i know there are many pet owners here.the question is....

[Dancing Fire]

how much does your pets cost you per yr? vet bills,food,etc...

just finish remodeling my koi pond.total cost

ouch!!! anyway, i figure it will cost about $70 per month ($840 per yr) in electric bill just to run the pumps,not including food,medicine,etc...japanese koi is a high maintenance pet. i have a amazon parrot,he's very low maintenance.

 

[movie zombie]

i don''t want to know:

7 cats varying in ages from 5-13 years. cat food includes prescription for kidney disease. one goes in every 3-6 months to have her urine tested due to the fact she is a female manx and has an ongoing bladder infection thing going on...been this way for years. another female manx got was having some undesireable symptoms before we left for tiff last september and had to be kept in the vet hospital for the 2 weeks we were gone. then there is the cat litter......

i could go on but i won''t: to say that we spend several thousand a year on our cats is an under estimate. and, of course, we go to the ''best'' in the area which includes a 20 mile drive one way to get there.

movie zombie

 

[Kaleigh]

Callie my youngest Bichon has trouble with bladder stones and has had 2 surgerys. They are both on persciption diets which get mailed to me. That is a cost of $75 dollars a month. Her surgeries were a total of 3K or so. But I would do anything for them.

 

[Mara]

hahah how much does she cost us per year? ALOT! she''s like a child but without the college tuition looming on the horizon!

we just took her for her shots today to the tune of $80 and 2 weeks ago it was $80 and then $80 again for 2 vet visits for meds etc when she was sick.

for her food/treats/bully sticks per month i spend about $75 or so. for her heartwork and flea meds what is it, like $100 a year? not too bad.

anyway it''s definitely an expense and she gets something like a new toy every month because i''m such a sucker, but it''s alot of fun and if i wouldn''t spend it on her i''d spend it on ME anyway so better her....

 

[Gemklctr]

So far, I think my koi are only $10-20 per month for food, and they are growing like weeds. I was already paying for the waterfall pump when the koi were thrown in, so they seem pretty cheap. My dogs, on the other hand, cost considerably more - most recently, $180 for the vet for one toy poodle and over $3k over the past several years for my sheepdog's 2 cancer surgeries and chemo (unfortunately it came back incurably last fall and I had to put him to sleep). No idea what food, etc., is for the remaing 3 dogs, but I assume at least $100 per month. Fortunately, I don't pay for my oldest son's python amd tarantula even though he, and they, are staying with me now.

 

[princessv]

In addition to other expenses, my dog who is a Lhasa has long hair and needs to be professionally groomed every 2 months which is about $40. Every penny is worth it!

 

[AndyRosse]

For an eight year old cat:

$60 a month in food and treats x 12 = 720
$160 a year for preventative blood work
$200 a year in bi-annual exams and shots
$20 a month in cat litter x 12 = 240

So, if it is a normal year with no problems, about 1320.

Now of course, last year I spent several thousand dollars in emergency vet care, sick appointments, teeth cleaning, meds for various illnesses, etc. But for the first six years of his life, I NEVER had a problem and we only saw the vet once a year for the annual shots.

But all that $$$ was well worth it!!

Our parakeet was obviously even cheaper for the first six years of his life until he fell ill. Then we spent well over a thousand dollars, maybe even two thousand, on meds, bloodwork, emergency vet care, sick appointments. Kind of a lot of $$ for a parakeet, but when I have the money to try and help him, I cannot justify not helping him.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Our 2 cats??? Hmmm....on a monthly average:

Food: $30
Litter: $15
Water filters: $5

So I guess on average, I''m looking at $50/month for the day-to-day stuff...

Shots are once/year for $25 each cat (I take them to a shot clinic for 50% off)...

Emergencies are rare, but this last year we spent $500 for when Sasha had to be hospitalized and then put to sleep. But this is once in a 5-year period.

 

[monarch64]

I honestly couldn''t give a dollar amount for what we spend a year on our 2 year old beagle, Milo. We''ve never really thought about it, I guess! He''s been pretty low-maintenance so far, no major health issues other than ear infections. We take him to the vet maybe 2-3 times a year, once for his annual shots/boosters, and probably 1-2 times a year for ear infections so far. But we''re getting better at cleaning his ears regularly to avoid this problem, so I don''t think we''ll keep having to rack up vet bills for that particular thing.

DH gets his food at Sam''s Club...it''s Science Diet and I have no idea how much it costs. The first year we got him I paid $160 for 16 obedience classes, beginning and intermediate. We buy him new collars and fun sweaters and have even gotten him a lifejacket for swimming/boating, so we probably spend $50-$100 on that stuff a year.

I''d say between $800-$1,000 with food, vet bills, etc. when all is said and done. I''d gladly spend every dime I had on him, though, if it made him happy!!!

 

[Mara]

Oh I forgot about the grooming! P is $50 every 6-8 weeks, but it's worth it because we don't have to deal with it AND they do the anal gland cleansing.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 2/11/2006 7:48:36 PM
Author: Mara
Oh I forgot about the grooming! P is $50 every 6-8 weeks.

Me too Mara. For my two doggies it''s $140 every 6 weeks. But boy do they look pretty afterwards!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 2/11/2006 6:14:13 PM
Author: Mara
hahah how much does she cost us per year? ALOT! she''s like a child but without the college tuition looming on the horizon!

we just took her for her shots today to the tune of $80 and 2 weeks ago it was $80 and then $80 again for 2 vet visits for meds etc when she was sick.

for her food/treats/bully sticks per month i spend about $75 or so. for her heartwork and flea meds what is it, like $100 a year? not too bad.

anyway it''s definitely an expense and she gets something like a new toy every month because i''m such a sucker, but it''s alot of fun and if i wouldn''t spend it on her i''d spend it on ME anyway so better her....

Mara
You need to have WF custom make her an initial tag with 0.5 ACA melees on platinum setting approx. 1.25 ctw. Now, that would be really neat!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 2/11/2006 7:59:33 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 2/11/2006 6:14:13 PM
Author: Mara
hahah how much does she cost us per year? ALOT! she's like a child but without the college tuition looming on the horizon!

we just took her for her shots today to the tune of $80 and 2 weeks ago it was $80 and then $80 again for 2 vet visits for meds etc when she was sick.

for her food/treats/bully sticks per month i spend about $75 or so. for her heartwork and flea meds what is it, like $100 a year? not too bad.

anyway it's definitely an expense and she gets something like a new toy every month because i'm such a sucker, but it's alot of fun and if i wouldn't spend it on her i'd spend it on ME anyway so better her....

Mara
You need to have WF custom make her an initial tag with 0.5 ACA melees on platinum setting approx. 1.25 ctw. Now, that would be really neat!

True that!! I have been after Mara to get P some bling!!

 

[Mara]

haha I could possibly talk Greg into a few sparklies in an ID tag but a whole carat plus? I don''t think that''s on the books for this year!! hehe.

I do want to get her *something* this year, because it''s just wrong for a princess like her to not have real diamonds! swarovski crystals just aren''t cutting it!

 

[Kaleigh]

I was thinking more of a heart shaped dog tag with her name engraved and a nice 5-10 point ACA above her name would be cute. Wonder if WF will ever venture into a pet line. That would be fun!!

 

[princessv]

Hehe I don''t know about diamonds but I want to get Minko an aquamarine necklace. Tyler says he''ll die before that happens.

(then again we''re poor!)

Mara, if your husband let''s you get Portia a diamond necklace, he''s very understanding!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 2/11/2006 7:26:03 PM
Author: Rascal49
But all that $$$ was well worth it!!

Our parakeet was obviously even cheaper for the first six years of his life until he fell ill. Then we spent well over a thousand dollars, maybe even two thousand, on meds, bloodwork, emergency vet care, sick appointments. Kind of a lot of $$ for a parakeet, but when I have the money to try and help him, I cannot justify not helping him.

my wife wouldn''t spend that much on my medical bills.she probably tell the Dr. just let him die.

 

[AndyRosse]

Date: 2/11/2006 9:29:45 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 2/11/2006 7:26:03 PM
Author: Rascal49
But all that $$$ was well worth it!!

Our parakeet was obviously even cheaper for the first six years of his life until he fell ill. Then we spent well over a thousand dollars, maybe even two thousand, on meds, bloodwork, emergency vet care, sick appointments. Kind of a lot of $$ for a parakeet, but when I have the money to try and help him, I cannot justify not helping him.

my wife wouldn''t spend that much on my medical bills.she probably tell the Dr. just let him die.

LOL

 

[icefisher]

Date: 2/11/2006 3:48:36 PM
Author:Dancing Fire

japanese koi is a high maintenance pet. i have a amazon parrot,he''s very low maintenance.

Call me crazy DF but I think see a solution to the problem.....

We live in the country, our cat is pretty low-maintenance. Rusty stays outside (or garage) except for the really cold nights; partly because I and one of our kids are allergic, partly because his job is to catch mice. (Like the War on Terra, fight ''em there instead of here....)

A big cat from down the road comes and raids his dish; like Rusty he''s orange. We suspect that he''s in fact our cat''s father. Rusty was a kitten last summer but has now grown and finally stood his ground last weekend; he got a pretty good cut on his head but not bad enough to see the vet. And he established himself as Master of His Own Dish.

It was just like when Johnny Cash fought his dad in "A Boy Named Sue."

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 2/11/2006 7:04:43 PM
Author: GemKlctr
So far, I think my koi are only $10-20 per month for food, and they are growing like weeds. I was already paying for the waterfall pump when the koi were thrown in, so they seem pretty cheap. My dogs, on the other hand, cost considerably more - most recently, $180 for the vet for one toy poodle and over $3k over the past several years for my sheepdog's 2 cancer surgeries and chemo (unfortunately it came back incurably last fall and I had to put him to sleep). No idea what food, etc., is for the remaing 3 dogs, but I assume at least $100 per month. Fortunately, I don't pay for my oldest son's python amd tarantula even though he, and they, are staying with me now.

some koi keepers in the cold weather areas are heating their ponds during the winter time and it's costing them like $700 per month,just for natural gas.

i guess

if they could afford a $80k-$100k koi collection,$700 per month means nothing.

 

[Lorelei]

I keep a record of what all my babies cost me per year ( horses are very expensive) and I won't say the exact figure but you could buy a nice diamond

I don't mind as they are worth every penny, my horses and cats are my true gems

 

[ladykemma]

it sounds like you don''t want a dog...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/12/2006 8:44:22 AM
Author: ladykemma
it sounds like you don''t want a dog...

I would love a dog Ladykemma, it may sound crazy but with my back probs I can''t walk very far so it wouldn''t be fair as I couldn''t take it for walks. One day I shall have a little Pekingese who would be happy just to go a little way with me and be spoiled the rest of the time

 

[blodthecat]

No idea what moggychops costs per year ???

Whatever the cost, she is worth every penny.

blod

 

[Patty]

We have all of the usual expenses with our two dogs. I should say with our daughter''s dogs, but somehow the expenses are OURS. But dogs are worth it.

A hedgehog, on the other hand...

This is something I wrote a couple of years ago after a visit to the vet with our daughter''s pet hedgehog.

If you ever take a hedgehog to the vet, and IF he says he''d like to sedate him and do x-rays, just say NO! Because if you don''t...if you say okay because Annie is worried about the hedgehog making an odd noise and she doesn''t really play with the hedgehog anymore but she doesn''t want the hedgehog to die a slow painful death, then what will happen is you will end up checking out of the vet''s office with the technician saying your bill is $243.50 and you will be standing there like an idiot thinking about how he said an extra numeral in there, didn''t he? And you will be wondering why he never said the "hundred" word...was he trying to downplay it? I mean, "Two forty three fifty" is a bit deceiving, don''t you think? Now, "Two HUNDRED forty three fifty" would have given you the opportunity to yell out, "DID YOU SAY TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE DOLLARS?"

But you probably wouldn''t have done that, because you were feeling a little embarrassed about some spots that the vet found on the hog that he called "ulcers...almost like ''hot spots.''" When the vet says he doesn''t know HOW the hog got those spots you shrug your shoulders and don''t mention that it MIGHT be because you don''t always clean out the hedgehog''s swimming pool home until you smell it in the room next door? And that you hadn''t noticed the "hot spots" because you don''t hold and play with the hedgehog because he makes your hands break out in hives and you have a much cuter pet than a hedgehog now?

THEN you will cone home with a hedgehog that is STILL ALIVE that no one plays with or cares about but by God, he''s not gonna die in pain and now you have to put this spray stuff on him twice a day and try to give him drops in his mouth with a syringe and by the way, he has two suspicious masses in his abdomen that may be extra testicles or something but they also may be cancer b/c hedgehogs are susceptible to cancer and we need to watch them and maybe do an exploratory surgery later to determine what they are and possibly remove them.

Yes, Mr. Vet...when pigs fly. And why do you refer to the hedgehog''s penis as his "pee pee?" Don''t they teach anatomically correct terms in medical school? Come on, I know that male hedgehogs have penises. In fact, if Mortimer''s father hadn''t had one, we never would have gotten into this mess!

 

[diamondlil]

We have a rabbit which must be the cheapest pet to keep. I''ve never added up what we spend on food, but she mainly eats pellets and plain water. We give her our wilted lettuce, carrots, and broc. stalks, and she''s in heaven. She''s never been sick, never been to the vet, and we groom her ourselves. She''s over 5 1/2 years old. How long do rabbits live anyway?

 

[diamondlil]

OMG, Patty, I'm laughing so hard right now. Your hedgehog post is hysterical. My kids don't want our Snowball to die a horrible death either, but the idea of taking her to the vet for any reason at this stage in the game . . . . well, it ain't gonna happen. We've already staked out her plot in the woods.

ETA: Do you have a picture of him, Patty?

 

[Patty]

Date: 2/12/2006 10:53:37 AM
Author: diamondlil
OMG, Patty, I''m laughing so hard right now. Your hedgehog post is hysterical. My kids don''t want our Snowball to die a horrible death either, but the idea of taking her to the vet for any reason at this stage in the game . . . . well, it ain''t gonna happen. We''ve already staked out her plot in the woods.

ETA: Do you have a picture of him, Patty?

I''ll have to find a picture of him later for you. He died about a year and a half ago. And yes, I took him to the vet and paid a lot of money to have him put to sleep because he appeared to be in pain.

As for the rabbit...well, Snowball is awfully cute! I hope that Snowball lives a nice long life and then dies quickly without any vet bills!

I remember once we paid about $250 in vet bills for a parakeet that died anyway.

 

[Jelly]

When Jelly was a puppy he was quite expensive. Vet bills, shots, vaccines, having him fixed, puppy school, grooming all added up. We got a nice trimmer/cutting equipment so now my fiance grooms Jelly himself! That saves a lot of money. Not sure about the food situation...maybe $20 a month in food. Another $10 for toys and treats.

All worth it!

 

[Gemklctr]

Date: 2/12/2006 1:27:10 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 2/11/2006 7:04:43 PM
Author: GemKlctr
So far, I think my koi are only $10-20 per month for food, and they are growing like weeds. I was already paying for the waterfall pump when the koi were thrown in, so they seem pretty cheap. My dogs, on the other hand, cost considerably more - most recently, $180 for the vet for one toy poodle and over $3k over the past several years for my sheepdog''s 2 cancer surgeries and chemo (unfortunately it came back incurably last fall and I had to put him to sleep). No idea what food, etc., is for the remaing 3 dogs, but I assume at least $100 per month. Fortunately, I don''t pay for my oldest son''s python amd tarantula even though he, and they, are staying with me now.

some koi keepers in the cold weather areas are heating their ponds during the winter time and it''s costing them like $700 per month,just for natural gas.

i guess

if they could afford a $80k-$100k koi collection,$700 per month means nothing.

DF, I''m told that''s not necessary here, but their pond is now covered with a layer of slush from all of the overnight snow, and it will likely freeze over tonight. I hope they make it. There should be plenty of unfrozen water below the ice. My koi are nothing special - 1 solid orange, 1 orange and white, and 1 white, orange and black - and cost about $8 each at 4 inches long last year. They are now 8-9 inches. Any advice?