• Science
  • Puppies
  • Recipes
    • Cheap and Budget Friendly Recipes
    • Health Related Illness Diets
    • Homemade Treat Recipes
    • Homemade Dog Treats for Health Issues
    • Seasonal Recipes
  • Health
    • Can Dogs Eat…
    • Dog Diseases & Conditions
    • Dog Symptoms
    • Dog Grooming
    • Dog Care
    • Caring For Seniors
    • Dog Loss & Grieving
    • Dog Reproductive Health
    • Treatments and Home Remedies
  • Food
    • Dry Dog Food
    • Wet Dog Food
    • Recalls
  • Supplies
    • Best Dog Products
    • Reviews
    • Dog Accessories
    • Dog Toys
    • Dog Health Products
    • CBD for Dogs
  • Breeds
    • Toy Dog Breeds
    • Working Dog Breeds
    • Terrier Dog Breeds
    • Sporting Dog Breeds
    • Non-Sporting Dog Breeds
    • Mixed Breeds
    • Hound Dog Breeds
    • Livestock and Herding Dog Breeds
  • Training
  • Rescues
  • Courses
  • Shop
Search
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Top Dog Tips - Dog Food Recipes, Care Tips & Best Dog Supplies Reviews Top Dog Tips
Top Dog Tips - Dog Food Recipes, Care Tips & Best Dog Supplies Reviews Top Dog Tips - Dog Food Recipes, Care Tips & Best Dog Supplies Reviews
  • Science
  • Puppies
  • Recipes
    • Cheap and Budget Friendly Recipes
    • Health Related Illness Diets
    • Homemade Treat Recipes
    • Homemade Dog Treats for Health Issues
    • Seasonal Recipes
  • Health
    • Can Dogs Eat…
    • Dog Diseases & Conditions
    • Dog Symptoms
    • Dog Grooming
    • Dog Care
    • Caring For Seniors
    • Dog Loss & Grieving
    • Dog Reproductive Health
    • Treatments and Home Remedies
  • Food
    • Dry Dog Food
    • Wet Dog Food
    • Recalls
  • Supplies
    • Best Dog Products
    • Reviews
    • Dog Accessories
    • Dog Toys
    • Dog Health Products
    • CBD for Dogs
  • Breeds
    • Toy Dog Breeds
    • Working Dog Breeds
    • Terrier Dog Breeds
    • Sporting Dog Breeds
    • Non-Sporting Dog Breeds
    • Mixed Breeds
    • Hound Dog Breeds
    • Livestock and Herding Dog Breeds
  • Training
  • Rescues
  • Courses
  • Shop
Home Dog Care How Dog Owners Should Prepare for Financial Emergencies

How Dog Owners Should Prepare for Financial Emergencies

By
Shelly Graves
-
Last Updated: Apr 14, 2019

How Dog Owners Should Prepare for Financial Emergencies - The Guide

Amidst the excitement and happiness of bringing a new member into your family, it's easy to forget that our dogs also come with a new set of bills. From vet appointment checkups every six months to a monthly heartworm pill, things really start to add up. One thing owners often neglect to prepare for though is the possibility of a financial emergency related to the dog.

This is important not only for health related costs like unexpected disease or injuries, but also in case of a disaster – fire, flood or anything else. If you don’t have a financial plan in place for your dog’s care, now’s the time to start! Here are some steps you can take so that you're not caught off-guard and don't need to consider giving up your pooch simply because you can't afford to care for them.

ALSO READ: 5 Emergency Vet Care Financing Options

Get Pet Insurance

There are several things to consider before you pick a specific company and their plan. Like any insurance, it really depends on the condition of your dog, where you live, who your vet is, and a number of other factors to determine what your monthly cost and deductible will be. Most pet insurance companies offer service for a monthly fee from $10-$100, with the average being about $25-$30.

You might think that it's not necessary because you are paying dental, vision, health, car, and property insurance after all. Why bring one more bill into the mix? But if you have an 80 pounds Labrador who needs to go under anesthetic for any reason, the anesthesia alone costs $75 per session; this doesn’t include the cost of the visit, any wounds treated, or medication prescribed to your pet.

In a financial emergency, you can be sure your pet is covered no matter what.

Don’t Skip Annual Checkups

Don’t Skip Annual CheckupsIt really doesn’t matter what the concern is; medical professionals all agree that prevention is the best way to keep your dog consistently healthy.

Canines are pretty durable creatures – even when they aren’t feeling their best, they sometimes tough it out and act like nothing’s wrong. However, once a dog reaches the age of 9 or 10, they are 50% more likely to develop diseases such as cancer.

Annual checkups ensure that if there is a problem like cancer, the cost and treatment is far less invasive. If you wait until the symptoms become a visible tumor though, you’ll have a full blown surgery bill on your hands.

Make Sure You Can Afford a Dog

For those who already have a pet and are struggling to make ends meet, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone, and while most of us have good intentions it is very easy to forget how much simple things like food cost. Those of us who have ever had to spend a few weeks on a Ramen noodle diet can relate to this sentiment.

Dog food alone adds up, and the cheaper kinds generally aren’t recommended because you truly get what you pay for. Dog bones and teething items aren’t just a luxury, but a necessity for adults and puppies alike. Your pet needs something to grind the tartar off his teeth and keep his jaw muscles strong.

If you have the means, stock up on 2 or 3 bags of kibble at a time and keep a few cans of wet food on hand to stretch it out a little longer. You know that the bigger the breed, the more they eat! So if you’re on a budget and you wanted to get a Great Dane, or a puppy, maybe think about getting a smaller dog instead.

Create a Separate Savings Account

Create a Separate Savings AccountEven if you’re strapped for cash right now, it's still good to create a pet savings account and put aside $2 here and there. Keep it in a piggy bank if you want, just don’t spend it!

The thing is, dogs are a lot like children; you do the best you can with them, but at the end of the day they’re going to get hurt. They’re going to get sick, that’s just part of life.

If you can’t get insurance or an annual checkup, you at least need to set money aside for the big things. If your dog gets parvo and treatment is $500, at least you’ll have $200 to $300 put away in addition to whatever money you have in the moment. This at least handles the exam, antibiotics, water pouches (water inserted under the skin), and possible in-patient car along with IV fluids.

Name a Legal Guardian

Maybe they aren’t actual children, but for a lot us, our dogs play the role of our kids. We love them, cherish them, and we want to know that if anything ever happens to us, someone will step up and keep them safe. Don’t just hope for it, take action now to ensure that just like a child, your dog will have a legal guardian to take your place if it ever becomes necessary.

Sadly, many owners pass on without family or anyone who is willing to carry on the responsibility of owning a pet. Make plans for your dog, and find someone now who will make the promise to give your furbaby food, shelter, and plenty of love.

Know Which Shelters Allow Pets

Know Which Shelters Allow PetsFinancial emergencies don’t just stop at physical injuries or being short on grocery money. It's crucial for pet owners to know about disaster preparedness, and how to handle such situations when you have pets around. Should your home become flooded, catch fire, or suffer some other type of serious natural disaster, hopefully you’ll have reliable family and friends that will welcome your dogs the same as they would for you.

However, not everyone is lucky enough to have strong, reliable ties to other people, and often end up at a loss for what to do when they become homeless with pets. There are hundreds of homeless and battered women shelters available for those who have fallen on hard times, but many of them force pet owners to leave their dogs outside.

Public libraries and food kitchens can provide you with resources and locations that will allow both you and your dog to stay for a limited time.

Hard times happen, and it's not always our fault! If you don’t prepare though, it's safe to say that you’re asking for trouble. Do whatever is possible in the now to ensure that you’re able to care for your dog when the time comes!

READ NEXT: How to Afford an Expensive Pet Surgery

 

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
    Shelly Graves
    Shelly lives in Iowa with her husband and Australian Shepherd named Tex. She's been an animal lover since she was a child. Currently, she enjoys reading and writing about dogs, and spending time with her family and getting involved in all things pets.

    25 Vet Recommended Dog Food Recipes

    Free 25 Homemade Dog Food Recipes eBook

    LATEST FEATURES

    How to Prepare Pets for Daylight Saving Time

    6 Ways to Prepare Pets for Daylight Saving Time

    Jossana Zosimo - Oct 24, 2025
    Pets might not understand the concept of minutes and hours the way we do, but they have a sense of time based on biological...
    Fall Allergies in Dogs Featured Image

    Fall Allergies in Dogs: Signs, Prevention, and Treatments

    Jossana Zosimo - Oct 22, 2025
    Amber leaves, cooler temperatures, pumpkin spice in the air... only a few things we love about the fall season. But apart from the good...
    Small Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed Or Bark

    Top 15 Medium & Small Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed Or...

    Kara Page - Oct 20, 2025
    Whatever the size and breed of dog is, one thing is sure: all of them bark and shed to a certain extent. If the noise...
    human medication for dogs

    15 Safe Human Medications for Dogs

    Connor Knight - Oct 19, 2025
    In most cases, you should only give your dog medicines that are manufactured specifically for them. According to a study, one of the leading causes...
    Dog Thanksgiving Costumes, Clothes, and Outfits - Featured Image

    17 Best Dog Thanksgiving Clothes, Costumes & Outfits

    Dom Naish - Oct 14, 2025
    Whether your dog needs a warm jacket to join your family for football or you’d like to snap a few pictures of him dressed...

    20 Most-Asked Questions from Dog Owners in 2025

    Jossana Zosimo - Oct 13, 2025
    We're in the last quarter of 2025, and we thought it's best to round up all the popular and most-asked questions from dog owners...
    Fall and Winter Dog Clothes - Fall Pet Safety tips

    11 Large Dog Clothes Your Big Pet Needs This Fall and...

    Dom Naish - Oct 13, 2025
    Dog fashion is not limited to small dogs that fit inside purses. Now, there's plenty of stylish large dog clothes for big dogs! While some...
    10 Pet-Friendly Fall Home Decor Featured Image

    10 Pet-Friendly Fall Home Decor Safe for Dogs and Cats

    Jossana Zosimo - Oct 10, 2025
    Pumpkins, candles, throws, and a simmer pot in the kitchen... fall home decor sets the perfect mood for this cozy season. Unfortunately for us pet...
    Halloween Dog Statue Featured

    8 Best Halloween Dog Statues for Your Spooky Decoration

    Mitchell Tobias - Oct 7, 2025
    Now that Halloween is almost upon us, we're finalizing every set of decorations in our houses, costumes, and treats. Whether you're planning to join a...
    Halloween Bandana for Dogs

    10 Best Halloween Bandana for Dogs Who Don’t Like Costumes

    Bea Reynolds - Oct 6, 2025
    One of the best parts of Halloween is dressing up! The costumes and decorations are everything when celebrating the spooky season. However—and I'm sure most...
    Top Dog Tips - Dog Food Recipes, Care Tips & Best Dog Supplies Reviews
    Your Ally in Dog Ownership

    Top Dog Tips is here to provide dog owners with the most accurate and in-depth tips and advice on dog care, health, nutrition and training from the industry experts – veterinarians, dog trainers, groomers and animal scientists. We help dog owners effortlessly choose the best dog supplies on the market. We buy, test, review and rank pet products to help you avoid the bad stuff and purchase only what's best for you and your dog.
    Contact us: stuff@topdogtips.com
    • About
    • Team
    • Subscribe
    • Terms of Use
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA
    • No AI Clause
    © 2023 TopDogTips.com. All rights reserved.