Hobie is a few months away from his 14th birthday. At his last veterinarian visit, I asked what the ‘typical’ lifespan is for a dog his size. His vet said it is between 12 and 14 years.
Hobie was getting his heart murmur checked out, and the news wasn’t great. His “level” went up to 3 (scaled 1-5) for eventual congestive heart failure. The vet put him on Vetmedin (also called pimobendan) which is supposed to help his heart pump blood. He takes the Vetmedin twice daily, but only if introduced as a ‘treat’ and wrapped in Greanies Pill Pockets.
I was feeling sad when the vet told me he’s approaching the end of his average lifespan. She assured me that his heart issue won’t be what has him traveling the rainbow bridge, but his older age.
If he were younger, this medicine would help him for many years, so his heart won’t be his demise, most likely.
But now we the cost of owning this dog is really piling up.
How Can I Save Money on My Vet Bills for My Dog?
We have found a few ways to save money on Hobie’s vet bills:
- Join the membership program at the vet, if they offer one. The monthly payment for the Optimum Wellness Plan at Banfield Pet Hospital is $69.83. This includes year dental cleanings, exams, and reduced fees on most other services. Here is how much money we saved on a recent vet visit to Banfield Pet Hospital. Hobie got a dental cleaning, dental sealants, pre-anesthesia blood work, and cells from some cysts on his belly extracted and screened for cancer:
2. Join a subscription plan for medication. At Banfield Pet Hospital, even with our discount, Pimobendan 5mg Bottle (50 tablets) costs $109.72. For comparison, the exact same medicine and quantity at Chewy.com using the auto-ship plan costs $94.52. That’s about $15 per month savings.
3. Preventative care such as:
- Brushing your dogs teeth. Even if it’s just once a week, it will make a difference. You can buy your dog special toothpaste with flavors they love, such as turkey.
- Giving your dog fresh, healthy food. I’ve written about the drastic, positive change we saw in Hobie once we started giving him a better diet with Farmer’s Dog. Preventative care helps to keep him happy and healthy and should save money in the long run.
Is it Worth It to Spend Money on Our Old Grumpy Dog?
When I add up the food, the routine medical care, dental care, and medications, he’s almost an extra car payment. Of course, Hobie is worth every cent for all the joy his gumpiness brings our family.
I expect he’s got several more years in him with this combination of medication for his congestive heart failure and course the healthy food. He wouldn’t be here today without his improved diet.
Hobie keeps us company every day, and makes us laugh. He gets us outdoors on walks. Our lives are much improved with this old dog around. He is low maintenance because he sleeps most of the time. He is the perfect dog for us, and worth every penny.
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