"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.