YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - If your family includes multiple Yorkies or other breeds, need your help.

Lou · 06-10-2009, 06:22 AM

Yikes, where do I begin.
We have sworn that we will never have more than two dogs at a time from now on. At the present time we have 4.
Ivan - German Shepherd - 8 yrs old (a rescue)
Cassie - Shi Tzu - 10 yrs old (also a rescue)
Adie - Yorkie - 3 yrs old
Skeeter - Yorkie - 1 yr old.

We can't take an annual trip to the vet without spending at least $200.00 so that would be $800.00 right there.

Ivan has hip dysplagia and his pain pill cost us about $60.00 a moth so that would be $720.00 a year. So now we are up to $1520.00 a year.

Two dogs go to the groomer every month at which time we pay $80.00 so there is another $960.00 bringing our annual total up to $2480.00.

I'm going to add another $200 for Heartgard and Frontline but I haven't bought any for a while and I'mnot sure of the price but that would bring our annual about to $2680.00 just for maintenance on 4 dogs.

During the past 6 months I have had Ivan in for his seborrhea acting up ($150.00) Skeeter went in for vomiting and diahhrea ($300) and Adie went in because of a choking accident ($180.00). So add $630.00 to the maintenance and it looks like we have spent $3310.00 during the past year. I wouldn't venture to guess how much we have spent on food, treats, toys, holiday photo's with Santa and the Easter Bunny and cute little outfits!

Bottom line is that it is expensive and you never know what kind of other expenses are going to come up. When we first got Adie she got sick the very next day and we ended up spending a couple of thousand dollars on her. I had to cash in some savings bonds to pay for her treatments as well as the week off of work. Now we have a doggy fund account we add to every payday just in case. We have never had it go over $2000.00 because we are tapping in to it regularly to pay vet bills.

Final words: If you can afford it get as many dogs as you want but be fully aware of the cost behind it. How fair will it be to those dogs if you can't afford treatments. Pet insurance like Patti said or a dedicated savings account are both great ideas. If you think you wouldn't use them you would be mistaken.

Another final word: I would never be a one-dog person because I feel that dogs have their own communication that they benefit from but I will never be more than a two-dog person and those dogs will be yorkies purchased from reputable breeders.

I am sorry if I sound like I am lecturing you. I don't mean to - I think I am lecturing myself!

06-10-2009, 06:22 AM	#11
Lou Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: A little town south of Chicago Posts: 4,525	Yikes, where do I begin. We have sworn that we will never have more than two dogs at a time from now on. At the present time we have 4. Ivan - German Shepherd - 8 yrs old (a rescue) Cassie - Shi Tzu - 10 yrs old (also a rescue) Adie - Yorkie - 3 yrs old Skeeter - Yorkie - 1 yr old. We can't take an annual trip to the vet without spending at least $200.00 so that would be $800.00 right there. Ivan has hip dysplagia and his pain pill cost us about $60.00 a moth so that would be $720.00 a year. So now we are up to $1520.00 a year. Two dogs go to the groomer every month at which time we pay $80.00 so there is another $960.00 bringing our annual total up to $2480.00. I'm going to add another $200 for Heartgard and Frontline but I haven't bought any for a while and I'mnot sure of the price but that would bring our annual about to $2680.00 just for maintenance on 4 dogs. During the past 6 months I have had Ivan in for his seborrhea acting up ($150.00) Skeeter went in for vomiting and diahhrea ($300) and Adie went in because of a choking accident ($180.00). So add $630.00 to the maintenance and it looks like we have spent $3310.00 during the past year. I wouldn't venture to guess how much we have spent on food, treats, toys, holiday photo's with Santa and the Easter Bunny and cute little outfits! Bottom line is that it is expensive and you never know what kind of other expenses are going to come up. When we first got Adie she got sick the very next day and we ended up spending a couple of thousand dollars on her. I had to cash in some savings bonds to pay for her treatments as well as the week off of work. Now we have a doggy fund account we add to every payday just in case. We have never had it go over $2000.00 because we are tapping in to it regularly to pay vet bills. Final words: If you can afford it get as many dogs as you want but be fully aware of the cost behind it. How fair will it be to those dogs if you can't afford treatments. Pet insurance like Patti said or a dedicated savings account are both great ideas. If you think you wouldn't use them you would be mistaken. Another final word: I would never be a one-dog person because I feel that dogs have their own communication that they benefit from but I will never be more than a two-dog person and those dogs will be yorkies purchased from reputable breeders. I am sorry if I sound like I am lecturing you. I don't mean to - I think I am lecturing myself! __________________ http://www.its-a-yorkie-thing.com Gracie Skeeter Adie Tyler Last edited by Lou; 06-10-2009 at 06:25 AM.