Things I Would Do Differently or Keep in Mind if I Were to Get a New Pet or Service Animal
- How To TBI
- Aug 6, 2022
- 23 min read
Updated: Aug 6, 2022
There are so many wonderful things that can be said about a pet or service animal.
I think, a lot of times, it's so easy to see the many wonderful benefits they bring to our lives.
Companionship.
Love.
Affection.
Attention.
Joy.
Friendship.
Caring.
Service.
Helpfulness.
Kindness.
Friendliness.
Helping us to have increased independence in our daily lives.
Medical alerts.
Life alerts.
Impending illness alerts.
Excitement.
New adventures.
Co-pilot navigator.
Just so many wonderful things.
With that said, I think it's also really easy to not necessarily consider/think to consider other factors that will likely come up at some point in time.
Here is a list of considerations that I would recommend others consider as they're looking to add to their growing family, specifically from the perspective of having a dog.
Housing
Do you currently own your home?
Is it a house with a fenced-in backyard?
Is it a condo with pet/breed/size restrictions?
Is it a rental apartment where you have a landlord with pet/breed/size restrictions? Or that does not allow dogs?
Will your dog be an ESA (emotional service animal) or a service dog?
Will your dog be a general therapy dog?
What is the likelihood that your type of housing (& specifically whether or not you own it) will change at any point between now when you adopt & the next 10-20 years from now (or whatever the anticipated lifespan of the dog)?
2. Do you have any other dogs (or are likely to inherit/care for others')?
Many rental apartments (those that allow for dogs) tend to restrict the total # of dogs to 2 or less.
They also tend to have breed restrictions, and weight restrictions (often under 25 lbs./dog).
3. If you rent, could you afford to rent in a luxury apartment building (a.k.a., the type of commerical housing that tends to be most-receptive to allowing tenants to have pets, specifically dogs). Sometimes, this type of housing charges a monthly "pet rent" on top of your existing luxury unit rent.
4. Does your housing involves steps or flights of stairs? Are you comfortable carrying your dog up & down the stairs, with any related accessories & equipment, if needed (ex: if they're ill/injured/elderly/have or develop a heart condition/joint issues)? Possibly multiple times a day if they go outside to go to the bathroom?
Breed Type Health Condition Research
Before selecting a breed (even if a mixture), it's helpful to know what types of health conditions they are likely to be pre-disposed to.
Ex: Some dogs (those with short snouts & flat noses) tend to not be able to safely fly on airplanes, especially as they age. Other dogs may be predisposed to certain heart & then kidney issues. Others may tend to have dental issues. Or vision concerns. Or joint issues. Etc. All breeds have something. It's important to learn what health issues you're likely to encounter as they age, and more specifically, how much medication & specialist vet visits and frequency are likely to be so that you can start budgeting for it, starting in the early years.
Additional Caregivers
Have you identified additional caregivers who will be able to help when you're absent/unavailable/hospitalized/on vacation?
Do you have roommates that will be able to help? For the duration of the pet's life?
Do you have multiple family &/or friends who are amenable to helping watch your dog for extended periods of time? As in, willing & able?
Are there dog walkers in your area who can help out? Are you able to pay for them?
Is there a doggy daycare in your area who can help out? Are you able to pay for them?
Do you have dog boarding in your area (likely, at your vet's office)? Are you able to pay for them?
As your dog ages, will they be able to safely stay home alone if you have to work outside of the home?
For all these caregivers, are they able to safely & reliably administer medication to your dog, potentially multiple times a day? Are you able to pay for them, if needed?
Are there other dog owners in your neighborhood who would be able & comfortable with helping out?
Do you have in-home wifi?
Do you have in-home cameras/camera systems that can help you monitor your dog & their activity while you are away from home?
Is your potential dog likely to be large enough (in their adult-grown size) to be able to wear a gps tracker? Can you afford to pay for monitoring? (1/3rd of all pets are lost at some point in their life).
Family Members
If there's any possibility that your family composition will change over time (addition of, moving out of family members), will everyone be on the same page about how to treat & care for the dog? Especially when it comes to the expenditure of financial expenses for the dog? Are they supportive and on the same page about spending money for vet bills, and willing and able to help administer medication? It can be really unnecessarily hard to have a partner or family member who is not on the same page about finances who gives you a hard time with negativity, peer pressure, and/or indifference, whenever something inevitably comes up related to the dog, especially where money is involved (like expensive vet bills & illness-related & preventative medication & food expenses, etc.), which may result in pressure to delay or not seek out care when it would've ultimately been less expensive, & more effective, better for the dog's health & quality of life, had the care just been sought out when the need for it was first noticed or needed instead of delaying it or only seeking it out when things have gotten bad & are escalated.
When there are multiple people in a household, dogs often love a lot of them, but they also often figure out & have a preference for a favorite person. Are you ok/will you be ok if their favorite person they pick isn't you? In my personal experience with our dogs, their favorite person also tends to match their own personality & how they maneuver through life. If their designated preference for their favorite person isn't you personally, and their favorite person moves away or relocates, is that favorite person ready, willing and financially & emotionally able to care for the dog, AND are you ok with the dog moving elsewhere to be with their favorite person? This can happen when people have kids that move out &/or when people split up.
Do you think you'll have children/grandchildren/nieces or nephews/other minors that you may need to care for during the lifespan of your dog? Would you be able to safely do so? Babysitting is one thing, but adding a human child, especially an infant, full-time to your family is another. Not all dogs like children. Some need more attention and/or care than others. Will you be ok & committed to still caring for the dog at the same sustained level & the way you had, prior to that new human family member joining your household? Especially if that family member has or develops allergies to your dog? Dogs can have medication & environmental allergies & food sensitivities, as well, as people.
Allergies
Are you allergic to dogs? Or your specific breed(s) of dog that you're considering?
If you later develop allergies, are you willing to get tested for & receive allergy shots to help your immune system become less-reactive to dander?
Are you able to regularly bathe the dog, or arrange for someone else who is reliable to do so? Or that you could pay to do so?
Are you able to desensitize your dog to getting baths or showers so that it won't be stressful for them to get them as often as they/or you/or an allergic household member may be needed to get them?
Do you have non-carpeted floors in your home? If not, are you willing and financially able to remove them? Carpets are extremely difficult to effectively clean, and for those with dust mite allergies &/or animal dander allergies, it's often recommended to have non-carpeted surfaces in the home.
Do you have an air conditioner system in your home? Or at least, in the room(s) that your dog would be living/roaming/moving about in? Are you willing to consistently run the air conditioner, even when you're not home, if your dog is going to be home alone? Especially in the hot summer? And consistently run the heat at an appropriate temperature, in the cold winter, even if you, yourself are not home, but your dog is?
If you or a family member (or new household member) becomes allergic, do you have an alternative sleeping arrangement that your dog would be comfortable with and not anxious about that doesn't involve sleeping in your room?
Size
What is the anticipated adult-grown size of the dog? What is their likely adult weight range?
As you age, how will you be able to transport/walk your dog when they develop mobility limitations?
Will you be able to lift/carry the dog, even if you also lose your mobility?
Will you be able to transport them in a dog-specific stroller? Are you willing to transport them in a dog-specific stroller?
Food
Can you afford food? The larger the dog, the more food you will need to buy.
Can you afford prescription food? (Costs substantially more (3-4+ x's more) than OTC non-prescription food, and many dogs will likely need a prescription-based food diet as they age). Ex: 1 can of prescription wet dog food, by itself, can cost $5/can. There's a discount if you get a flat case, but that still comes out to around $3+/can.
Dogs are considered a "puppy" when they are under age 1.
Dogs are considered a "dog" when they are ages 1-7.
Dogs are considered a "senior" when they are age 7 & older. Once they're a "senior," they're more likely to need medications, specialists, and prescription food than when they were younger.
Little dogs, if not ill, tend to live longer than big dogs. A little dog, if well-cared for & not ill, can live well into their teens.
For little dogs, especially, they may spend 1/2 or more of their lives in the "senior" stage.
Can you afford dog-specific treats/rewards?
Can you afford pill pockets & other similar items to hide medication in when they need to be administered?
Grooming
Will you be able to brush their teeth on a regular basis?
Are you comfortable with sticking your fingers into their mouth if needed? (Ex: to administer a pill medication?)
Are you comfortable with cutting/trimming their fur if it's the type that grows long? If not, will you be able to afford to bring them to a groomer?
Are you comfortable with trimming their nails as they grow out? (Clear or light-colored nails are easier to see the quick to avoid nicking it, as opposed to dark-colored nails which may be more likely to need a vet tech or someone who is a professional groomer who is comfortable & able to trim safely to an appropriate length that avoids the quick).
Are you comfortable with expressing their anal glands, if needed? If not, with bringing them to the vet to do so?
Are you comfortable with cleaning their ears so that buildup & debris doesn't remain lodged?
Are you comfortable with touching their nose (very sensitive) &/or paws to clean &/or administer soothing & healing balms?
Are you comfortable with putting warm washcloth compresses on their eyes, if needed? And instilling Rx medicated eyedrops, if needed?
Are you comfortable bathing your dog at home? Shampooing & blowdrying (especially if a little dog &/or one with long hair)?
Are you comfortable with handling their paws repeatedly? So that they get used to it? This is helpful for being able to clean off their paws when they come in from outside, and also when trying to do certain procedures, like measuring their blood pressure.
Weather-Appropriate Outfits
Are you comfortable with putting booties on your dog to protect them from the elements? (chemical ice melts on sidewalks which can be caustic to dog paws, and to protect them from hot asphalt and hot sidewalks in hot weather)
Are you comfortable with putting sweaters & jackets on your dog to keep them warm when it's cold outside?
Are you able to put a hat &/or sunglasses/doggles on your dog to protect them from sunlight/cataract formation & wind debris?
Crate & Bedding
Where will your dog sleep? Will they be ok & able to be transported in a crate? If they ever need to be placed in a Buster cage, will they be able to do so without getting overly anxious?
Will they sleep in a doggy bed?
Will they sleep in your bed with you?
Will they sleep on the couch?
Transportation
Do you own a car? Are you able to purchase a harness &/or dog set &/or crate for safe transportation?
Do you live in a city? Do you take public transportation? Are you able to take your dog on public transportation? Do they need to be in a bag/backpack/stroller? (Especially in NYC?) Can you carry/lift them throughout the subway, and up/down stairs if no escalator/working elevator is present?
Can your dog handle long walks or days out while running errands? Little dogs can't walk as far geographically as bigger dogs and are at risk of over-exerting themselves & fatigue.
Do you take a rideshare? Will you be able to bring your dog in the rideshare (ex: to go to/from the vet?)
Do you bike? Do you have a safe transportation buggy for your dog to ride along in? Are you able to safely transport them & yourself that way?
Can you wear your dog in a hands-free baby sling? A front or back pack? A stroller?
If you hike with a large dog, could you physically lift & carry them back in a sling for a while if they get injured along the way? Do you have a plan/collapsible sling equipment in place, in case it's needed?
Are you able to make or source a hat for your dog &/or doggles/sunglasses to help protect their eyes from sun glare, allergens, debris, wind, and reduce likelihood of cataracts?
It's deadly unsafe to leave a dog in a car since it acts like a solar oven and heats up incredibly fast (within minutes), even with the windows all the way down. Are you willing and able to not leave them ever in a car alone and unsupervised, and instead able to take them where you need to go?
Travel Accomodations
There is often a travel premium on hotels, AirBNB's, campers, etc. that allow dogs or cats. Are you willing and able to pay extra for them to be able to stay with you in temporary accommodations, especially if those places are few & far between?
Are there dog & cat-friendly hotels & AirBNB's & extended stay accommodations geographically close to where you live? Where are they & how much do they cost? Could you pay for them? Do they seem book-able & where you and your dog would be able to comfortably stay? Does it seem safe from cars, predators, and well-lighted enough that you feel safe and comfortable taking them out, possibly multiple times, in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, if needed? If a power-outage occurs in the area where you live, especially if you have medication needs, & if you have difficult & unsafe weather, you'll need a safe, climate-controlled area to safely stay & sleep at with your dog. Can that travel accommodation, management and other guests handle & be ok if your dog barks, especially if they bark constantly?
Long trains, like Amtrak, and planes, often have a limit on the number of total animals allowed on their vehicles at any one time. You have to book in advance, and you may or may not be allowed out to take a bathroom break at stopovers or need to go to designated areas. Is your dog able to handle this? They also sometimes mandate travel layovers and place limits on the number of hours your dog is able to be on the vehicle, which may mean instead of booking 1 long ticket, you may need to break up your travel into segments with multiple legs, which will result in an overall longer travel time, and often a higher overall transportation price tag cost. Are you ok with this and willing to slow down your travel and pay more in order to be able to travel with them? This may be more optional while they're younger & healthier but may become more necessary as they age & as health conditions start to pop up that require administration of medication & more close supervision.
Rental vehicles often do not allow for dogs or cats to be in the rental vehicle and charge a penalty for cleaning if that happens, even if cleaning wasn't necessary. This further limits transportation options. Do you have a back-up plan for this, especially if your car breaks down & needs repairs, especially if parts are delayed due to the pandemic?
Bathroom/Litter Boxes
Will the fully grown adult-size of your dog be able to be litter box trained, so you don't have to go outside as much in inclement weather or if you're ill?
If your dog will exclusively go to the bathroom outside, will you be able to bring them outside, everytime, and be able to supervise them the whole time so that they remain safe (ex: away from hawks, coyote, and other predators)?
Are you willing and able to go outside with them, multiple times a day, everyday, for their entire lives? In snow, in sleet, in rain, in high humidity heat?
Will you be able to regularly acquire newspapers for them to use a litter box & dispose of the soiled newsprint regularly, as needed? Are you willing and able to pay for necessary newspaper subscriptions, or be able to acquire the needed amounts on a regular basis?
Training
Do you have the time, patience & willingness to train your dog?
Do you have the funds and time to enroll them & yourself in training courses?
Will you be able to teach them how to swim safely in case they accidentally find themselves near a pool/waterway?
Toys
Are you able to purchase soft, cozy, toys your dog can play with & snuggle with?
Are you able to purchase mentally-stimulating toys to help keep them occupied & separation anxiety at bay?
Routines
Are you the type of person who is ok with predictable routines? Or are you willing to become one?
Country of Residence
Do you see yourself living in the same country for the duration of your dog's life?
If not, will you be able to bring them with you? Will the other geographic locations allow you to import them? Are you ok with quarantining them for a while, if necessary, where your access to them may be limited/nonexistent? Will they be ok with being separated from you for extended periods of time in unknown environments/facilities?
Veterinary Care
Do you have the means to be able to take them to regular check-ups (a few times a year when they're puppies for vaccinations, annually when they're dogs, and at least every 6 months when they're seniors)? A regular, non-specialist vet visit can easily be a couple hundred dollars, not including costs for labs, vaccinations or medications.
Do you have the means to take them for sick visits?
Do you have the means to pay to spay/neuter them?
Are you able to afford pet insurance?
Could you afford a sudden emergency department hospital bill (can easily be a few thousand dollars, not including hospitalization, which could easily be hundreds if not $1,000/day)?
Are you able to qualify for and obtain a Care Credit account?
Do you have a credit card with a line of credit that could cover an emergency, or more likely, multiple emergencies?
Are you able to cover the cost for monthly heartworm, flea, tick prevention/treatment? The annual labwork to check it can easily be a couple hundred dollars, not including cost of medication.
Lifestyle
Do you travel? For work? For leisure? To run errands throughout the day (grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, etc.)? Will you be able to safely bring your dog with you to the places you want & need to go to?
Do you have the time to be able to play with them, and take them for walks and outings?
Are you able to comfort them so that they don't develop separation anxiety or help them through fears of thunderstorms, lightning & fireworks?
If there's any chance you'll need to be able to drive with them, will you be able to desensitize them to driving (& maintain that desensitization) so that they don't become anxious &/or get motion sick?
Are you able to devote the time necessary to desensitize them to the vet's office so they don't get overly anxious?
Will you be able to get them used to a variety of people and a variety of potential shared caregivers?
Outdoor Gear
Will you be able to purchase a nametag, an AirTag, a GPS tag, a microchip with ongoing updated microchip service, a collar, a harness, a leash, a doggy bag carrier & ongoing doggy bags?
A poncho &/or doggy raincoat & hat, &/or a large golf umbrella/dog umbrella?
Lights (especially visually-attractive, colorful, strobin lights to draw attention to vehicle drivers) for their harness/collar when outdoors at night. A must, especially if they have dark-colored fur that makes them less visable in low-light or nighttime conditions. Anything that can make others more alert to them (ex: strobing multicolored lights), the more likely they are to be safe & less-likely to hopefully be hit by a vehicle if they accidentally run away or dart out in & are scared of traffic).
Things I Would Strongly Recommend Purchasing
Pet Insurance. Especially for the first year, but really, ongoing. Pet insurance tends to have a clause where they don't cover pre-existing conditions, so you need to get it & continue with it so that conditions are covered as they come up. You can check official pet insurances, &/or reach out to your homeowner's or renter's insurance company to see if they offer it &/or if they offer a rider (if a homeowner, or landlord, if necessary). For certain breeds, specifically those at higher risk of biting others, you need to get this since if they accidentally bite someone, especially on or near your property, you may be held financially liable for that other person's bills.
A monthly installment plan at your vet for wellness/sickness care, vaccinations, dental procedures, etc. Some chains offer this (ex: VCA hospitals), although the plans tend to be practice-specific. If you follow through with getting routine care, these plans can be cost-effective, especially later if sickness visits are needed.
Care Credit. Even if you don't need it immediately, you'll be glad that you have it when you need it. Would recommend purchasing, and then paying off in full before any promotional period expires, and then continuing to use periodically when you have ongoing vet-related expenses. You want to maintain and build that credit so that when you really need it (like for an emergency visit), it's there & available to you. Care Credit can also be used at certain human medical facilities that tend to have reduced or unavailable insurance coverage for patience (such as dentist offices). The specific terms for the Care Credit varies and depends on your financial background, on the services needed, and what terms the provider has negotiated with and agreed to with Care Credit.
NOTE 1: You will not qualify for Care Credit if you are unemployed, or if you don't
make enough money, and it's not worth the hard inquiry on your credit history to
check if this scenario applies to you. This is even more of a reason why it's
important to get it, use it, and maintain it, while you are financially able to, since
when you're most likely to need it, if you've lost your job or had your work hours
cut, you may not be able to get it.
NOTE 2: Care Credit is a line of credit, just like a credit card is, just like a loan is,
just like a mortgage is; make sure you are financially aware, responsible, willing
and able to pay it off in full, on time, otherwise the penalty APR interest fees can
be way more expensive than a credit card and ultimately cost you significantly
more if you're unable to pay it off in time. The grace period varies based on the
total amount of money charged by a specific vendor, so if you know you're going
to have a large total bill, it is usually better to have the vendor wait and charge the
larger bill altogether at one time in one single transaction to Care Credit, as
opposed to multiple smaller transactions that have shorter grace periods. The
grace period for a transaction can vary from months to years depending on the
vendor negotiated contract and the total transaction charge, so it's important to
check each & everytime before using so that you have current information that's
applicable to your specific scenario.
Probiotics. May be less necessary for certain scenarios, but especially if your dog is prone to developing IBD, ongoing probiotics can make it less-likely (read: less-expensive, less-side effects, less invasive & GI-disruptive than antibiotics) that they'll need antibiotics as often to treat GI issues. Our vet recommended the Fortiflora packets, & we've found them to be helpful. The dosage is typically 1 packet/dog/daily, but we found for our picky eaters, that it's good to mix 1/2 packet in with breakfast & 1/2 packet in with dinner so that both meals taste the same (as opposed to one with food that doesn't have probiotic mixed in, and one with food where probiotic is mixed in & alters the taste of the food). If your dog isn't a picky eater, then you may just be able to mix the whole packet into 1 food meal, and have them be ok. This is a *relatively* cheap option, if you keep up with it, vs. the cost of a sick vet visit + antibiotics + having to administer them over a week or more + having to deal with unnecessary diarrhea.
Good quality food. Ask your vet for what they recommend for your dog. Good quality food that's consistent that your dog can get used to will make their stomachs feel better & less likely to feel upset. Larger named brands may surface & publicize recalls faster than smaller named ones since often, a certain critical mass needs to be reached before, in practice, a recall reaches a threshold where they're publicized in the media. Set up alerts to periodically check to make sure that whatever food you're providing isn't recalled. Recommend keeping an extra bag/set of food on hand, just in case, since often, the recalls are delayed and the general public doesn't tend to know until well after the fact.
Brushing your dog's teeth. Getting them used to having your fingers in/near their mouth in a safe way will make medication administration easier, and brushing their teeth easier. If a toothbrush is too hard to use, there's also the kind that has bristles that goes on your finger that can be used.
Get annual dental cleanings and tooth extractions, if necessary, while they're able to. This option sort of goes away once they start having kidney/liver issues since anesthesia becomes more of a concern in terms of safe administration & the vet has to weigh to risks vs. benefits of a procedure vs. none, and often as they age, there comes a point where the risk vs. benefit for a procedure that needs anesthesia makes certain diagnostic and procedures out of the question. An MRI for a dog requires general anesthesia, as does removal of a growth/cyst/tumor, as does tooth cleaning &/or tooth extractions. A dog may also require a sedative just to get a needle aspirate biopsy if they are stressed out, in pain, or overly anxious or nervous.
Unless you explicitly, repeatedly, specify to all hospital doctors (even as they change shifts), if your dog is admitted as in inpatient to the hospital (which is the equivalent of a human hospital ICU), the vet hospital may administer sedatives to your dog in order to medicate them if the dog is scared of others, scared of getting pills in their mouth, scared of blood draws, scared of wearing an E-collar (Elizabethan collar), or otherwise deemed a potential bite risk to the vet hospital worker. Sedatives, like all medications, have to be metabolized with the kidneys & liver, and if your dog has kidney &/or liver issues, &/or is older and not feeling well, that, along with everything else, could put them over the edge in terms of what they physically and chemically can handle, so anything you can do to acclimate them to what will likely become a necessary experience at one or more times in their life (needing to go to the emergency vet hospital and possibly being admitted), is really important in terms of helping their overall quality of life so that you can minimze their being scared. You know your dog best & a hospital vet will likely not be as closely familiar with your dog's history, especially if their medical history is complicated /or involves specialists (like a cardiologist), and they may administer medication, such as sedatives, which may otherwise be normally tolerated by most other dogs, but which may NOT be tolerated by your dog and which may end up proving fatal, and there's little recourse you can do about it. This also applies to anti-nausea & appetite-stimulating medications. The best you can do is advocate strongly for your dog & the things they can and cannot tolerate, including medication dosing/frequency/spacing with other foods and medications, throughout. Vets are not the same as pharmacists, and especially in a critical interaction (or what may quickly turn critical), a vet pharmacist or regular pharmacist is very likely to be unavailable and not consulted, especially on nights & weekends & holidays, and in practice, I've personally found that vets often do not have the bandwidth or interest availability to take the time to check for drug interactions, especially when kidney &/or liver function is reduced and thus half-lives & circulating metabolites are extended and can quickly build up to toxic levels in the bloodstream that otherwise would not have been the case in an animal that did not have comorbidities and reduced or unavailable reserve kidney &/or liver function.
There is a nationwide, if not global, vet shortage which has been exacerbated by the pandemic and with lots of people getting new pets. It is harder to get into vet school than medical school, simply due to the fact that there aren't enough vet schools, so there aren't enough seats for prospective vet students. Additionally, with the pandemic, and increased demand, there has been increased provider burnout & a number of vets are responding by reducing their hours, going into private practice, &/or leaving the profession, entirely. You want to make sure when interviewing and selecting a primary care vet practice, that a compassionate vet you & your dog respond & team well with is going to be available in a timely same or next-day manner for when your dog inevitably gets sick, and that you're not going to have to be forced to wait multiple weeks to be seen, because what will end up happening is that you will then need to seek out an urgent care vet (higher cost) &/or an emergency vet hospital vet (highest cost & longest in-perrson wait) to be seen & cared for/receive medicine that a regular primary care vet could've just diagnosed & treated if they had the availability & time to see your pet for a few miuntes.
Get trained on how to use a pill popper, so that when you actually need to give medication, you're able to do so & do so comfortably & safely. Being able to use a pill popper, makes it easier to give meds, especially if they're feeling nauseous & not like eating. It also is a similar action to giving liquid medication via a syringe, which makes that an easier option that tends to be less-expensive than having to get medication compounded, such as into an ear gel.
Think about if you're willing/able to get trained on how to give SubQ (subcutaneous) fluids/injections, if needed. Sometimes your dog gets dehydrated & isn't feeling well, and being able to safely give SubQ fluids at home can be less expensive than having to go daily to the vet to get them, if indicated. Regular injections may also be needed if your dog becomes diabetic.
Try to get trained & be comfortable with clipping your dogs nails. Depending on the dog, you may need to get their nails trimmed every 4-6 weeks, and the cost tends to be around the cost of a manicure ($30 or so, depending on location/vet practice/grooming facility).
Consider joining a club that may help cover some of these services/offer discounts on certain foods, etc. Ex: Petco's monthly club, which also includes a voucher to cover the cost of an annual vet exam elsewhere, among other things. Petco also offers cash rewards on filling medications, food Rx's, etc. that can go towards the purchase of other Petco things.
Finding a good vet practice you can establish a rapport with for ongoing care. There's a shortage, in general, for vets, especially with the large number of pets that were adopted during the pandemic that all now need care. You want to find a vet practice that you can relatively easily get to, but more importantly, where you'll be able to be seen when necessary, without extended delays, especially when your dog inevitably gets sick. Being seen at the regular vet costs significantly less, in general, than having to go the emergency department hospital.
Some vet practices offer discounts to seniors, veterans, students, etc. If you are a member of a certain potential group, it may be worth asking the vet practices in your area if any of them offer a discount as part of the consideration when looking for an ongoing practice to establish care.
See if it makes sense to get care during a community vaccination clinic. Sometimes, that can be a cost-effective way to get necessary vaccines, like rabies.
Get a vaccine schedule from your vet for all vaccines, when they're needed (including boosters), and when they need to be spaced out, and if multiple are able to be given together, or if you need to space out in between. Make sure you get all vaccines, as recommended by your vet. These will be needed for license & registration and may be required when you live in a renter/landlord environment.
See if it makes sense to receive episodic, procedural care at a lower-cost vet clinic. Ex: for dental exams, or spay/neutering procedures. Ex: Faithful Friends
Check to see if any medication that is prescribed is offered at a regular pharmacy, and if so, use GoodRx for a discount on the medication. Some pharmacies offer promotions on new or transferred prescriptions. If you need ongoing medication, GoodRx Gold may potentially offer additional discounts which may be cost-effective for you. YMMV. Good Rx discount codes change regularly.
If getting a service animal with a specific medical condition in mind, or training an existing animal into becoming a service animal, check to see with any national medical condition-affiliated foundations, nonprofits, or associations if they have any funding to help cover the cost of the service animal &/or to help cover the cost of their training. If you have certain conditions & certain affiliations (ex: a veteran with PTSD), you may be able to get onto a list to receive a service animal at reduced or no cost, which may also include the cost of veterinary care & food. If a veteran, start by checking with your local VA about what services &/or benefitted options may be available to you & also to look at the matching process.
A Go Bag, a.k.a., an In Case of Emergency Bag. With medications, food, ID, outdoor gear, lights, etc. Hopefully, you'll never need it, but in reality, you'll probably use it more often than you think (think last-minute overnight trips, outdoor adventures, drop-offs to other supplemental caregivers, etc.). Having everything in one place, by the door, makes it ready to grab & go, in case of emergency. It'll take some trial & error to figure out what you do & don't need, but you'll be glad that you have it.
An organized system & method for keeping all your vet care-related records, together. Through a lot of trial & error, I created a version available for purchase, here, or you can create one of your own.
An AAC (Augmented and Alternative Communication Device) - see @Hunger4Words account. She is a SLP (speech language pathologist) who taught her blue heeler dog how to press voice-recorded buttons to communicate with her family. Unfortunately, there currently aren't easily reprogrammable buttons that are able to be pressed by little dogs on the commerical market, although I really hope that changes. The larger buttons, which can be purchased from Amazon & elsewhere, work best with larger dogs who have the weight & larger-sized paws to be able to push down on the buttons. There are small buttons meant for children to press on hard books, and I think that style would be great and easily transportable for smaller dogs to be able to use. You can also check out Fluent Pet's design, which was created after the mass popularity & media coverage of @Hunger4Words account. There were a number of times, especially when giving medication, where I would've loved to have known which food our dog would've preferred and been more willing to eat & wished I could've more easily and readily found out, as opposed to trying multiple things.
7.26.22
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