Caring for a dog is a commitment many dog owners underestimate. And when you make a mistake your veterinarian will likely be there to set you straight. Below are 7 common mistakes vets see pup parents make when caring for their dogs—and how to avoid them.
Underestimating cost of owning and maintaining a dog
According to Rover.com, the initial cost of getting a dog in 2020 can range from $610 to $2,350, including adoption fees, spay/neuter, food, treats, and toys. After that, the yearly cost of caring for a dog can range an average of $650 to $2,115 a year, depending on where the pet lives. Rover conducted a survey of dog owners in 2020 and found most people surveyed actually spend more than that—about $3,400 on their dogs yearly, but they only budget $100 or less per month for their dog’s expenses.
Certain breeds like bulldogs and other flat-faced dogs are associated with higher than average cost because the features that make these dogs so cute are often the same features that make them more prone to disease. Forbes offers this helpful overview of the costs of certain dog breeds using data from pet insurance companies.
To help keep your pet care budget on track, you can also ask your veterinarian for a cost estimate of treatments. There are several companies that offer health ‘credit’ cards that can be used for higher veterinary expenses. Pet insurance is almost always a good idea, especially for unplanned and higher costs like hospitalization. Of course keeping costs more manageable starts with preventive care—good nutrition, weight management, exercise, and routine vet checkups, which brings us to the next mistake on our list.
Missing yearly vet checkups
Pets age faster than people. They have also evolved to hide illness. For example, they can hide arthritis, have asymptomatic urinary tract infections, and have ear infections localized to the deep part of their ears with no odor or discharge. And because pets can’t clearly communicate how they are feeling, having yearly checkups allows less obvious health problems to be discovered early. Early detection is best for your pet’s health and less expensive than treating advanced disease.
