How much do you spend on your Yorkie?
 

How much money do you spend per month on taking care of your Yorkie, on average? I was asked by a breeder how much do I think and I let her know I put $300 in my monthly budget to put towards, grooming, Vet, and food per month. Many friends of mine say that $300 a month on a dog is too much. I thought it would be better to have more than less set aside. I am not talking about clothes or toys ---just the monthly essentialy maintenance needed for a pup. :animal36

lets see...i think you will get lots of answers here.

Of course, every month mine need:

food
heartworm meds & flea/tick preventative (i buy in bulk)
pee pads
shampoo/conditioner
plus all the toys, treats, etc that I feel compelled to buy them (whether they need them or not is a different story)

Assuming your pup is healthy-you probably won't need $300.00/month. I have two and I don't think I spend that much every month. Believe me, if I had unlimited funds I could easily drop $300 on those spoiled babies of mine! If I had to guess, I'd say I spend around $150 a month for both of mine-for the bare necessities.

Now for vet visits and grooming throughout the year you can run your tab up pretty quick...it costs me $100 to have them both groomed and usually $100 a piece each time we head to the vet for check ups and shots. If you add a dental-it's even more. But, like I said-this all depends on health, how often you have them professionally groomed, and unexpected things that can come up...

im interested to see what others say about this. It's great that you are planning and giving yourself some 'cushion' as these guys can get pretty expensive. They are worth every penny though

Well it changes. The initial expenses of a new puppy ....you don't have with older healthy puppies or dogs. Our vaccinations are completed, everyone's neutered etc. I never had MONTHLY grooming expenses...mine only went to a groomer every 3 months or so...if that often. I bath them at home, keep them trimmed up myself and do their nails.

So really my only known expense for a month is food. A large bag of food runs me 55.00.

I purchase my flea meds and heartguard in bulk (cause of 3)...that last bill was around 120...that's for 4 months for mine.

A puppy needing one well visit when you first get them, perhaps the last set of vaccinations, a rabies shot, flea preventative, heartworm preventative, neutering at 6 months with a full blood panel, food...possible grooming at 6 months....yeah, you'd put a healthy dent in the 900 bucks you'd saved for 3 months....but the expense decreases IF you own a healthy dog.

The first yr is going to be more expensive because you have puppy shots and spay/neuter. I have 2 and I spend about $70 on food. Probably $10-$15 on treats. Their annual shots and wellness blood work runs $200 per yr per dog. Their grooming is $35 per dog every 3 mos. They havent had to have their teeth cleaned but later on when they do it runs $130 per dog per yr. I buy chewies probably about $15-2o per month. This doesnt include toys, bed, xpen and misc that you buy for them. Its not bad if you have a healthy dog which I do but if you have an unhealthy one the vet bills can get hefty

I neglected to include new puppy supplies...such as crates, x pens, beds, bowls, grooming brushes, etc. All initial expenses too.

Oh I forgot I also buy heartworm pills and pee pads

$300 a month for just essentials seems pretty high to me. Other then in the beginning for all their puppy shots they don't have to go to the vet monthly. We have 3 and we spend maybe around $30 for dog food and another $10-15 for treats. $20 for nail trimming. Grooming we do ourselves, and a bottle of shampoo/conditioner last at least 6-8 months, so that works out to only a few dollars a month. Heart worm medicine is monthly, but what's that like, $30 for a six month supply? That works out to only around $85 a month for 3 Yorkies.

Now, toys, clothes, car seats, bags/carriers, collars/leashes (momma has a collar fetish :embarasse) those are were the true expense comes in. But that is controllable in so much as it is more of a want thing then a need.

Of course, if you can budget and afford $300 then go for it. If you don't spend it all put it in savings for the medical emergency times that always do seem to pop up.

I have the x-pen, tons of toys, harnesses, clothes, leads, blankets, food bowls, bed, pet carrier, grooming supplies (shampoo, conditioner, nail tripper, clippers, brushes..etc).

I dont like to buy too many treats--I like natural such as cherrios, carrots and apples....maybe yogart when they get a bit older. So, that is just common food in my home.

I plan on bathing my puppy and doing some grooming (some things should be left to professionals).

Just worried that many people say these guys can be real expensive and I just wanted to sort of know how expensive. I have pet insurance lined up to start once I get my puppy. so any medical emergencies should be covered to 80%.

Heartworm---is that every month? So is flea preventitive?

I don't take time to count .

I agree. You never know. And get emergency pet medical insurance!

I spend probably $150 for food and regular medical supplies for my two monsters. I trim their nails with a Peticure (amazing product, btw). I also live in an urban area and am a raw feeder, which yanks my bill up. Now, for toys and treats and clothes and accessories...Hmm, I try not to know how much I spend!! LOL!!

Kidding. Seriously, after the first year it got pretty inexpensive, which got me more into the toy/treat/clothing buying habit!

Its all what you want it to be. It depends on your location and which vet you choose. It also depends on the vaccine protocall you decide - I titer test my furkids, which means running blood tests to see their immunity levels rather then unnecessarily re-vaccinating. This is about 2X the cost of vaccines...so its all about how you choose to 'parent' :cool:

What's a peticure????? Sounds intriguing!

Peticure Petite w/ Free Filing Bands

like an electric nail file...:D

Puppies, the first year anyhow are more costly, I would think.
For Buddy I pay approx:
1. Food, every 3 wks. 13.99 (Natural Balance Organic)
2. Treats - 15.00-20.00 every three wks.
3. Pet Ins. 28.03 once a month
4. Heartguard 4.25 month (24.00 every six months)
5. Flea meds 12.00 month (38.00 every three months)
6. Fresh Chicken 9.00-12.00 twice a month ( I cook it every other wk)
7. Grooming Supplies, grooming table 125.00, clipper 65.00, comb, brush
shampoo, conditioner, top knot gel , toothpaste, brush etc, ?
8. Once a year check up - $297.00
9. Assessories, toys & bones, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ LOL:p

I am kinda a spender when it comes to the hairballs...holistic vets, organic meat...I want to be one of my dogs in my next life, LOL!! I know people who spend much less and have perfectly healthy dogs...

That makes me feel less ridiculous.

oooooo.....does it really work? I am afraid to use the nail clippers, but this seems so much better. I have seen the commercials but were unsure if they worked.

It does work. I bought it b/c it was 14.99, worth a try and it works!

Carol...you forgot one
10. Cost of yorkie love - priceless.

Deb, your right. The most important one of all;)

Yes flea preventative and heartworm meds are monthly. I do not use flea meds from Dec - around March. There aren't any here...nor would be a problem in NYC.

I do not have nor would purchase health insurance...but that's just me. Personally if I felt the need to be "safe"...or didn't have the funds available for an expensive medical procedure/visit...I would have one credit card tucked away for that purpose. Use it once or twice a year to keep it active...but basically it's for emgency purposes only.

A bag a food lasts me a month with my two yorkies, and the bag is about $15 (Wellness). I bath/groom them myself so total for both of them the average monthly cost (not including when they have to go to the vet, but they don't go to the vet every month) is about $50 on them.

$297??? I assume/hope that isn't for one Yorkie? For a full check-up our vet here in town only charges $50, which included a fecal test.

Yep it's for one Yorkie. This is NY honey, everything is out of control.
The visit alone is $65.00! Add blood work, shots, fecal (28.00) etc there you have
it.

P.S.
I also stop flea meds from Nov-March.

That's nothing. I go to the 'holistic' vet and to run bloodwork, do a fecal, run titers....I paid $450 for Louis' annual wellness check!

Lets figure this one out....
 

I have never added it up... I have always thought if I did and then my husband asked... "how much do you think we spend"..(meaning me with my bad spending habits) he would have a melt down..LOL :eek:

but...

Food $100 (Alfie gets special things mixed into his puppy food so its a little extra)
Treats $30 (Not really an essential but still... who can LIVE with out treats... )
Clothes $40 (Goodness... Every month is different but on average $40 - He just keeps growing... I know he could go without but he is now trained to calm down at night and part of that routine is his PJs.. which he continues to grow out of each month... and Coats are a must along with Harnesses... we don't need him getting cold :D)
Heartworm/Flea stuff $30 (?) (Not really sure.. I bought a 6 month supply and it was like $180 so $30:confused:)
Groomer $30 (this is a must... he is such a scruff butt..hehehe :eek: and we love our groomer, we have our at home stuff... but that isn't a monthly cost really)

We have been looking into a monthly plan for Pet Medical Insurance... and that looks like it will cost around $30 for what we are trying to get... but we haven't purchased the plan so far.

Alfie is all set with his vet visits up to this point (around $600?? we did 4 visits for his shots because I was scared too many shots at once may not be healthy... I am a little nuts!!)... and he will be needing to get fixed very soon..:eek::( hopefully we will get the Pet Med Ins first...

All in All.... *OMG I can never tell my DH... $230 ($260 with Medical* with another furbaby on the way... :woof: :p

When Ellie rarely had to go to the vet and ate cheaper food, it would've been about $200 a year give or take for necessities. So, $200 divided by 12. So about $16 or $17 a month. Then it all changed. lol. In about 1 year we spent well over $2000 on vet bills alone. Now things have calmed down and this would be a typical year:

Food - $250-$500 depending on the ingredients (Ellie eats homecooked)
Annual Vet Exam - $30
Annual Bloodwork with Thyroid T4 - $82
Fecal - $14
Urinalysis - $25
Titers - $84 unless giving vaccines, then less
Denosyl - (for Ellie's liver) $225
Cosequin - (for joints) $48
Toothpaste, toothbrushes and OraVet - $120
Heartworm Medicine - $50
Ear Cleaner - $7


Some of these are approximates. This doesn't include dentals, minor sicknesses that require vet visits or emergencies. I groom Ellie, so no expense there.

Okay i have 6 Yorkies and ! Pom and they are all great i do all the grooming and nails and they are on Eagla Pack dog food and they all get a toy everyweek and I give them there baby shots and they only go to the vet onece a year unless they are sick .. I use the washable pee pad that save a bundle and we clean every day to keep the house up cause the firs time my house smells like a kenna out they go.. so far in 8 year no smell.... Praise god... I only spend less then 200 a month...and trust me mine are spoiled my adult kids say they have more then them...:D;)

This definitely opened my eyes! I will put 150 for the first year for the puppy a month and then the other 150 will go back to my savings. With this kind of economy, I definitely need to be saving!

Let's See:

1. Monthly Order from Merrick (Kibble/Canned/and Chews) about $75 per month

2. Darcy's Lasik and Incontinence Meds $50 per month

3. Grooming $37 each every 3 months (but I just found a young groomer just starting out that only charges $25 and did a wonderful job....even better, when she put Baxter down to come to me, then called him back to show me where she did cut him a little short in one spot--HE WENT BACK TO HER!) That tells me all I need to know! :thumbup:

4. Petco for dog litter, and misc treats I pick up $30 monthly

5. Sams--Chicken Treats $30 month

4. Pee Pads to go under litter box $20 every 3 months (buy by the case)

5. Vet bills (Routine twice annual checkups, vaccinations for all 3) $720

6. Heartworm Preventative $120

7. Misc-clothing, toys, shampoos, etc: about $50 per month
(This month though it has been significantly more: I spent $75 on new doggie beds, and another $100 on Christmas toys--shhhh!)

From this list, I say it is between 100-200 per month. I stagger their grooming appts, to not get hit with everything all at once, and if it is the week I do a Merrick order, I try to limit my spending everywhere else.

I have two dogs ( one Yorkie and one 'regular' dog ;)). lets see....


1. Food $50.00 ( Blue natural food and organic chicken)

2. Water $10.00 ( ...by the case , two cases a mo. )

3. Treats and bones $25.00 ( some months more , some less)

4. Heart worm and flee & Tick...$30.00 ( I don't use flee & tick in the really cold months)

5. Grooming $120.00 ( they get groomed every three months and I do baths weekly and nails myself in between visits...I love the pedi:animal-papaws so the 120.00 is only every three months)

6. Bath supplies and potty pads $50.00 ( this can vary...I buy 150 potty pads in bulk and they last about two months... Shampoo , conditioner , coat sprays , toothpaste , mouth gels etc...last longer so I don't have to get them every month)

7. Toys & fun stuff and clothes $40.00 (sometimes more some less)

8. vet bills $ 160.00 (for annual checkup's ...not including any sick visits or shots so this isn't a monthly bill)


All these are aprox. and can vary. depending on if one is sick or they need something extra.