So I took our dogs for another semi annual visit to the vet last week. Also because our older BF has a growth on his nose that he keeps on scratching and I wanted it removed. Turns out that they have to put him under anesthesia so they recommended he get his teeth cleaned again. This is a once a year covered procedure. But to have the skin tag removed will cost me $252 extra ouch.
I think I’ve mentioned before I pay $30/month per dog for a medical plan. And I think I’ve even mentioned it’s Banfield. I think the plan is a great deal for all the work we’ve had done on our dogs. But I want to discuss how pets are a recurring bill.
Every month we have to pay for their medications like flea/tick control and heartguard. We have to buy their dog food every other month. We have to have them vaccinated and examined annually. Every month there can be unexpected expenses for their medical needs.
Pets are not a one time expense. If anything the recurring monthly costs far exceed the $1k it might cost to purchase the pet initially. Definitely with the first year there are costs to vaccinating and neutering/spaying your pet, obediance school, and buying leashes, collars, bowls, kennels, or setup costs.
I wonder if so many pets aren’t dumped because there is so much recurring costs? That people think that you buy the pet and that’s it? The truth is that as your pet ages you end up spending many, many times over for medical care.
I guess my point is, don’t just look at the initial outlay for a dog or cat. Consider it’s a bill you might be paying for the next 10-20 years that only increases in price.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Christina // Oct 25, 2008 at 11:38 am
If only people would consider it . . . we would have far fewer pets in the shelters. And with the economic downturn, I have heard that there has definitely been an uptick in abandoned pets.
2 Ginger // Oct 25, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I can totally totally relate. Having three cats this year that were sick at one time or another with one being sick throughout the year is draining on the monthly budget.
3 fengshui // Oct 25, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I’m a bad cat/ doggie mom. I don’t do the “annual exam”, and I only have the vaccines that I need for them to be boarded. We don’t do flea/tick because it is toxic, and we don’t do the heart worm. I’ve never had their teeth professionally cleaned, but we do brush their teeth with a toothbrush every month. Thankfully nothing major has ever happened with the dogs and cats. Just the spay/ neuter proceedures…. We do buy high end food though. It is called Before Grain and it is a grain free/ soy/ wheat free food with the best ingredients, and is a little pricey, but I know that it is best for their health, so it is worth it to me. I think that we take excellent care of our dogs and try to stick to minimal vet care and not jump on every recommendation by the vet, they try to get you to do all kinds of non-required things/ treatments.
4 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 29, 2008 at 11:02 am
No, I think that it’s fine to do the minimum. But fengshui, would you put down your dog because it cost $250 to repair a broken leg? There are people who do that.
And when you do that I feel it’s irresponsible. You know that pets cost money. If you aren’t willing to be responsible why get them?
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