For Bears 12 years, he went to the same vet. On his first visit, he weighed 10 pounds. His last visit he weighed 87 pounds. In his prime he weighed about 98 pounds. Just trivia.
For no other reason than curiosity, I called the vet to ask how much I had spent on vet care in his lifetime. I am not sure if they had ever had that ask for before. Oh well, she said she would call me back.
A bit later, she called back and Bears grand total in vet care for 12 years was $9297.58. He had had two surgeries, which was tumor removals. Neutered. Flea and tick. Heartgard. Nail trimming. office visits, medicines for minor ailments. So I am guessing that was not alot, being he never had anything major as some dogs do.
Funny, his first nail trim in 1996 cost $5.00. His last one, in 2008 cost $12.00. Wow. That one increase always bothered me. Because nothing changed. The tool never improved. Same type tool all these years. No special degree needed.
My best guess at food was about $4000.00 over 12 years. Nutro about $30.00 a bag. A bag a month, for 12 years. This is guessing. I never really knew how long bag lasted.
Obedience training about $500.00. His main training was with a place, that as long as I owned him, I could take him back for any issue at no cost. I liked that.
Miscellaneous items...crate, he was initially crated. But sometime, don't remember when, the crate dissapeared. He was housebroken and a wonderful non destructive dog. So he was never crated again. He had a bed, that I would say "go to your room" and he would go.
Shampoo, dog toys, grooming tools, food bowl, beds. Miscellaneous best guess about $350.00. He had one food bowl set his entire life. It was a raised set. I washed it and put it outside the other day, but looked out the window and brought it back in. Couldn't leave it outside. For now, it's in my closet. I will think of something to do with it.
The food bowls are metal. I was thinking about cleaning them and maybe at Thanksgiving dinner using them for a fruit salad or something. And as we all sit there eating our dinner, telling everyone that wonderful metal bowl sitting there in the middle of the table was Bears water bowl.
Whatcha think?
Now there may other cost, but I think that it is the bulk of it. So my over all grand financial cost of owning my dog for 12 years was about best guess 14,000.00.
Just thought I would share.
Kathy
For no other reason than curiosity, I called the vet to ask how much I had spent on vet care in his lifetime. I am not sure if they had ever had that ask for before. Oh well, she said she would call me back.
A bit later, she called back and Bears grand total in vet care for 12 years was $9297.58. He had had two surgeries, which was tumor removals. Neutered. Flea and tick. Heartgard. Nail trimming. office visits, medicines for minor ailments. So I am guessing that was not alot, being he never had anything major as some dogs do.
Funny, his first nail trim in 1996 cost $5.00. His last one, in 2008 cost $12.00. Wow. That one increase always bothered me. Because nothing changed. The tool never improved. Same type tool all these years. No special degree needed.
My best guess at food was about $4000.00 over 12 years. Nutro about $30.00 a bag. A bag a month, for 12 years. This is guessing. I never really knew how long bag lasted.
Obedience training about $500.00. His main training was with a place, that as long as I owned him, I could take him back for any issue at no cost. I liked that.
Miscellaneous items...crate, he was initially crated. But sometime, don't remember when, the crate dissapeared. He was housebroken and a wonderful non destructive dog. So he was never crated again. He had a bed, that I would say "go to your room" and he would go.

Shampoo, dog toys, grooming tools, food bowl, beds. Miscellaneous best guess about $350.00. He had one food bowl set his entire life. It was a raised set. I washed it and put it outside the other day, but looked out the window and brought it back in. Couldn't leave it outside. For now, it's in my closet. I will think of something to do with it.
The food bowls are metal. I was thinking about cleaning them and maybe at Thanksgiving dinner using them for a fruit salad or something. And as we all sit there eating our dinner, telling everyone that wonderful metal bowl sitting there in the middle of the table was Bears water bowl.

Now there may other cost, but I think that it is the bulk of it. So my over all grand financial cost of owning my dog for 12 years was about best guess 14,000.00.
Just thought I would share.
Kathy