Holy carp. We've got a mini dachshund. For his first 10-ish years, minimal money spent on teeth. Then we moved to an apt and his teeth got bad. I'm not sure if something in his chemistry changed because he was getting older (same food) or maybe when we lived at home, he'd chew sticks in the backyard. I think we probably spend $3k-4k on his teeth between 2 or 3 cleanings where he had several extractions and issues. I brush his teeth twice a day now, after breakfast and dinner (he doesn't much like it). I wish I'd started brushing his teeth years ago. He's only got about 6 teeth left.

He looks pretty good! You did all that with scissors? I was complaining about $60 a pop for Bosco and my buddy sent me his old pet clippers. Gonna give it a try myself next time. I’ll still have to take him to someone to trim his toenails…I’m not doing that! Clippers don’t look much different than the ones I use on my bald head.

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Sonicare and floss seems to do the job here.

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Yep, the teeth can get bad, and when they do, can REALLY impact the health of the pup. When the teeth get bad, infection can get up in the gums and bone of the jaw.
Really bad breath to me is an indication that things aren't good. Most dogs with a healthy mouth won't have much smell (their breath) most of the time.
In all of our talking to vets, including some that specialize in teeth, it's a crap shoot (like people). Some dogs have bad teeth and some have good teeth, and there may not be much that you can do about it other than just getting them cleaned and doing your best.

I had an Old English Sheepdog, took him to the groomers once, they had him for a full day and he came back ok so thought I'd have a go

First time I trimmed him, I shaved him a bit too short, where he was gray his skin was pigmented gray too, didn't notice I'd cut him too short until I moved onto his white areas which turned pink :eek:

He looked like Stimpy from the Ren and Stimpy cartoon :D

Couldn't finish him on one session as the clippers would get to hot to hold, sometimes I'd give him a mohican, lion mane or moon boots cut on the 1st session and then a week later would finish him off :cool:

Thanks. I tend to let it go too long and then the old lady yells at me to get it done.

I use clippers. They are in the 1st photo near bottom. Then scissors around feet, tail, and face/beard area. This little guy has lots of hair between pads on his paws. That sucks to do. At first I didn't use a guard and just free handed but now I use a guard and it is more uniform length. He gets knots so I usually have to address those first or the clippers/guard will not go through them.

Captain: It takes me about 30 minutes but he is only 20lbs. But he is in charge of the neighborhood (or so he thinks).

When we got him he was tiny and looked like he had stuck a toe in a electrical socket. Hair was standing straight on end.

I figure if I ever wanted to fly with him I could just give him a haircut and we could get him under the 20lb limit to be in the cabin.

We’ve had dogs for years, no skids. Buy dog food from Chewys, expensive but great stuff. Dogs love it. Vet bills can be expensive at times. We had three dogs that had crociate ligament knee surgery at $3K per knee. Six knees….do the math. All done over a long period of time, but still pricy. Work done by a vet who specializes in ortho surgery.
A

Man, my spelling sucks, along with using an iPad. We have no KIDS, not skids as posted above. Never regretted spending money on the dogs, they give my wife and I unconditional love and loyalty. Much better than people…

$700 seems really high for spaying a dog, but I'm not sure. I'd check around, maybe a local shelter has a deal or a local veterinary school.

My son is doing a one year Vet residency at University of Wisconsin at Madison. He rotates in and out of the emergency department. $200 just to walk in the door. Goes up from there. All kinds of pets. People don’t have problems dropping $1000 to save a parrot or a rabbit. His advice…. Get pet insurance.

This was the most expensive thing I ever owned. Jumped in mom's car one rainy March day

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My oldest son adopted a German Shepherd that was born with a hip defect. He was scheduled to be put down by the breeder. My son asked if he could take the dog to a vet to see what could be done. Breeders don't like to spend the money. A specialist surgeon said he could fix it over the course of two years or so. He wouldn't run like a normal dog but he'd be fine, and most importantly pain free.
Harvey the dog is four years old now a living a great life. They are over $24k+ in fees. Asked my son why. His response, "he only gets one shot at life like we do. I can earn the money back, he deserves it"

Good on him. An absolute gentleman.

Some...vets are not above scams and gouging. Teeth cleaning for hundreds of $ is one example. And the result of that gouging means that pets won’t receive medical care and suffer. Unnecessary ultrasound, surgery, lab work do more harm than good. Each of us needs to be diligent to get good and necessary care without feeding an industry that thrives on selling unnecessary services.

Buyer beware.

We have adopted two rescue dogs, one in 2000 (The Dude, got liver cancer in 2009) and our current guy in 2010, Hank, who is now 14. We don’t have kids. But I’m sure our dogs cost us a lot less than having kids. I’ve a friend (not a dog guy) whose daughter wanted a dog. So they got one 9 months ago. We were talking on the phone today and he told me before he couldn’t understand dog people and the things they say. Until now. Now he has one and has seen how the dog has embraced the family and become a family member. Another convert.

Thanks Bill. He is a great kid. I say kid but he's 29. When he was 22 he found a new born kitten on the road one night. Thinks mum was moving her litter to a new locale and might have dropped this one after being scared by a car. Took it to a 24hr vet and he said it's not likely to make it. He was right. Two nights later I was back from working away and asked about the kitten. Took me to his room and there was a little love heart urn. He said her ashes were in there. He had her cremated. Again I asked "why son?" His response still gets me, "she came into this world with nothing, she had to leave with some dignity. This was the last thing I could do for her".

Yes, pets are expensive. In our household, they are 100% family and we take care of them- what ever they need. If you can't make that commitment, please do not take on the responsibility. My dad, born in 1922, told me how they never took their dog to the doctor when he was a child- of course the dog only lived 4-5 years.

I've gotten "free" pets a few times. This guy was the most expensive. Kona was around 4. A refugee from being a stud at a breeding program. Had been bought, then returned, then bought again by an old couple we bumped into who spotted our dog. They were about the same age. Long story about how they couldn't handle him. "Would we like another one", we'll give him to you. We did it. He required some patience and love but was a great dog. He did have a problem with eating weird stuff that landed him in the emergency vet place a few times. $1,500 a pop. Of course our other dog Hooch ended up having knee surgery at 10. Cost me around $9,000. Thankfully he lived to 16+. Many other stories with current and other former pets. They are expensive but worth every penny. RIP Hooch and Kona.

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Yeah, good luck on turning your back on her once she has burrowed her way into your heart.

"It costs so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the enlightenment, or the courage, to pay the price…. One has to abandon altogether the search for security, and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to embrace the world like a lover, and yet demand no easy return of love. One has to accept pain as a condition of existence. One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing. One needs a will stubborn in conflict, but apt always to the total acceptance of every consequence of living and dying."

Morris West

Well, just compare pet food and medical prices to human food and human medical prices and ask, do you really like your people that much more? ;)