To feel that soon , dog ownership will just be for the well off? And thats not fair.

[Tunamelt]

We had a family dog and as a child I really benefited from it . As did my own dc when we had our beloved dog.
When the dc had a hard day she cheered them up so much and it was such a good experience for them.
We have just adopted a dog.
She needed the vets in the first week due to upset tummy.
Ist vet appt £75 and then x2 meds.
She now needs a stool sample and a further vet appt to
check her health.
stool sample test alone will be over £100.
We had appt with behaviourist at £90 ph .
Her food is £60 pm.
the vet thinks she may need fluxotine for anxiety and those meds are around £80 pm
So thats come to a good amount and she has only been here a few weeks.
Its made me realise that these sort of costs are just not do able for
many - and a concern to us -and it seems so unfair that the joy of a dog may be beyond reach for many these days .

This

There are much more dogs these days than the past. I do not recall every other person having one.

Unfortunately demand for dogs has driven poor breeding, which combined with lack of understanding of dog behaviour has led to a huge industry of dog trainers, behaviourists etc. Pets have been humanised (often to their detriment) but this supports a total pet care spending nearing £12 billion by 2024 in the UK. Costs have gone up because the market place can support this.

Most dogs misbehave because they are bored out of their tiny minds and not really having their actual needs met. This inevitably means they get given up and become a rescue and the new family spend lots of money on it.

I think many vets have become profit-making machines. Not all of them, I'm sure, but I'm a reasonably new dog owner and they do push unnecessary services onto you - I took mine in for a vaccination that was included with her adoption and then got charged extra for an examination (she was a nine week old puppy, she really didn't need it.)

Recently we took my parents dog in to be put to sleep as he had dementia and they put a cannula in for the injection (though he was already sedated), offered us a bag to carry him out in that would have cost extra and turned the whole thing into a huge drawn-out affair that it really didn't need to be - once you've made that decision it should just be a sedative and injection and then you take the dog home. They even sent us a handwritten sympathy card afterwards.

My dad said it was probably double what he paid for the last dog. They were very kind, but it was extremely expensive and if you were on a budget it would be very upsetting to get that bill at the end, however nice they were.

This is totally false information. As my user name suggests, I’m a vet of many years, and we have to follow the “cascade” which means if there is a licensed vet drug (like Reconcile) we have to use it even if it is a lot more expensive than the generic. Yet another thing causing us to look like we are ripping people off. We have no choice. (Other than being discliplined by the RCVS).

For comparison our consultation fee is £45. This lasts typically 15 minutes but often runs over. I have a private medical appointment soon, 30 minutes with a consultant. £240. Follow up is £160. Who is ripping people off?

Vet salaries are not high. I’m an owner of an independent practice. I have never earned over £45k. And I’ve been a vet for many many years. I invest my profits in equipment, staff, and the pets we serve.

One of my dogs has had ongoing upset tummy issues. She’d had blood tests, all clear, then she was put on omeprazole, the next step was to put her on a hydrolysed diet, and be sedated for scans and a camera in her tummy.

Luckily at that stage I spoke to a holistic vet. I realised the timings of when she’d got ill/worse coincided with her flea treatment. She’d basically got poisoned from it. He advised to take her off the omeprazole, and try slippery elm powder to soothe her stomach until I was able to see him for a full consultation.

The powder I got was about £12 from Amazon. Since she’s been taking that, she hasn’t been sick once and has bounced back to her old self. I cancelled my appointment with the holistic vet as there’s nothing wrong with her now! Haven’t had to change her diet, it wasn’t food that was the problem.

If I’d stuck with the vets plan I’d have put her through lots more invasive tests and I’d be trying, probably very unsuccessfully as she’s fussy, to get her to eat nothing but hydrolysed kibble.

Doesn't seem to be stopping people. Can't move for dog poos round here... Or at least dog poo remains from those who have picked up. Impossible for my toddler to eat lunch in a playground with all the dogs running over trying to get the food. Vets can charge more they'd still get the custom!

Dog ownership has exploded in the uk. Around 1 in 3 adults own a dog. It’s certainly not out of reach with those stats.

I live in Kent, our vet is Medivet and offer an insurance and health plan. We feel it best to use the health plan only at present and get quarterly health checks, flea and de worming treatment
and vaccinations. I take him every 3 months and have nothing to pay!

As he ages, he may need more but it is my responsibility to keep him healthy by looking after him at the highest level.

Don’t give your dog meds for anxiety and before you pay out for a behaviourist dog trainer, train and exercise your dog. That is how you connect and as result he will become less anxious because he trusts you and you, unlike his past experiences are rewarding and loving. There are lots of videos on YouTube. I used Will Atherton. Really entertaining - our canine friends.

The food thing baffles me. All my friends have dogs who apparently need special food from the vet. Yet there’s a whole aisle of dog food in Tesco, who’s buying it? 😵‍💫

Why does your dog need a behaviourist?

Normal pet owners rather than family member owners.

Dogs are expensive to maintain though, my 32kg dog costs £150/month in food and treats. Add in the insurance, pet health club, training sessions, private field hire etc and we’re probably into £400/month easily.

Pets are as expensive as you make them, for the most part.
A dog shouldn't need a carefully balanced diet, vet trips for briefly upset tummies, behaviourists unless there are major issues, and as for bloody anti-anxiety meds?? What?? Altogether that's hundreds of pounds a month you could be putting into a savings fund for your kids.

In the wild a dog would eat what it could and either live or die, and be quite happy with that, frankly. Vet trips should be saved for injury, or serious illness, not a common tummy upset.

When I was young (late 90s), dogs were left at home to run around the back garden the whole school day, taken for a good long walk in the evening and given plenty of love - and they weren't all wasting away, depressed, vomiting, and riddled with anxiety.
I think people fussing so much over their dogs and treating them like people these days just confuses the poor things, and gives them complexes.

No, I don’t pay that for my dog. But I do live in the countryside. I would say £100 a
month. I have never paid for a training session, but my dog is very well trained. I put in the time and effort. Every day is a training session and every day he learns more and more.

Bless her, our stray is terrified of loud noises, hates fireworks and just hides, he still has his little hang ups after 7 years, still won’t get in the front of the car (we think he was dumped out of a van) but the separation anxiety worked itself out once he got to know we loved him and would always come back.

I’m not well up on training techniques, but we just left for short periods and came back, and kept repeating every few days so as not to overwhelm him, never making a big deal of leaving or coming in, just quietly going out and quietly coming back in, ignoring any stressed whining or excited behaviour on our return and we completely ignored any mess he made, and just cleaned it up, and after a while he was happy to be left, hopefully the training will have some success but it could be too soon to properly work effectively, she’s still getting used to living with you so it will probably take time and a lot of reassurance & consistency.

A good excercise routine helps too, with ours the more worn out they are the more they are happy just to get on the sofa for a nap and not care what anyone else is doing!

do you know her history? It could that if she got a too excited during play or in general she could have been told off, excluded or even punished, so it may be a bit of a trigger for her? like everything else though, she’ll learn about you as you learn about her and as long as everyone is calm and consistent she’ll learn to trust and love you all.

Worth bearing in mind the 3/3/3 rule. If she’s been with you a month she’s not fully relaxed yet so many of these quirks will settle down with time. https://dogsnhomes.org.uk/the-3x3x3-rule/

My lovely boy was diagnosed with epilepsy 18 mths ago when he was 3 years old. Current meds are no longer working so we’ve just started a secondary medication. I’ve just paid £93 for 30 days of new meds plus £200 for the blood test. I worked out that he is going to cost me about £300 per month for food, insurance, grooming and medication. I’m currently paying for all his vet bills out of pocket, hoping that his £75 a month insurance won’t increase too much when it renews as I need to save that for when I really need to use it. It’s crazy and not something I thought I would be dealing with when I got him but I can’t do anything about it now. He needs the medication and is fine in between seizures so it’s just something we have to live with. Our vet is lovely and will try and help to keep costs down as much as he can but he works for an independent practice who do have a lot of staff to pay for so I understand why they have to charge what they do. Besides, my boy is so wonderful, he’s worth every penny!

So sorry to hear this. Yes this is the potential isn’t it. And he is so young. He is I suppose going to need meds for the rest of his life, is there not a plan that covers this?

You can buy Promax online without seeing a vet. We keep some handy incase of upset tummies. The large size dog tube is the same stuff as the smaller ones (and cat ones) and is more economical, just adjust the number of clicks.

I'd be very wary of a trainer who advises medication after one session, but a dog that can't be left at all and someone is already suggesting medicating 😬 it doesn't sound like an easy family pet and perhaps you've acquired a dog that needs too much work?

I remember when people used to let dogs roam free like cats. The dogs were happy running around the streets all day with other dogs. When they'd get hungry they'd stand outside the butchers and bark until he threw them a bone to gnaw on. And when they were old and sick, their owner would take them out into the garden and put a spade through their head to end it all. It was a far better, happier life for the dogs compared to today's dogs that are kept locked up indoors nearly all day, dosed up on all kinds of medication, treated like human children and referred to psychiatrists.

My information is not false , online pet drug supply with a script from the vet is commonly known and used.
Regarding the cascade if a vet believes a generic suits the animal better than the licensed drug and its in the animals best interest it can be prescribed and a human pharmacy can legally accept a written prescription from a vet for use in the treatment of animals.
I totally agree with all your comments regarding our fees , salaries and outgoings.
I have many years experience too.

YANBU. I don't think anyone has automatic right to own a pet but what has happened is the veterinary industry has been monopolised and most independent practices have been bought out by huge corporations. See this article that was shows how the industry changed in 1999 following the change in law about who can have ownership of a vetinary practice. There are hardly any independent veterinary practices left in the uk.https://www.theyworkforyou.com/senedd/?id=2025-12-10.10.733205.h

Please look in to the 333 rule of decompression for rescue dogs, I've been in the rescue game for 15+ years and dogs that have been in a kennel/rehoming environment need time to settle. My current girl had a poorly belly when we adopted her, we used Yumove Digestive Care to help settle her tummy and finally found she was happy on Tails food. The first time we left her she panicked and emptied the fridge before having accidents in the house. 6 months in she's settled and happy to be left.

Unfortunately social media seems to show that rescue dogs settle in immediately and it's down to the owners if not. It's really not, they are scared and don't realise they are home and do not need to worry as you will always come back.

There are great ways to bring dogs into the home. Site called Borrow my Doggy matches you with dogs in your area where owners are looking for children, families to help with walks etc on certain days.
Sounds like you are a great owner. If your dog is suffering needing medication - maybe they need more engagement and play, perhaps you could match with someone who could walk when you are busy (for example if you are working a lot).
Vets are crazy fees. But also get second opinions, I know friends who have paid for acupuncture and all sorts only to find another vet who dismissed the need.

YANBU, although the basic statement 'pet ownership isn't a right' is also not unreasonable (or incorrect).

Pet ownership is a luxury, but it should be an affordable one. The way the private equity industry has taken over family run veterinary practices and price gouged ordinary pet owners (as well as de-proffesionalising and downgrading their staff) should be a national scandal. Low wages and high cost of living, meaning people can't afford little luxuries like pet ownership should also be a national scandal

But of course it's not, because people will happily remain smug until it suddenly affects them too. Because people love the little differentiators and shibboleths- 'I must be middle class because we have a dog and a sofa, true luxury'. Meanwhile every other developed country motors past us.