As we mentioned in previous articles, in order to forecast expenses for any undertaking, you will need to identify the risks you may face and find ways to make them manageable. When it comes to estimating your dog’s veterinary expenses, the same principle applies.

Managing risks will allow you to overcome obstacles and successfully follow a plan toward your goals. Assigning a specific amount of money or “budget” to risk and evaluating whether it is compatible with your personal finances will have a positive effect on both your life and that of the rest of your family.

In this article, we will explore the situations that can cause you to incur veterinary expenses and what will help you reduce them to a minimum, without giving up quality of life.

While there can be other external factors that could affect the desired result, to make the task of calculating costs simpler and minimize risk, we are going to separate the analysis into two: basic health care costs and veterinary emergency costs.

Basic Health Care Costs

To control the risk that the expenses associated with caring for your dog exceed your financial capabilities, you must first evaluate their basic health care costs. These include routine veterinary examinations, vaccines, parasites control, supplements to prevent diseases, and spaying and neutering that most veterinarians usually recommend.

Our articles are filled with information and tips on how to take better care of your pet without giving up your lifestyle, and evaluate the basic expenses of keeping your pet healthy and happy. Responsible pet ownership programs can also guide you on the basic health requirements in your area of residence and the nearest veterinary clinic will be able to inform you about the costs involved.

By knowing the price of annual check-ups and preventive treatments to keep your dog healthy in advance, you can prevent these costs from negatively affecting your finances.

In the Health section of our magazine, you can find information about the main health problems that canines can suffer from throughout their life, together with their symptoms and treatments, as well as prevention tips. Knowing what are the most frequent diseases in the different stages of a dog’s life will allow you to plan ahead and be prepared to handle the situation.

If you know the breed or breeds of your dog, you can research the characteristics of each breed and health problems they are more prone to, such as allergies, hormonal imbalances, or the tendency to gain weight and its associated problems, among others. Browse the Health section or search for dog clubs in LinkingPaws for breed-specific information to anticipate expenses and prepare an accurate financial plan. 

To help you accomplish this in a quick and easy manner, like a real pro would, you can download our spreadsheet for free. This simple tool will not only allow you to better organize your pet’s health care costs, but also keep them up-to-date.

Veterinary Emergency Costs

When estimating your dog’s basic health expenses, it is important to understand that it does not contemplate those situations in which your dog contracts a disease or suffers an accident.

In these cases, pet health insurance is the best way to manage stress and prevent veterinary expenses from negatively impacting your financial situation. Although they vary in terms of coverage and premium costs, they are always a good investment.

Visit this practical guide to choosing the best insurance coverage for your pet.

What You Need To Know When Looking For Pet Insurance

Some of the most common health complications that would result in a trip to the veterinary for immediate emergency attention are food poisoning, allergic reactions, and injuries due to accidents. Even though regular veterinary visits are highly recommended for a more accurate diagnosis, the following chart can help identify the health problems that are most common in dogs or that could appear with age.

Source: Cosmodoggyland

While the cost of these emergencies is hard to predict, it is possible to minimize them through preventative care.

It is also possible to reduce or avoid certain health costs when adopting a dog.

For example, adult dogs are less likely to chew on furniture or shoes, reducing the risk of poisonings and other health problems that can result from it. In our article 5 Advantages of adopting an adult dog, we explore the ways you can reduce or avoid certain costs, while saving the lives of the many animals currently in a shelter awaiting a forever home.

5 Advantages Of Adopting An Adult Dog