I'm struggling to afford my dogs :(

[Ogoyt]

They're all over 5 and we're adopted as pups when I was in a much better situation.

Things are generally worse now but everything going up in price is killing me in general.

I've already swapped their food from raw food to dry (that I add dog broth to and fish occasionally)

My insurance for them all is 90 a month.

Im going to have to cancel it. I just can't afford it anymore.

I will NEVER rehome them. So don't suggest that.

Just a sad little rant

Sorry I have 3 dogs. All muts, 2 adopted purposly as pups from rescue and one taken on after a death (couldn't let him go to rescue)

Sorry to hear this, it’s so hard at the minute! Could you set aside a little a month if you need to cancel the insurance for emergencies?

I have really noticed the increase in food costs and insurance aswell op and I have three all rescues

I buy Harrington a dry complete on Amazon in 18 kg bags and when they're at a good price I buy 2 big bags at a time.

I then look for reduced meat when food shopping and slow cook it in juices and mix it with their evening kibble three times a week.

Mine have just had a big joint of beef that was reduced from &20 to £10 and will do them two of the three evenings.

Whilst there I also picked up a bag of frozen chicken breasts for £4 and will slow cook them the same way and they will probably do three evenings so it works out a lot cheaper.

The food warehouse do big packs of frozen meat and this week they had their giant turkey in a tins to feed 10-12 people for just £7!

I often buy bags of cheap frozen mixed veg and put that in aswell to bulk it out.

You’re doing the best you can, times are tough. Lots to dogs do absolutely fine on regular kibble so don’t be hard on yourself! They are loved and that’s the most important thing

@Ogoyt
Also forgot to say call your insurance company and ask if they can reduce anything and go there each dogs policy with them.

I got my monthly reduced by around £10 per dog doing it so saved £30 a month.

Pls don't cancel insurance

One of mine had an emergency op which was covered but was nearly £3000

The trouble is 2 of them have allergies 😂

So I have a list of things that can't have Inc poultry, some fish, rabbit, carrot, apple.

So the dry food they have is a quite expensive one but if I give them anything else they get ill (itching, biting feet, scabby skin etc)

The raw food was fantastic for them but I just can't do it. Even the cost of running extra freezer.

Sorry to hear this, you are not going to be alone with this problem

If you can't afford insurance it is a case of accepting you may have to PTS due to illness or accident you can get public liability insurance alone very cheaply which I would strongly recommend to still have

Agreed. I foster for a breed specific rescue and so many are coming in now due to owners not being able to afford them, especially if they have medical issues. Not sure what to suggest OP - is there anywhere else you can cut back? Do they have a lot of medical problems? We didn't bother with insurance with our dog but put some money aside each month instead (only because it seemed so much wasn't fully covered).

Non of them have any health issues other than the allergies which are under control with the food routine we have right now.

I cancelled my let insurance because there were so many things it didn’t cover that it seemed pointless. The thing is, I wouldn’t put either of my dogs through a major operation because it would be too traumatising for them and I don’t feel it would be for their benefit. Mine both have dodgy knees but an operation would mean about ten weeks in a crate, which would be heartbreaking. So we will plod on ….they’re well into middle age now anyway.

You’re giving your dogs a good life that they may not have had. Would it be better to cancel the insurance but keep them on the better quality food?

Cancel the insurance but keep half the money & save it for just incase of vets.

I have the same problem. Four dogs (2 rescued), all spayed, ages 3, 5, 7, and 13.
I have had to cancel insurance and change food to a cheaper brand. Their food doubled in price. I want to get their teeth cleaned but can't afford it (not covered by insurance anyway.) Two need regular grooming but had to reduce from monthly to quarterly due to transport problems and groomer doubled fees.
Since Covid I am mobility handicapped and cannot walk them in the neighborhood or drive to an off-leash park. They have the run off the house and a moderate size fenced yard to play in. I will never rehome them and hope to out-live them (codicil in will places them in good home if necessary).

They are the joy of my life and keep my spirits up, but I wish I could do better for them.

Do you get any benefits
ee Service - free treatments and medications

To qualify for free treatments and medications, you must live within the postcode catchment area of one of our Pet Hospitals and be receiving at least one of the following benefits:

Housing benefit (means tested)
Council tax support (means tested)
Universal credit with housing element
Our Free Service is only available for one
universal credit.
housing benefit
council tax rebate
I think even getting £ of these mean you can register with PDSA for 1 dog for free treatment

or you can get low cost treatment for all 3
If you get other more broader benefits
www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/our-services
Low Cost Service – low cost treatments and medications

To qualify for low cost treatments and medications, you must live within the postcode catchment area of one of our Pet Hospitals and be receiving at least one of the following benefits:

Child tax and working tax credits
Universal credit without housing element
Pension credit
Income support
Job seekers allowance
ESA – (Income Based Only) Employment Support Allowance
Disability living allowance / personal independence payment (PIP)
State retired pensioners who are householders living in council tax bands a – d

Can you access any pet food banks?

Feed wise I don't know what you are feeding but if you go to your local feed store (as in horse feed or agricultural store) most stock the giant bags of dog food and if you buy a working dog food it's VAT free

I have 2 labs with allergies and they have Dr John's lamb and rice and it's £17.99 a bag for 15kg and lasts mine the best part of a month

Pet Food Expert is a good site for comparing different foods for allergen levels and cost to see if you can find anything which suits your dogs abd your pets. If you are really struggling I know a local rescue is offering help to pet owners. Much better for them than rehoming three dogs. If you have a good vet talk to them about what you can do re health and prevention - ours does a v cheap vaccine and worming pre payment scheme. But some big vet chains are much more expensive. Good luck. It's so tough right now and loads of people are facing the same challenges as you. But as others say, dogs need less than we think if they get stability, boundaries, exercise and their people.

Some people are struggling to afford to feed their children.

Unless they are working animals they are a luxury for you.

Christ almighty.

OP have you googled pet food banks? Is there one near you?

Lots of people don’t have children because they can’t afford them. What’s your point?

If you can please don't cancel the insurance, it really is a god send if you need it. Do you have any other expenses you could cut perhaps? I recently switched my phone contract and saved a considerable amount. I feel for you OP, times are tough.

Totally unnecessary and very unkind post

I don't have a phone contract. It ended months ago and I just use the 2.5 Yr old phone with a £10 a month sim