidden by insurance and it can feeeel like veterinary medicine costs a lot more. 

Shop around for vets if you must but know that in veterinary medicine you get what you pay for.  Once you find a vet you like I would encourage you to support them by not buying your prescriptions online.  Yes, you can "optimize" and save some money but the savings won't be thaaaat substantial over time and you're royally screwing your local vet and supporting The Man by buying your stuff online.  Just a thought.

PS, a large percentage of medications, flea/tick/heartworm preventives in the online pharmacies are grey market product.  Buyer beware.

I bought meds mostly from our vet until they got bought out by a national corporation, and the prices went way up. A tube of hairball goo used to cost $9 at the vet now costs $16 and that led me to discover I can buy the exact same brand/item online for $6-7. I am willing to pay a bit more to support a clinic I like and to have the convenience of getting the product instantly, but there are limits.

Supporting a local business is one thing, but getting screwed over by them is quite another. They must all be aware of online pharmacies enough to check pricing and maybe price things slightly higher instead of double/triple.

I think if you're taking care of just one pet, the premiums of using a vet clinic pharmacy exclusively isn't as painful so more likely to just go with their stock/pricing, but when you have several pets, you have to look for better deals.



ETA: To be clear, I am not disagreeing with the idea that vet clinics need to make a profit, but charging double or more the price for meds/supplies seems like a shooting-themselves-in-the-foot situation. It isn't about being too poor to afford basic care. But just because we may have the funds to pay double or triple the amount doesn't mean we should.

[MudPuppy]

  Rescuing a bunch of special needs dogs and slapping on the "who rescued who" bumper sticker is all well and good and makes one feel fuzzy inside, but remember that pet ownership is a huge emotional and financial responsibility...do it unless you can afford it long term...and remember that med.

I think that at least in this thread people know that, but it’s shocking how resentful some pet owners are about basic care costs

[Captain Cactus]

  Rescuing a bunch of special needs dogs and slapping on the "who rescued who" bumper sticker is all well and good and makes one feel fuzzy inside, but remember that pet ownership is a huge emotional and financial responsibility...do it unless you can afford it long term...and remember that med.

I think that at least in this thread people know that, but it’s shocking how resentful some pet owners are about basic care costs

I think that's a great way to put it...resentment... they "know" pet ownership is expensive but they resent when it's actually time to pay.  In my experience there are a lot (over 20%?) who really can't afford to have pets because they can't properly care for them (food, medical care, etc...) and will sometimes opt to put an otherwise fixable pet to sleep because they can't pay the cost of care and they can't bear the thought of surrendering the pet and having someone else own/love it.

[MudPuppy]

Makes me sad because it feels like treating a sentient being like an object. I won’t force the Sarah McLaughlin pictures of my puppos “before” on you all, but it’s been really rewarding to see how appropriate care can transform them both physically and emotionally.

[ketchup]

I can't justify buying a dog from a breeder when there are so many perfectly good dogs in need of homes at shelters.

Not saying you have to, just pointing it out as an option.  And dogs do get returned to breeders through no fault of their own.  If you (generic you) fall in love with a specific breed, like I did, you don't find the canine love of your life at a shelter very often.  You may have some luck with a breed specific rescue group.

Also please remember I did say good breeders.  Good breeders love their breed, consider health and temperament when they breed, and they are lucky if they break even financially.  I loathe puppy mills.

Oh hello!  I don't have all the numbers in front of me, but we came out behind on our last litter, roughly broke even on the one before that, and came out ahead on the previous one to that.  I worked out all the time we spent and it worked out to almost a dollar an hour.  And my GF basically takes 2-3 months off work each time.

If you're doing everything right, it's a really bad way to make money.  If you're doing everything right.

[hudsoncat]

I must admit, reading stories about vets always makes me appreciate mine more. I know they are not the cheapest in town overall, but I appreciate their continued willingness to offer cheaper alternatives when appropriate and options on all things. Of course, with four dogs currently and multiple adopted hospice cases over the years, we've given them plenty of money, so maybe they're just trying to give back a little. ha!

Like someone up thread, we also have a monthly budget for vet care that we stick into savings each month until I hit the comfort threshold (varies depending on how many dogs and their ages, currently a little higher with two dogs 10+). That fund helps even out the unexpected vet visit costs and as well as cover the the yearly well checks/vaccinations/HW preventative.

[RetiredAt63]

I can't justify buying a dog from a breeder when there are so many perfectly good dogs in need of homes at shelters.

Not saying you have to, just pointing it out as an option.  And dogs do get returned to breeders through no fault of their own.  If you (generic you) fall in love with a specific breed, like I did, you don't find the canine love of your life at a shelter very often.  You may have some luck with a breed specific rescue group.

Also please remember I did say good breeders.  Good breeders love their breed, consider health and temperament when they breed, and they are lucky if they break even financially.  I loathe puppy mills.

Oh hello!  I don't have all the numbers in front of me, but we came out behind on our last litter, roughly broke even on the one before that, and came out ahead on the previous one to that.  I worked out all the time we spent and it worked out to almost a dollar an hour.  And my GF basically takes 2-3 months off work each time.

If you're doing everything right, it's a really bad way to make money.  If you're doing everything right.

So much this. In my favorite breed there are the hip x-rays, and the elbow x-rays, and the eye checks, on top of all the regular vet costs. And the groomng equipment.   And the showing, because you want to be meeting breed standards and that means Championships*.  And because they are a working breed, all the time and money for that.  You are going to get so rich on $1/hour.   ;-)

And that is why I hate puppy mills. Because how can they be profitable if they are doing everything right?  They can't.

*This is most breeds.  I know someone who had Alaskan huskies and they are such a racing breed that they are not CKC registered, because the traits that are good for sledding are actually selected against in the show ring.

[SotI]

Seriously, if there was a way to reduce vet costs without causing suffering to the little critters that depend on our care I'd love to hear about this, too.

I think I have already spent around 3-4k bucks on vet bills this year *cba to check*. Mostly on dental treatment and end-of-life care for my elderly pets. Love my vets, they are really great, but good care does add up at senior pet age.

Still, I rather pay for a good vet and suitable care, then skimping on treatment and let the beasts dependent on us suffer.
I always try to cut my budget, but I just accept that I rather live on pasta and water for months than to let the little critters suffer knowingly.

Sorry, OP, I know this doesn't solve your budget issue, but I do get your dilemma, even though I don't have a solution. Mind you, I would at least move to dry food for the ferals, as well (they can compensate and it should shave off at least a few bucks).

[Cassie]

If my dogs need monthly medications I buy from the vet the first time and then have the RX sent to Petmeds.  For years we had 4 dogs mostly old but it got too expensive. When they died we adopted 2 younger dogs. Being retired that’s the best choice for us. We give them the medical care they need. We have spent thousands on surgeries, dentals and medications.

[projekt]

I save a lot on vet bills after completing a 4-year veterinary degree and buying a practice.

[TheWifeHalf]

"How is everyone not spending hundreds of dollars on vet bills?  There's got to be a smarter way to do this."

We are spending less because we are down to 2 (had many more at one time)
I learned early on that timely vet care, and doing what's available to keep them healthy, paid.

I avoid vet visits by feeding a good quality dog food (Nutro's), when our numbers were higher - giving the vaccines myself (however the Rabies MUST be given by the vet) and when there were every 3 yr vaccines (happened when we were down to 5), doing that at the vet's.  That was cheaper than buy a pack of vaccines.

I 'know' my dogs and saved money by knowing there was a problem before the vet knew (pyometra) - that really cut down on the cost!
I followed the vet's call and doing a surgery on a different dog, that usually has a 7 day stay at the hospital - they called me the next day and said he was ready to go! This was because we did surgery right away - easier and cheaper recuperating, at home.

Instead of the monthly heartworm preventive available at the vet's, I give a generic, farm product that is way cheaper and just as effective. The vet knows I do this, but he knows my dogs come in whenever there is a problem.

MY dog was having old age seizures, and I had the choice of 2 tabs. The first they've been using for years. It is cheaper, with a bit more risk and requires periodic blood work to make sure the dog is handling it. But, there is a human product they will prescribe, but since it costs so much more, most people opt for the cheaper med.
I opted for the higher, that doesn't require any blood check - it is given to human children. They don't stock it at the vet's, so he writes a script and we got it at Costgo. We are not members there, but by law they have to make their pharmacy open to anyone.  Paying more for the med, but not at the vet's for bloodwork, made this med about the same price in the long run.

I trim the dogs' toenails myself, and schedule dentals regularly - prevention that pays off.

That's all I can think of right now.

[RetiredAt63]

"How is everyone not spending hundreds of dollars on vet bills?  There's got to be a smarter way to do this."

I trim the dogs' toenails myself, and schedule dentals regularly - prevention that pays off.

That's all I can think of right now.

Your approach is very sensible.  I find a lot of people's pet costs aren't vet bills, just daily expenses.  If you feed a high quality food the dogs (and cats) need less, the total cost remains the same, and they stay healthier.

Grooming - if the owner can do all the grooming that is a huge savings.  My dog would have been over $100 at a groomer's, bath and blow out.  I did it myself.  Nails - most people don't trim them enough, you should never hear the dog's nails click on the floor, it affects how they walk.  So first click, get out the nail clippers.  Dog is healthier because the nails get trimmed without the slowdown of making an appointment and getting to the groomer's, and you save money.  Same with teeth, learn to brush teeth and get treats that clean teeth, and your dental bills go way down. 

It is like having a lawn, you look after it yourself, or you pay someone to do it.  Except pets are a lot more fun than lawns.

[Cassie]

Wife, Nurto used to be a good food and I used it for years. Then they got bought out by Mars and changed the formula. It’s now linked to congestive heart failure even in younger dogs. I lost a dog to it. Coincidentally I became friends with a ex dog show breeder that belonged to a closed group on Facebook that’s following research on dog food and CHF. The only food that doesn’t comes from the big 5. I had purposely avoided them. I either feed Purina One or Royal canine.

[MudPuppy]

Are you talking about the link between grainfree diets and DCM?

[Cassie]

Not just grain free. The big five have full time PhD nutritionists that conduct trials of food on dogs that are well treated. No one else can afford to do that. Many grain formulas are also hurting dogs. Many breeders of expensive show dogs have switched. I actually was surprised.

[MudPuppy]

Oh I’d be interested in links if you have any! I feed Purina Pro Plan to my pups and fosters. The difference is obvious within two weeks.

[startingsmall]

Oh I’d be interested in links if you have any! I feed Purina Pro Plan to my pups and fosters. The difference is obvious within two weeks.

Here's the FDA report. While 91% of the foods associated with DCM were grain-free, not all were.

I'm a veterinarian and I feed ProPlan.

[nirodha]

The low cost pet hack is to care for animals you do not own. Foster for an animal shelter - there's a good chance on top of medical care, you'll get all supplies for free. Watch other people's pets, and maybe you can even get paid.

[SunnyDays]

Oh I’d be interested in links if you have any! I feed Purina Pro Plan to my pups and fosters. The difference is obvious within two weeks.

Here's the FDA report. While 91% of the foods associated with DCM were grain-free, not all were.

I'm a veterinarian and I feed ProPlan.

Link please?

[Cassie]

Thanks it’s proplan. One of my Maltese didn’t do well on it so I switched them to royal canine for Maltese. So glad a veterinarian spoke up.

[KBecks]

My suggestions are to 1) get a breed that does not have high incidence of health conditions, and 2) feed high quality food.

Then, you might want to shop around for a good vet. 
Also, protect your pet from injuries, don't let it get into things that it shouldn't, etc.

[startingsmall]

Oh I’d be interested in links if you have any! I feed Purina Pro Plan to my pups and fosters. The difference is obvious within two weeks.

Here's the FDA report. While 91% of the foods associated with DCM were grain-free, not all were.

I'm a veterinarian and I feed ProPlan.

Link please?

Oops, the link didn't attach!

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy

[ketchup]

Instead of the monthly heartworm preventive available at the vet's, I give a generic, farm product that is way cheaper and just as effective. The vet knows I do this, but he knows my dogs come in whenever there is a problem.

What do you use for heartworm?

[slappy]

This has been mentioned, but the way I "save" is by creating a sinking fund for vet expenses. That way I don't have to worry about the money being there when it's needed.

[MudPuppy]

Instead of the monthly heartworm preventive available at the vet's, I give a generic, farm product that is way cheaper and just as effective. The vet knows I do this, but he knows my dogs come in whenever there is a problem.

What do you use for heartworm?

Butting in- at the rescue I work with, they often use ivermectin for livestock because of the volume they go through. It’s not safe for all breeds and you have to sure of the dosing. It is NOT labeled for pet use.