| Dogs > Health Care > Budgeting Veterinary Care for Your Dog | |
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also see Pet Kennel
also see Emergency Veterinary
Dog veterinary care is a necessary part of owning a dog. Routine vaccinations and health check-ups are expensive. When selecting a veterinarian, ask other pet owners for suggestions. Veterinary fees vary from office to office. Typically, new veterinary clinics charge more because they have a new mortgage and business loans to pay off.
The Humane Society posted a list of their fees for dogs in 2009 (most veterinarians use a similar fee schedule):
Veterinary specialists charge additional fees. A visit to an orthopedic specialist starts at $75 and then test fees increase your bill.
Even with routine care, a yearly visit to your veterinarian will cost upwards of $200 including heartworm medications. Emergency dog veterinary care drives this cost up. If you set aside $30 a month, you’ll have enough for a yearly check up while building up a good amount of savings for emergency care. Purchasing a dog medical insurance policy will help reduce emergency care costs.
also see Emergency Pet Hospital Insurance: What's Covered and What's Not
also see Dog Insurance Coverage -- How Much Do You Need?
also see Illness - Caring for your pet