We have Chihuahuas, so they can require a lot of care with brushing their teeth and stuff as well, but it’s definitely necessary to prevent further complications and more expenses.

One thing we actually took advantage of at PetSmart is the Banfield pet hospital has an insurance plan that saves off regular prices for all of your vaccines, yearly checkups and teeth cleanings and stuff like that for $20 per month for puppies or $30 per month for adults, or around that much.

Plus you get free visits and it can be transferred between PetSmart locations.

I’m not saying Banfield is the best or cheapest option out there, but it’s a good idea to look at the insurance plans, because for like $250 a year, you can get full coverage and avoid a lot of other costs, and most vets have some kind of plan.

You can also visit your local humane society in some cases and they have basic pet care available for lower prices.

Anyway, thank you for the tips.

Might I add . . . if you have a dog with a lot of wrinkles, particular in their face (ie pug, bulldog), it’s important to clean their wrinkles at least once every other day! These spaces can infect easily, especially if there are any cuts or bites in them.

The thing I’ve done which has (inadvertently) saved me money is switch my dog over to a raw diet: lots of different meats, bones, some offal and a few vegetables, eggs, yoghurt, sardines and fruit. I actually did it because he was underweight – he hated kibble (and I bought the top-quality kind!) and canned dog food. He loves the raw food and is putting on weight and has more energy and a shiny coat – and the bonus is, a week’s worth of food is only AU$6 from the butcher.

These tips are so true, especially the one about heartworm preventative.

I adopted a HW+ dog and not only was his treatment extremely expensive (well over $1,000) but it was horrible on his body. If your pet has complications (which are quite likely if the disease is advanced) those can easily cost you thousands and thousands of dollars.