Budgeting Veterinary Care for Your Dog

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.

Fees for Routine Dog Veterinary Care

The Humane Society posted a list of their fees for dogs in 2009 (most veterinarians use a similar fee schedule):

  • Bordetella - $20
  • Dewormers - $3 per pound of dog’s weight
  • DHLPP/C vaccine - $30
  • Fecal exam - $20
  • Heartworm pill - $6 each
  • Heartworm test - $35
  • Neuter - $125 (plus $100 if testicles have not descended)
  • Office visit with appointment - $30
  • Rabies - $40 (three-year)
  • Spay - $150 (plus $20 if dog is in heat)
  • Walk-in office visit - $40

Veterinary specialists charge additional fees. A visit to an orthopedic specialist starts at $75 and then test fees increase your bill.

Creating a Veterinary Care Budget

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.

 

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