The costs of owning multiple dogs

Hmm. Well I married someone with a vet for a FIL so that helps LOL. All flea and HW meds are free. Big help esp with a GIANT living here. I can get free spays done if I schedule them ahead of time. Hmm....

I do my own shots, and FIL does the Rabies ones.

I buy an acceptable, but inexpensive food (Diamond Naturals/4Life under $30 for 40lbs helps, again a GIANT lives here)...not an option with sensitive dogs I know.

I try to stay on top of things, like eye issues, ear issues, or grooming issues...paying a little attention every day is better than not noticing til you MUST head to the vet's. I keep eye and ear ointments and sprays on hand ordered online to aid me in preventing a massive issue. I keep my dogs at a healthy weight to minimize issues as well...stuff like that. I do my own grooming, nails and ears inclusive.

Mine don't get treats regularly but they do get table scraps so I don't typically "buy" treats....or toys really. Mine like old bathmats I cut up and knot or old Tshirts done the same. Tennis balls are so cheap, and so is fleece at the fabric store really.

ETA: OH! and one big way to save? I do NOT shop at Petsmart or Petco...but at Tractor Supply Co or the local feed store. BIG savings to be had by simply doing that....IMO.

• I have everyone on the same food, same preventatives, and luckily they are all in the same size range
• I don't use toppers, just let the dogs lick plates or have some table scraps for variety
• I get all the venison I want for free, so I overcook it and use it for training treats and tracking bait
• I bought a long tracking line in the material I like and cut it into various sizes so I have multiple leashes.  The snaps cost about $2.  
• I make my own training tabs out of leashes that have been chewed, or the braided strings that get ripped out of the Gappay training balls
• I got a $35 parka with pockets and tabs in the right places, instead of the $95 Gappay training vest
• My Muckboots were expensive BUT they are guaranteed.  They cracked after a year and were replaced, for free
  
• All three of the dogs are reliable in the house in different situations, so I don't need three crates everywhere (but have three in the van because that is a safety issue for me!)
• I realized last time I was gathering up supplies to take to the boarding farm that my dogs don't even have their own bowls!  They usually eat off the floor/crate or outside in the grass
• My trainer lets me get away with sometimes rotating dogs in training class or bringing a second dog
• I take everyone to the vet at the same time when I can
• Sometimes the vet lets me have a vaccination done by a tech in the lobby so I don't have to pay for the exam fee
• My breeder is a HUGE resource, she sells pretty much everything I need at cost (she bought a pallet of the food I use, I get all my collars and leads from her, any medications since her DH is a vet)
• I get common meds on Amazon or from my breeder (Panacur, panalog, flagyl...)
  
• I make my own dog beds and bedding.  My mom volunteers at a Goodwill type place and gives me donated towels that are stained or ripped
• Big raw carrots are a LOT cheaper than bully sticks and my dogs like chewing them just as much
• I do ALL of my own grooming, including quite extensive trimming and maintenance of Coke's coat, plus all nail trimming
• I handle my own dogs in UKC and use inexperienced handlers for WDA so I don't have to pay outrageous fees
• I trade services, like doing web design or computer repairs, in exchange for reduced club/training fees, boarding fees, etc
• My dog boarder gives me the "I like your dogs" discount

I DO split Interceptor -- I know some folks don't but I do -- it is honestly just too much futzing around otherwise

ALL mine (except "Luner Beller";) all take meds -- so I use pill caddy's and put meds up usually every other week (yeah, I put them up two weeks at a time so I can make a list of what I need to get and just seal everything in a ziplock bag) -- that SAVES money because I can then get stuff online so I know two weeks in advance that I'm gonna run out of something "soon" --

Generally when I take one in I try to take more than one in -- it saves effort and the vet typically does NOT charge me an office visit for each dog.

Given that Jewel is a whippet I would *not* give her ivermectin -- some whippets have been shown to be sensitive to ivermectin, and I wouldn't push the envelope on that one. 

You are a good mommy :)  

To save expenses on my 3, I use iverhart plus (it is ivermectin, so you could use that for 2 of your girls and get interceptor for the other).

I only use frontline if I see fleas and tics. I keep my lawn mowed fairly short, which I think helps keep the critters out. I haven't seen a flea in months.

I feed a high quality kibble now (again, petguard) which keeps them healthier and then crockpot a topper, generally meat plus veg and also kefir which I grow at home using half and half. 

What else.. I get concentrated shampoo which dilutes down and saves expenses, since I generally bathe them every week or bi-weekly. 

Umm.. let's see. Well I"m a groomer myself so I groom everyone, saves lots of bucks too. Although you have pretty 'vinyl' breeds :)

That's about it. If ever I have to board them (rarely) I board them in one 'big dog' run which they are all able to stay together and saves a few bucks each day as well.

I TRY to not buy all the fancy collars, but ya know, a dog's gotta dress nice ya know!!

 When we had bigger dogs, we used to split heartworm pills, but that was because we had pills for the next size up. My mom used to work in a local restaurant, and regular customer worked as a sales rep for some company that made that stuff. He also gave us vaccines.

We have 3 dogs and a cat.

We don't split heartworm meds here; I've considered buying the size up for frontline and splitting that, but I'm not messing around with heartworm as it's *very* common around here.  Luckily all the dogs are in the same weight class for all the preventatives so we can buy in bulk when it comes to Frontline.  Our vet has a good price for Interceptor and it ends up being cheaper to go through her than through work because work requires annual heartworm tests for all animals and our regular vet just requires them every other year.  The price of the box of Interceptor itself is about $15 more than at work. (Our cat does not get heartworm preventative on recommendation of our vet)

All dogs eat the same food so we can buy bigger bags (cheaper/lb cost).  I'm actually in the process of switching them to SoJos dehydrated food for one meal a day because when I can buy meat on sale (98 cents/lb last week) it's cheaper than kibble *and* since I'm feeding real food at one meal, I'm likely going to go to feeding some good quality foods, but not the super premium I have been (i.e. switching to Kirkland brand or TotW as our main kibble instead of Prairie Instinct, Fromm, etc.).

All the dogs are the same size so they share leashes, crates, training equipment, beds.  I buy treats in bulk or make my own.  I buy supplements in bulk sizes as well.

Annual (or every 6mo for Maggie) vet exams for all the animals are spread out over the year instead of all at once to reduce the impact.  Annual exams generally run about $35-50, though Maggie's appointment in the spring also includes bloodwork which makes the total closer to $150.  Maggie goes in April/October, Z goes in June, Kes goes in August, and Pi goes in December.

We're on limited vaccines so that helps keep costs down in a number of ways and if the dog or cat just needs a regular vaccine, not rabies, we can stop by and have a tech administer it and save the exam fee ($35).  I usually combine vaccine visits with an exam visit for another animal when needed to allow me to ask the vet questions but not pay twice.

We get a discount when boarding multiple animals ($79/day vs. $105/day - all inclusive suite boarding).  I do grooming myself, although I do sometimes use a self-serve place.

Z and Kes take agility classes at the same facility so we get a $15 discount on the second set of classes.  I know the trainer who teaches Kes' obedience class so she gives us a 50% professional courtesy discount.

 I keep up on when the county shelter is doing free/low cost vaccine clinics and get my dogs vaccinated then. Rabies is free, distemper is $5. They do these pretty much monthly starting spring through Nov.

I get vet exams when I go for something else. I don't make special trips for a yearly exam.

Sometimes I buy a larger size frontline plus and divide it up. I find that kind of tedious though so mostly I just bite the bullet. I don't divide HW meds but I will buy generic when I can (most vets don't carry generic though, you really need to find some "farmish" type vet clinic for that.

I buy bones at Sams (made in usa) which is by far the cheapest around.

I try to avoid buying online because these days it is typically more expensive then shopping locally. Once you add on shipping and handling, forget it. You can buy a $10 toy and pay $6.50 for SH. That's just crazy. So, i have a good relationship with the Pet Supplies Plus near me and they will order almost anything for me, so long as it is available to them from their distributors, and i don't have to pay shipping.They will also match prices (even on their own products, and take competitors coupons. I love this store! Oh and they always have bulk treats for $1 a bag which lasts forever when I break them up.

I have a friend who works for a major dog supply company and she gave me a bunch of bowls, toys and leashes. They get sample stuff all of the time so whenever i see her, she hands me some stuff. I do prefer leather leashes though so I have those as my main ones. They last forever and i just take them to the shoe repair shop when one needs to be fixed.

I do all of my own grooming (even own a doggy dryer). I bought my first doggy dryer by calling up a local grooming salon and asked if they had a used one that they wanted to sell. I scored big time on that one.

I used to buy dog beds but I don't bother anymore. They just clutter up my house and the dogs are just as happy to lay on a towel than anything else.

I trade training services now and then. For example, I'll assist a trainer in a beginning class in order to get a more advanced class for free. Or I just do drop in classes at the local obed. club so i don't have to invest in an entire training class.

Owning 3+ dogs is not cheap by any means. Especially when they get older. I spent a fortune on Dakota once she got up there in age. So keep that in mind.

 Oh, I know it's not going to be cheap, LOL. Just wanting to make it not as strenuous as it could be. I do split their flea meds, and I am a groomer, so they're set, there. I assist with basic training classes, twice a week, so I'm set there. I'm only showing one dog, right now, but it's RAE legs (somebody, shoot me? LOL).

I did NOT know that Amazon had medicines. That's good to know. There are SO many good tips, here. Thanks, everybody!!

 Oh, also, she's an Italian Greyhound, which is not THAT different from a whippet, but it is a different breed. I hadn't heard of sighthounds being senisitive to ivermectin. I know Crested breeders who use Ivomec (from the feed store) for their dogs, and Cresteds are generally considered sighthounds as sensitivities go.

jennie_c_d

I did NOT know that Amazon had medicines. That's good to know. There are SO many good tips, here. Thanks, everybody!!

Well...erm...they don't technically have medicines for dogs, but lots of medicines are the same, so say, hypothetically speaking, you had some sick fish and needed some Fishcillin, or Fishzol....you know?

 Oh, yes. Fishzole is a commonly used medication at my house I'm thinking Fishflex might be useful, at some point, too.

calliecritturs

Given that Jewel is a whippet I would *not* give her ivermectin -- some whippets have been shown to be sensitive to ivermectin, and I wouldn't push the envelope on that one. 

 I think Jewel is actually an IG. Whippets are not one of the ivermectin sensitive breeds. The only sighthounds it has been found in are longhaired Whippets and Silken Windhounds. Both longhaired Whippets and Silken Windhounds, were developed by crossing Whippets to Shelties which can be Ivermectin sensitive. http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vcpl/breeds.aspx Of course, any dog can have a reaction to ivermectin or any other drug/chemical used for parasite control.

 Given Ivermectin does help a great deal with costs - one bottle which is more than most people can use in a couple years costs what one pack of preventive from a vet costs.

 I don't use flea prevention on my dogs beyond a good diet and garlic in their food and they rarely ever get fleas. I will use Frontline on them if they do pick up fleas but rarely have to use it more than once every couple years. When I do I buy it from a catalog and buy the largest size then split the tubes. If I had a flea allergic dog I'd look into more natural methods of flea prevention, such as natural sprays first. Year round spot-ons would be a last resort. That isn't a cost thing though - I just don't think spot-ons are healthy or "safe" for routine use.

 I feed raw which costs less than a high quality kibble because I have gotten good at bargain hunting :) My chicken backs come bulk and are ordered with a bunch of other people, super cheap. I have a source for all natural, grass fed, pasture raised beef for around $1.00-2.00/lb. I buy veggies that are marked on clearance or on sale everytime we grocery shop for ourselves and watch for various bargains on different meats for variety. I also feel that it helps them maintain excellent health, which lowers other costs such as vet care. My dogs rarely ever have to go to the vet, except for rabies vaccines. Yearly combo vaccines are IMO not healthy anyway, so it not only saves money to skip them but it is better for your dog. I don't give my dogs intestinal dewormers either, unless they pick up worms (in over 15 years it has happened maybe once or twice).

 Supplements you can buy in bulk and freeze if need be. I cycle through times when my dogs get supplements daily to when they get next to nothing, except those who need certain things. Right now I am using Springtime's Longevity as a semi-daily supplement and their Bug-Off garlic too. I often give fish oil, which I always buy for humans since it is generally cheaper and better quality than the stuff labeled for dogs. A couple of the dogs get their own special supplements for different reasons but most seem to do just as well on nothing as on a daily supplement (which is why we sometimes go stretches with nothing).

 For treats, I usually buy cheaper meat (chicken leg quarters/thighs/drum sticks, various livers, kidneys, tongues) boil it, cut it up then overcook it in the oven. I haven't come across a dog yet who doesn't find these to be high value treats and they are soooo much cheaper than dog treats. Sometimes I add different seasonings to change them up a bit. I make a lot and freeze them in ziplock bags. I save the broth for when I make veggies for the dogs.

 I volunteer to teach classes at the all-breed club, which gives me a free membership and membership gives me some classes at a discount and most classes for free.

 For anyone who uses ivermectin, here's an interesting article that can save you some headaches:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ivermectin.html

With four dogs, I try as hard as I can to make sure they are getting a high quality diet, as I think it prevents high vet bills down the road.  Dogs that are "getting up there" get a supplement with glucosamine in it preventively.  I also use garlic tabs for flea prevention, but I am in a low flea area, and Jennie is in flea heaven in Southeast Georgia;-)

I bake my own training treats, which, because I refuse to give my dogs stuff with coloring, chemicals, etc., saves me a ton of money.  

I went to grooming school, so I can do my dogs if I have to, although, admittedly, I am often lazy and take the girls to the groomer to save my old arms.  

I don't buy fancy crate pads - I go to the dollar store and get non-skid rugs that fit nicely in the crates - both my Aussiegirls are coated, and don't like the warmth of the padded stuff - I often find them sleeping on the tile floor... Plus, if someone has a puke or a pee accident, you can toss them in the washer very easily. 

Speaking of yard sales, I don't think I've ever paid more than $10 for a crate, except when I needed a very large one for grooming. 

 Yeah, flea heaven, and I'm a groomer who often volunteer grooms freshly rescued from the side of the road dogs for local shelters. *I* bring home fleas, forget the dogs!! Monthly flea preventative has become non optional, for Emma and her doggy friends. I hate that, but I also hate giving her medication daily to control her seizures, and I hate feeding her a prescription diet, but whatever works is what I have to do. She's just at that point, in her life, where she needs quite a bit of medical help to exist. She's the truly expensive one. That's not going to change, but there are places I can cut back (on luxuries, and things specific to multpile dogs, like splitting flea meds).