Annual Costs

[Guest BlingDogs]

Hi all,

I was wondering how much people end up spending yearly on vet bills for their greys. If you don't mind me asking, what procedures did you have done on your dogs this year and about how much did you spend overall?

Thanks!

[MP_the4pack]

There's a big gap here. I have old/young and I live in NJ (very expensive)

 

Diamond had OS and we opted for amp surgery. So for her last 6 months of life I spent $5000.

 

Pearl had a lot of problems. Heart disease, hypertension but she died of cancer. I also did the surgery route with her but she was covered under insurance. So, I saved from insurance but I paid $749 for insurance. She cost me about $5000 a year (in meds, and un covered vet bills)

 

Onyx is almost 15. She hardly cost me anything, but I'm a little gun shy right now having just lost two. So she's gone in frequently to have her kidney issues checked. I probably spent close to $1200 (including insurance)

 

Opal Had a few xrays due to limps that luckily turned out to be nothing. So...she's probably running around $800.

 

Jade's cost me about $1200 since I got her in March. Hopefully her insurance will pay for the surgery and I can drop it to about $500.(she went to see a specialist for her thunderphobia and had surgery to remove a hemangioma.)

 

 

 

Vet costs is one reason I'm not jumping back to four dogs. I need a break from vet visits (Jade, please read this!)

[Guest Fasave]

If you look at the last 12 months, I have seen the following:

 

1. Thunder - broken canine removal & dental (pre-insurance) - $1,000 + annual exam/shots/heartworm $300 + eye infection $200 = $1,500 and he's only 4 and I haven't had him a year! I pay $43/month for insurance.

 

2. Ave (10.5 yo) - Respiratory infection $100 + annual w/full senior panel) $400 + recent surgeries this week for oral epulis, torn salivary gland & tumor removal from leg $2,800 = #3,300. I haven't submitted for insurance yet on the surgeries so I'm not sure of reimbursement yet (it's VPI and impossible to figure out) but I pay $57/month for insurance for him.

 

3. Safari - Passed away 9 months ago. In the last year around $3,000 for various ailments (kidney, IBD, PLE and the list went on).

 

I'm beginning to feel bad for any pup who adopts me as I'm feeling like a bad luck charm for them

[Guest Energy11]

I have pet insurance, which cost me $253/monthly with ZERO deductible for all five. It covers mostly everything, EXCEPT Curfew's pre-existing condition and meds. He has to go in Monday for a blood draw, which will not be covered. But for the most part, I would imagine my out of pocket would be maybe $600-$1000, and the rest, hopefully covered by the pet insurance. With five dogs ranging in ages from 8-almost 10, I HAD to do something, hence the pet insurance through Trupanion.

[Walliered]

I have had my grey since January and I would venture to say I have spent $3500.00 on him. He had bad D when I got him and I foolishly left him at the vets for a week. She could find no problem (2800.00) so I changed his food and it worked magic. He has had a terrible ear infection and had it before I got him. The vet has not been able to cure it and wants me to take him to a fancy vet specialist outside of Charleston in a couple of weeks..Two vets said to take him and one vet said not..go figure! I am still flushing his ears out twice a day, but cannot see that it is making a difference.

 

Oh, I forgot to tell you..I have Petplan Insurance and they have covered NOTHING because they say it is "pre-exiting" conditions...I pay about $53.00 a month and so far have not gotten anything back. I love my dog, but told my vet that when he leaves I am going to donate everything to the Humane Society and not ever have another dog..I cannot afford it.

[Guest Furmom]

Love this thread because I hear all the time that people in the states get cheaper vet care then we do in Canada - but after reading a few I think it is about the same.

 

In the last year - I refuse to add it all up - Joiya 8(Lab/border) - Fold dermititis(sp?), eye infection, mast cell tumor, annuals, vitamins and preventative.

 

Bee Gee 8(grey)- Butt lift (for a girly infection), slipped disc (ended up in emerg for 2 days cause we were out of the country), hydrotherapy (1X per week with 2 hydrotherpists), annuals, vitamins and preventative.

 

Camp (grey)- just in the last 3 weeks, 2 vet visits etc to get her blood tests and annuals she needed for this neck of the woods (plus the dental he is telling us we will need if we don't get her tarter under control - I heard of someone getting a $75 dental - times that by 6).

 

All in all we make the decisions necessary for our girls. The only thing I have ever second guessed myself about was Joiya's mast cell tumor. I took her to see a specialist when my Vet told me he could operate but she was best with a surgeon - not a GP They ran a ton of test, xrays, ultrasounds and it was conclusive it hadn't spread. I opted to see a specialist surgeon and after consult booked for the next day..... ended up at my Vet that night asking if I was guilty of keeping her alive for myself cause she was gonna be in a lot of pain and out of walks or back yard privliges for about a month. He told me that she had many good years left in her and that I wasn't being selfish. I LOVE MY VET!! Has guided us through some very tough times, is always the voice of reason and if it is beyond him has gotten the help we needed - so yes does he need to make a living, but he is not taking anyone for a ride on their emotions

[RobinM]

you really don't want to know, Heck, I REALLY don't want to know.

 

A few years back, DH was calling Beau his LamBEAUgini and that's just one dog.

 

You can use your imagination from there...!!!

Edited July 9, 2010 by RobinM

[Guest Furmom]

you really don't want to know, Heck, I REALLY don't want to know.

 

A few years back, DH was calling Beau his LamBEAUgini and that's just one dog.

 

You can use your imagination from there...!!!

 

Hence why I grabbed out the files and put them back in the cabnit rightawayquick (and I am an accountant - I was still scared)

[Guest IrskasMom]

So far this Year about $ 1500 . It varys from State to State . I think Maryland is very high , especialy where we live .

[Guest greytgreys]

Well--It is obviously not something I am proud of...but it looks like I have got you all beat! Last year from Jan 1-Dec. 31 I spent $19,700. Please understand...I had four greys at the time. One had a spindle cell tumor that was surgically removed, then four weeks of daily radiation, just to discover osteosarcoma. We then amputated with four months of chemo. She had a wonderful 15 months and 1 so-so month before she lost her fight.

At the same time, my old boy had two surgeries and I did dentals that year.

 

Now that I am down to two greys and two whips, I am trying to get hired at my vet office as a receiptionist one day a week, just for the 50% off all services and at cost supplies!!

[Guest BlackandBrindle]

For Spud who is a relatively healthy dog with no chronic illness I probably spend $200-$400 a year on vet costs.

 

Sadie's probably going to average about $800-$1200 a year, depending on what we need to do for valley fever. She's also got pannus and is on daily meds for that. We probably spent about $45-$50 a month on her meds alone.

 

If you throw in dentals for the dogs or injury, the amount can drastically increase.

[Guest Furmom]

Well--It is obviously not something I am proud of...but it looks like I have got you all beat! Last year from Jan 1-Dec. 31 I spent $19,700. Please understand...I had four greys at the time. One had a spindle cell tumor that was surgically removed, then four weeks of daily radiation, just to discover osteosarcoma. We then amputated with four months of chemo. She had a wonderful 15 months and 1 so-so month before she lost her fight.

At the same time, my old boy had two surgeries and I did dentals that year.

 

Now that I am down to two greys and two whips, I am trying to get hired at my vet office as a receiptionist one day a week, just for the 50% off all services and at cost supplies!!

 

Hugs Melissa I know that things can be tougher than I have had them - and you have been through enough. I really do hate to hear these stories - but at the same time through your tale learn that there are people where you are going to be - and they are going to help you.... with all our rainbow pups who taught us this lesson waiting for us I never found GT till my Bee was REALLY sick - must have been a sign

[Saharasmom]

In the past year:

Coltrane ~$150 for his rabies vaccination, senior bloodwork, and HW test. About 18 months ago he had a bout of incontinence that we spent maybe $300 on.

 

Sahara was a very cheap dog until last year. Just annual physicals & HW tests, with not even a dental since we adopted her. In October, she broke & dislocated her wrist while running, then at the E-Vet her blood stopped clotting properly. Two vets thought the clotting problems were consistent with a Copperhead bite. Then she got a staph infection in a sore on her elbow from her splint. I never did add up the full costs, and I don't think I ever want to! I do remember that the E-Vet bill was $2700.

[Hubcitypam]

I think the last estimates I saw were $400 -$600 a year for a fairly healthy dog, but that was a few years ago. It can vary so widely depending on your dogs general health, expensive conditions and how fast one uses the e-vet.

[Guest RocketDog]

For vaccinations, heartworm preventative, an annual checkup and full bloodwork panel we're looking at about $300/greyhound here, but they are both young (5 and 6) and healthy, haven't needed a dental since their adoption (hooray rawfeeding and PetzLife gel) and I can do a lot of doctoring on my own so we haven't visited the e-vet for any of their many scuffs and scrapes. Of course, Rocket cost us an extra grand or so between a suspected (but never confirmed) UTI and his toe amputation and following infection, so any savings we did have with the dental and all that ran right out the window.

 

Really, the vet end of things is the cheap one for us, if you add up food and beds and collars and all that you're getting into serious money, haha!

[Walliered]

Oh, I only posted the money for the vet bills. Food, beds, collars, Confortis, Heart Guard Plus, ear flushings and meds, rattle snake shots, all other shots, medicated wipes for his feet, etc. is above and beyond!

[Trudy]

Vet costs this year:

Tavarish - $37, plus heartworm prevention since moving back to the real world

Jet - $25, plus heartworm prevention (possibly a trip to the vet for stitches that we opted out when they wanted $400 for it, but that could have been last year)

Ryan - $700+, plus heartworm prevention, normal meds, extra meds from the vet visits

[inugrey]

I don't know why but I am always drawn to these threads to see what people are doing for their dogs and such. My story is a good example of the two extremes of vet care.

 

My boy has just earned a new nickname "Lemondog" because he's a total lemon. Every year since we've had him there has been a medical issue/scare/emergency. Last year potential thyroid cancer, previous year accident because I was a dumb mommy, this year feet. Point is this guy is more expensive than your average dog.

 

My girl is the picture of health knock on wood. She has not been under sedation since her spay in 2006. She sees the vet once a year for her annual check up.

 

I think a good average between these two extremes is $800-$1000 in the more expensive cities.

[kamsmom]

This year:

 

Isis - $726.58 She had a routine check up, dental and then had a "run in" with Steak and needed stitches.

 

Carmen - $127.00 Routine check up, toe nails clipped and had a bout of hook worms.

 

Steak - $270.00 Check up when we thought he was having a seizure but now I think it was his "thunder phobia". Blood work and some anti-anxiety meds.

 

Madi - $0

 

Blu - $0

[Guest scfilby]

Luckily up to this point our pups are pretty healthy.

 

Other then the annuals and shots which are less then 200 each, Cy had a tooth removed due to an abscess for another 200. Last year Mickey had a torn dew claw which required anesthesia for another 200. So, we have averaged about 800/year for three dogs for the past two years. Not too bad. (plus heartworm year round and flea treatment spring through fall which is maybe 60/month?)

[maggiespet]

I'm almost thinking I'll jinx it if I post here!

 

I'm assuming you mean costs associated with a greyhound that would differ from another breed of dog. You're going to have food, bed, chews, possibly training and normal/regular vetting with any dog. But to date, Maggie has been very healthy. In fact, in the 4 years that she's lived with us, she has been far less expensive in vet bills than the mutt pup we've had for 2 years! Hope this helps.

[Guest KennelMom]

With any dog/any breed you can have catastrophic illnesses or injuries. Barring that, I don't think our greys are any more expensive than any other breed of dog would be. I don't really itemize everything, but just going from memory....so far this year we've had:

 

Rocky and his mystery illness - about $1000 in that right now but he's finally responding to treatment. No clue what's wrong with him yet, but he's getting better.

 

Dental for Echo with extractions - $465

 

Lure coursing ankle injury for Bindi - $135 for xrays/exam.

 

Dash spay and surgery to correct a urinary birth defect: $350 surgery

 

Bucky weird back end lameness/incontinence - $200 exam/xrays/bloodwork

 

Haley senior work up - $100 exam/bloodwork

 

Quilty diabetes supplies - $50/month

 

Quilty blood monitoring - roughly $100 for a few glucose curves

 

Quilty hind end lameness - $135 exam/xrays

 

Quilty euthanasia - $80

 

Bindi freak lure coursing tooth injury - $200 for dental/tooth removal

 

Tater weird limp tail issue - $135 exam/xray

 

Echo having ear tip bitten off - $250 surgery to repair/clean up ear

 

Melody toe amp from old lure coursing injury - $350 surgery

 

Melody check up - $100 exam/blood panel

 

We have a couple more spays to do this year and Bucky's rear end issue is getting worse, so I anticipate more vet visits for him. Matt and Prajna could also use a dental. This is the year we do vaccinations, so that's $15/dog.

 

I think that's about it...I'm sure I missed a general exam here and there, but those are the major issues we've had this year. But, we've had a lot of kinda weird things crop up this year. Also keep in mind that we have 19 dogs so with respect to that, our vet expenses are really quite minimal.

Edited July 10, 2010 by KennelMom

[greytlucy]

Our younger greyhound for the most part hasn't cost us a lot in vet bills over the years. He came to us at 10 weeks old so the first year we had typically puppy stuff - shots, neuter, the occasional er visit for consuming indigestible digestibles. He had some allergy issues and low thryoid($400 testing and about $40/mo for meds) it's just been routine bloodwork annually. He's now 9 so we do bloodwork twice a year. He's been not quite right the past year so we've done a lot of testing and xraying that's come up inconclusive. I've probably spent a couple thousand on that.

 

Our older greyhound, who we recently lost, was the same. For most of her life just typical bloodwork annually(With vet's agreement I stop vaccinating around 5-6 years old so don't have that expense, just bloodwork). She had pannus so we spent about $100/annually for an exam and about $35/mo on drops. Once she was older we did have large bills with her - arthritis and congestive heart failure. The past year and a half we were probably averaging $300-$400/mo for exams, meds, supplements, accupuncture, etc. We lost her in june at 14 1/2 so those bills, while high, were just a short period of time of the total 10+ years she was with us.

 

Overall, i'd say we budget about $2000/yr per dog when younger to cover regular expenses and unexpected illness/injury. We don't always use this much but at least this way we're prepared if needed.

[Wonder]

Last year:

Lucky $1500

Passion, Diamond $100 rabies shots/exam

Sparks $100 annual blood work/exam

 

This year:

Passion $500 bone infection/blood work and she needs another blood test in 3 weeks $130 plus dental (est $400-$900)

Sparks $100 annual blood work/exam

Lucky $20 rabies

Cat $130 put to sleep

Hopefully no more vet visits this year

[Guest TeddysMom]

I do a lot of things myself like shots and worming to save money but we try to put $50 in a doggie fun every week just in case. Sometimes I end up using some of it for something else but we try not too. The one thing I have done with my GHs that I never did with my other breeds is have a complete blood workup when they come home just to have a base line in case they get sick. All my dogs see the vet once a year, the vet comes here thankfully because it would take lots of trips to get all my dogs hauled to the office. I take several random stool samples in every couple of weeks to make sure nothing is brewing and I make sure I watch all of them poop at least once a week. I haven't had my GHs long enough to really notice much difference in cost compared to the other breeds I have. My non-greys are just getting old so I usually expect for things to begin happening to them. Since over half my pack are 13-17 year old dogs you can't help but have extra expenses with them, I just expect it and plan for it the best I can.