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 Do you know what you spend per mo on your pet?
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| Author | Topic: Do you know what you spend per mo on your pet? |
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honeybear Member  Posts: 926 |
posted 01-14-2004 08:47 AM
 
This was brought up last night by my husband, I was putting our budget for the year together and showed him, I had plugged in 100$ every other month. He told me to think about it, that wasnt realistic and it was more like $100 a month, with all of the food, vet bills, medicine like heartgaurd, and to think about if we added another dog, think of the cost. Well I sat down this morning, really tried to get an accurate figure and it is more like $130, if not more. Boy I sure wish I could count them as dependents! I have 2 big dogs so I know this adds to the cost. Just curious as to what you spend, I really dont see anyway to get the costs down, unless I stop panicing at every little thing awhen I rush them to the emergency room! IP: Logged |
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puggleowner Member Posts: 228 |
posted 01-14-2004 09:01 AM
I would say it's about 80-100 for me as well, because we usually get her groomed once a month, that's 15, then there's food, that's about 10, then heartguard, 10, treats is the big one- since I usually pick her up a bag of greenies, rawhides or milkbones at least once every couple weeks, I'd say that adds up to about 30.00, then there's toys- I think I pick her up a couple new stuffed animals or balls a month because she ruins her toys so quickly, so that's about 15.00, and that's not even including when she needs to visit the vet or when I pick her up something extra, like a sweater for the cold weather or a new leash-- it's amazing how much I spend on that dog! I don't think people realize the costs, they just think about the initial price, but it is so much more than that! It was so sad, once I had only 50.00 left until my next paycheck, and I spent 30.00 of it on a bag of greenies and a new squeeky ball for Cameron. So pathetic! That is one major reason I'm debating getting a second dog as well- I don't know if I could afford it! [This message has been edited by puggleowner (edited 01-14-2004).] IP: Logged |
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dukesdad Member Posts: 117 |
posted 01-14-2004 09:02 AM
A few years ago I maintained a Quicken Checkbook system that would track and itemize household expenses. At that time we had one Lab. I was amazed at the end of the year to see we had spent over $1500.00 on Jake. That covered expenses for food, routine Vet care, and boarding. ( We travel about four weeks a year so that was a big expense). IP: Logged |
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Jamiya Member Posts: 1392 |
posted 01-14-2004 09:21 AM
I think $1500/year is what the AKC projects as the cost to care for a dog. I am afraid to add mine up! We have spent a LOT in the last 4 months since getting Nala, but I think it will settle down once we have a routine. I am researching raw feeding and food costs, so that issue is still in limbo.
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Rene Member Posts: 161 |
posted 01-14-2004 09:24 AM
well Nala has to have special food cuz she has hepitias (sp)so her food is $40.00 for a 20lb bag and for a while i had to take her to the vet every 3 mos for a blood panal that was about 150.00 Plus her meds one of them was 100.00 a month i added up my vet bill just for her (i get the food at the vet also) and in 6 mos i had spent over 7,000.00 on her not to metion what i spent when she was a baby and got parvo now i only buy her special food and heat gaurd and frontline so it is a cheaper for her but i also have the 2 yorkies and 2 cats they all get the frontline the yorkies eat scince diet which i get from the vet i go thru that faster then Nala's food cuz she eats all their food. I have said it 1000 times Nala is my million dollar dog and to top it off i think she is starting to have problems with her hips now. (she is a 7 year old rotty) so now i have to have that checked out and i think my Yorkie may be having baby's so here go the expense's again O well they are worth it but it is very hard for me cover all of this i need 3 jobs just to pay for the animals not to metion the human kids IP: Logged |
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tuttifrutti Member Posts: 478 |
posted 01-14-2004 09:32 AM
I would think that with after they grow out of the puppy stage and are not yet in the senior years, the cost will go down a little bit. I would think because you don't have to buy all of the medicine and extra vet care of a senior, and you aren't buying as many toys and chewies as when they are a puppy. That may not be true. It was with our aussie, because she didn't like toys much. She went through 2 leashes in her whole life. Ranger is mcuh different though, he is much more spoiled, since he enjoys it, and I enjoy getting to watch him with all of the toys! IP: Logged |
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honeybear Member Posts: 926 |
posted 01-14-2004 10:03 AM
Wow, now I dont feel so bad with what I spend since I will do whatever it takes to make mypets comfy and happy and healthy. Puggleowner, I know what you mean abut going to petco, I go for food but then Is a treat or a toy that I know they just have to have IP: Logged |
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MaryNH Member Posts: 240 |
posted 01-14-2004 11:06 AM
don't let my husband see this...but I'd say with my dog about $150-$200/month. She has Hills Prescription Diet cause she had kidney stones removed last year plus she is prone to UTI. She goes to a vet who chiropractic work once a month. And if I was really brave I could divide her $1,100 surgery last May by 12 and add that in. I need a 2nd job!!! IP: Logged |
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Maisey Member Posts: 1387 |
posted 01-14-2004 11:18 AM
LOL! NO NO NO, I am not going here...uh uh no sir not going to happen. I don't want to know and I certainly don't want my husband to know! IP: Logged |
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Jamiya Member Posts: 1392 |
posted 01-14-2004 11:29 AM
I'm with you, Maisey. One cat is now on two heart meds and just when I was assuring my husband that they didn't cost TOO much, they doubled one of the doses. The ultrasound cost $350 and he will probably need one every year or so, not to mention the blood panels. Of course, I also have a mouse on meds. And it's amazing how much 15 mice will eat. I just don't want to know.
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Sugar Member Posts: 110 |
posted 01-14-2004 01:55 PM
Goodness you guys are spending a lot each month. Uh, let's see....With heartguard and dewormer, that's about 13.00....and treats are 2.79......and I make her snacks and most meals now, so I know I am spending more than I was, but I really do not spend much at all. She's 14 months old...in great health...no vet bills for a long time now. Go back in June. Uh....really, I'd say $20 a month altogether. Now that I make her snacks with baby food, I spend more on that, but they make so many.....uh let's see....I'll add $10.00 a month on extra stuff to make the snacks and treats... Ok...$30.00 is all I can come up with. She has lots and lots of toys...I made her winter coat out of fleece, big buck...$2.00 for the whole thing...looks great...custom made. Her shampoo last forever, for I add water to it to make it go further and it actually washes better with more suds. Hummm....I do believe that's about all I can come up with. Frontline in the summer adds a Kick to it. Okay...thanks for letting me THINK OUT LOUD. IP: Logged |
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Jamiya Member Posts: 1392 |
posted 01-14-2004 02:19 PM
You have to realize, Sugar, that multiple pets add up really fast. Your $13 for heartgard and de-wormer x 3 makes it $39. We had about 10 years where all we bought was Science Diet dog food and CNM UR cat food and did vaccinations and heartworm medication. We spent very little, even with 2 cats and 2 dogs. But now the cats are getting older and I took them in for blood panels to make sure they are okay and the vet found a heart murmur in one. And I started feeding better food, although I am looking into raw feeding and hope to find an economical way to do it. We SHOULD have been spending money on cleaning teeth through the years. With Nala, I will either spend the money or hopefully avoid the necessity with proper foods and tooth brushing. When your dog is older, she may end up needing arthritis medication or have other health problems. According to your figures, you are only spending about $5/month on food, which you say is more than you were spending before you started making her food. What the heck are you feeding her and what did you USED to be feeding her for less than that?
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Maisey Member Posts: 1387 |
posted 01-14-2004 02:20 PM
I mean this in the friendliest most polite way Sugar...BITE ME! Frontline and of course all the one time purchases crates IP: Logged |
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kyles101 Member Posts: 227 |
posted 01-15-2004 02:49 AM
you got me thinking bout that one.. let me calculate.. [ive never actually sat down and done it before] this is per month. 60 for dog food holy crud thats 228 bucks! and thats australian dollars eeep. IP: Logged |
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susan_cude@hotmail.com Member Posts: 813 |
posted 01-15-2004 05:26 AM
Maisey you crack me up!!!! "Bite me" too funny!!!! I don't even want to think about how much i spend on Casey, Freebie and four puppies...Ouch!!!! I know I'm poor now! Hum, wonder why!!! I buy them something extra at least twice a week...If my husband realized how much I spend, I think he would tar and feather me!!! I won't be adding it up right now, don't want to get depressed..heheheh...Susan IP: Logged |
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charmedagain Member Posts: 790 |
posted 01-15-2004 05:53 AM
With all the food, vet bills and so on i spend roughly about £600 a month but i do have alot of german shepherds. Then when my dogs are expecting there is the ultra sound scan costs to go on top of that and the vaccinations and worming of the puppies on top of that luckily my dogs dont have loads of litters or i would be buggered lol. Now i seem to know where all my money goes every month. its more expensive owning pets than it is having kids lol. mike. IP: Logged |
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Sugar Member Posts: 110 |
posted 01-15-2004 06:21 AM
Maisey...BITE ME ???  just because my pet bill is less ??? uh ?
The dog food I buy her is INNOVA by NUTRA...some of the best in the market today. It's about $25.00 and last for about 4 months. Remember I'm only feeding a 12 pound peekapoo. BLESSINGS to all <>< IP: Logged |
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Jamiya Member Posts: 1392 |
posted 01-15-2004 06:42 AM
Ohhhh, a 12-pound peekapoo! Well that explains it. We used to buy a 40-pound bag of Science Diet for our two terriers. They were both about 11-15 pounds. The bag lasted forever. We really spent very little on pets until we got Nala. We fed Science Diet to the dogs and Purina CNM UR Formula to the cats. We got vaccinations at our home from a retired vet. We never went to the vet otherwise. We bought heartworm meds for the dogs through the retired vet (and didn't give it in the winter), and we didn't use flea products (and never had a problem with them). They didn't get toys or treats very often. The cats consider household objects like pens and boxes and paper to be toys, so they are easy. The dogs were outside. We didn't clean teeth or ears, and nobody needed grooming. Then we got Nala and now we are in the poor house! I really think some of the costs will settle down once I get everything figured out. I have spent a lot of money on equipment to try out, and a lot of it I am not using anymore. I also have a ton of mouse equipment that I am not using. Anyone need anything? I do intend to keep up better with healthcare, but I am also hoping that better food will keep them healthy. I think it's really easy to go overboard with some of this stuff. We want what's best for our pets, but it doesn't have to break the bank most of the time. There's a story near the end of "Give Your Dog a Bone" about a pup in a very busy family who gets tossed bones and scraps and plays with the kids and is otherwise ignored, versus a pampered pup whose owners spend tons of money on all sorts of things. The pampered pup got very sick, while the other pup thrived.
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Sugar Member Posts: 110 |
posted 01-15-2004 06:54 AM
You know Jamiya....that makes sense to me. My little SHUG is sooooooooo spoiled...so made over, so the CENTER of the Universe that I fear for her. I need to board her for long periods about twice a year....and I do think she might go into a major depression. Also, I have Fibromyalgia and have been VERY VERY SICK the last few months and just have not felt like taking care of myself, much less making over her. It has been rainy here and we have not taken many long walks or play periods OUTSIDE. She is as depressed as I am. Just picking her up is hard, so I do not do it as often. THE GOOD NEWS IS: she has HAD to learn to go and play by herself...entertain herself while I've been in this partial bedridden state. I think it And yes.....there are many temptations, but I am always picking up and stepping over toys now. She has a basketful upstairs and downstairs. She is loving the homemade treats/biscuits and knows when I am baking for her. She loves to LICK THE SPOON...no kidding. So, you do not use heartworm in the winter ??? Hummmmmm, I could save more money that way. Is it really safe ? She's in with me most of the winter, though we are Rv'ers and go to many parks. Shug has never had problems with fleas either...and I hate the frontline...I think it is very strong chemicals. I only use it in the summer. Thanks for your post, IP: Logged |
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honeybear Member Posts: 926 |
posted 01-15-2004 08:21 AM
Maisey , love your list, what is a pull cart? Sugar, for awhile I wasnt giving my dogs their heartworm during the winter but then I thought wait it also has worm meds so back on they are. And I was outside last week, it was 45 degrees outside and a huge mosquito landed on me, whats with that! I have spent $100 alone on food this month trying to get Jake back on track IP: Logged |
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Sugar Member Posts: 110 |
posted 01-15-2004 10:31 AM
And the FRONTLINE thing....I just found a tick on Shug after I wrote the last post. GO FIGURE....we live in the woods...but she was right here on the grass around the house for only about 20 minutes. ????????????? IP: Logged |
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Samsintentions Member Posts: 944 |
posted 01-15-2004 11:34 AM
Ok added up my expenses on my animals: Dogs: 50lbs of Purina, weekly: $25.00 Sooooo I dish out alot for my dogs, that doesn't include my horses or cat!!! Horses: Cat:
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Maisey Member Posts: 1387 |
posted 01-15-2004 12:43 PM
Sugar..the "bite me" was a friendly ribbing I was teasing you not being nasty. Honeybear, the cart is sitting in my shop...my husband bought it for me on Mothers day last year because I want to teach Witt to pull a cart. I have been waiting to see how much more he is going to fill out before spending a fortune on a harness, I don't want him to outgrow it. It's a Radio Flyer ATV trailer for kids, red with the little wooden rails, it's cute as heck! It has all kinds of accessories you can get for it, like a shade umbrella, cooler padded sides etc. I thought it would be cute for parades. I think it cost about $89 now we will have to alter it a bit and buy the harness. I've been teaching Witt the command "pull", but thats it. I haven't gotten further than that. He did pull my smallest daughter for a short distance on her snow sled...right into a tree, LOL. I do not intend to teach him to pull a person in a cart...just being led while pulling the cart, he is too small to pull a person. Sam...I have figured out how much it costs for one horse per month...It was $245 that was board, farrier, vaccinations, wormer, grain , hay and supplements. Everyone always asks me how much it costs to keep a horse...I tell them buying a horse is the cheapest part of owning one. That does not include tack, grooming, treats, travel, shows, 4-H, lessons, training or any other extras. My farrier costs me $95.00 every 7-8 weeks for a reset, $110.00 if it's new shoe time. She does gets clips all around and a beveled shoe to the inside but thats as fancy as it gets. His rates went up when he bought some property...now he just had his first baby born and I'm afraid they will go up again! IP: Logged |
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honeybear Member Posts: 926 |
posted 01-15-2004 01:10 PM
Uh OH! I opened up a can of worms here, but with eveyrone, but love to see how dedicated everyone is to their pets. Maisey, you can borrow Wylie for the cart, we always say she be a great sled dog! except she only wiehgs 60 # so she couldnt handle to much weight. What is a farrier? IP: Logged |
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Maisey Member Posts: 1387 |
posted 01-15-2004 01:14 PM
A farrier cares for horses hooves. He trims them and applies shoes. Not all horses need shoes, some only wear them part of the year. IP: Logged |
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MistressKela Member Posts: 275 |
posted 01-15-2004 06:03 PM
20 pounds Trader Joes $13 20 pounds Trader Joes $13 20 pounds Trader Joes $13 Bag Treats $ 8 Bag Treats $ 8 Bones/Toys $20 Grooming Equip $20 I would say that those are my monthly figures..assuming I have no problems and the dogs dont destroy something like a leash or eat something of mine or develop a health problem. Over the past three years major expenses occurred: *edit* Wow I forgot about the 5 cats and 2 dogs rescued. 3 at 35 dollars and 4 at 13 dollars. Food and flyers to find them new homes as well after getting them out of high kill shelters cost a little here and there as well. [This message has been edited by MistressKela (edited 01-15-2004).] IP: Logged |
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susan_cude@hotmail.com Member Posts: 813 |
posted 01-15-2004 09:03 PM
Hi Sugar, I'm sorry to hear that you and your husband are ill. One very good thing is: pets can realy get us up out of a slump. Even when we are down and out "so to speak" our little loved ones will do something funny or just be real loving. I think I know why God created these pets of ours..You take care girl, and hope you and yours feel better soon....Sincerely, Susan IP: Logged |
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Sugar Member Posts: 110 |
posted 01-16-2004 12:56 PM
Thank you Susan....it is not easy to deal with, but that is ONE REASON we got SHUG....we knew she would be great THERAPY for us. AND SHE IS.....it's just sometimes, she's a little active for me when I'm real bad. BUT I'll tell you this: She is the reason I have lost 17 pounds and kept it off. We are empty nesters and in the Spring, Summer and Fall, I take her for about 3 walks per day and then her OUTSIDE business, so it has really helped me be more active as you said. Tis just like having a baby....... NO HARM DONE MAISEY....I'm sure it was my MOOD...I've been in so much PAIN this week. Forgive me if I took it wrong. I know how sweet, kind an helpful you are. My apologies. IP: Logged |
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3Dogsihave Member Posts: 156 |
posted 01-16-2004 08:27 PM
MistressKella, you dyed your poodle pink? now that would be a neat picture. Lol, I would add it all up but too scared, you are all brave people! My hubby would probly throw me out. LOL IP: Logged |
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Miss_vp2002 Member Posts: 152 |
posted 01-17-2004 12:21 AM
Ok, like a lot of your guys I haven't even thought about what I have spent on Jasper within a month either. Here go's..... Heart Worm Tablets: $9.90 Thats only for one dog, so for the two dogs we have it works out to be around $350.00 a month. Jody IP: Logged |
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