An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – for dogs

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Veterinary care is one of the largest expenses that dog owners need to budget for. Many of us don’t put a lot of thought into this expense because it doesn’t come around very often. We’re more focused on dog food, chew toys, treats and other products that we need to buy on a regular basis.

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According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent over $15 billion in vet expenses in 2015. Most of these expenses were preventable by getting less expensive preventative care. Instead of looking at our short term budgets, we need to start looking at the long term. What can we do now that may save us money on vet care in the future?

There are many diseases and conditions that can be prevented by proper nutrition, good health and preventative treatments. In some areas of dog care, it doesn’t pay to be frugal. What may seem like a bargain today could cost more money in the long run. Add that into the pain and suffering experienced by your dog and yourself, and it really isn’t worth it.

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Vaccinations

There are at least 12 illness that can be prevented by getting your dog all his vaccinations at all the right times. I have personal experience with this. We took a dog from some friends who promised he was vaccinated, but we did not get proof. A couple of months later, our dog was sick with Parvo.

After my vet got the vaccination record from his previous vet, we saw he missed his last Parvo booster. Our dog almost died. It took 5 weeks of severe pain and sickness and about $500 in vet care (plus money from lost time at work), but he lived, barely.

Vaccinations cost $100 – $200 in the first year, and $20 – $50 for following years. Compare that to your dog’s life, or $500 or more for an illness.

It seems that vaccines are a hot button issue for some pet owners right now, but take the time to do the proper research and speak with your veterinarian before jumping on the bandwagon. There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument, you just need to make sure you’re doing what is best for your Fido.

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