looking for a RANGE of what an SD costs in a year.......

[mccoll95]

Not sure where this belongs or if it belongs at all..Mod's please move if necessary.

I am wondering if anyone is willing to share the range and only the RANGE of what the cost is to maintain your SD on a yearly basis. I'm just trying to see what I would need in a very general way. for a large mobility assistance dog. (by large i mean 75lbs or more.  thanks!

[Magesteff]

After the initial expenses of getting the SD from a program (cost of the dog, cost of hotel stays while team training etc), yearly costs are about the same as for a dog of the same size.

Veterinary care - yearly checkups, vaccines, etc. depends a lot on your location as this can vary. Expect about $150 to $250 a year, for general exam and vaccines.

Food: depends on the quality and quantity of food, but from what I have seen varies from about $40 a month to about $80 a month (about $480 to $960 a year)

Grooming: depends on if you or a caregiver does the grooming or if you take the dog to a goomers, or have a kid help with it. Professional Grooming fee for a large dog can run about $70 a time - and yearly costs depend on frequency of using the groomer: Poodles, for example, you might want to take every 6 to 8 weeks (approx. $630/year). If you can find some kids to do the grooming, you can spend a lot less, but the brushing won't be up to a professional standard. I usually say I will pay a kid about $10 to wash, dry and brush Max who is a smaller dog (30#).

Licensing depends on where you live, many municipalities offer free licenses to SDs. FOr Max, my pet do, I spent $15 for a forever license since he is neutered.

Toys, Treats, excurisions: depends on how many, quality and amount.
Harnesses, vests and working gear: are generally one time purchases or supplied by the program.


By my estimating, I'd say expect to budget from $1200 to $2000 a year, barring any illnesss or other issues.

[Kirsten]

From $0 to $10000+, depending on what happens during that year.

How much can you get donated?  That's up to you. I get food, treats, heartworm, flea/tick, and some emergency funds.

How healthy is your SD during that year?
I've paid up to $5000 for an injury. In January of this year, Cole's illness cost me about $700, only $200 of which I paid myself.

How much does it cost me ON AVERAGE?  $80/month (not counting donations to defray costs)..

[Kirsten]

SDs should have semi-annual vet checkups. Meaning 2x per year.  I'm also more likely to run baseline tests on an SD that I would not do on a pet. My SD may have more vaccinations than my pets due to travel, as would my show dogs.  My SD also needs gear maintenance my pets do not need.

Costs of things like vet care can vary greatly. I had som X-rays done on Ruby that cost me around $280 at one local vet, and $80 when I had to have the films reshot by a different vet in the same city.

[mccoll95]

How do y'all obtain donations for your dog. I get frundraising so you can get the dog in the first place, But it didn't occur to me to obtain donations to continue keeping my dog. In my head, once I get him/her then it's my responsbility. This sounds great though can y'all tell me more? Is this what a lot of SD owners do?

[Kirsten]

You ask.  You go up to a business and ask them if they will give you goods or services for free or for a discount.  And you convince them that they benefit from the donation.

[Roxie]

My cost for Tay are about $125 +/- monthly. (No wonder I'm always broke!) That includes shots, food, flea/tick, grooming, equipment... plus a bit I tuck away for emergency vet care.

[Kirsten]

Some vets will give a discount for SDs if you ask for it.  One vet gave me 20%, another 10%, and the University gives 25% (but I can't stand them).

My regular vet is already very economical.  And even if he weren't, he gave me his home phone number and will still do emergency calls when he can, instead of automatically telling me to take my animal to the University emergency clinic, which I hate with extreme passion.

When Cole's abdomen swelled up at 10 pm, I called my vet at home.  He said he was sorry, he could not get away, but that Cole could not wait until morning because it could be a ruptured spleen and I should take him immediately to the emergency vet.  They did save his life and he made it until morning, I'll give them that.  But I still hate them with a passion for the way they handle dogs and the way they convince clients to do expensive and invasive tests and procedures, not because it is in the animal's best interest, but because the students need to check off a list of procedures in order to graduate.  Why not have people bring in their pets for free guinea pigs and have them pay you for the privilege as well?

[sunshineone]

There are other freebies to watch out for too, like the yearly free eye exam sponsored by AVCO usually you sign up in March and April and the appointment is in May.

There are plenty if recycle groups for service dog equipment. Most that i see is gently used at really good prices. There are also dog equipment suppliers that give discounts to SD owners some even as much as 50%
A lot of my gear is normal every day dog or people stuff that I see potential in.

[Spectrum]

Let's say you have no illnesses or injuries over the course of a year, and just have the costs of feeding, grooming, and providing regular veterinary care for you dog. Let's say also that this is a year in which your dog needs all vaccines, and not a year where they get to skip one or more due to 3 year vaccines and the like.

Your cost will vary depending on the vet, the area, what specific products you use, etc. But this is a rundown of what it costs me to care for Logan (roughly 75 pounds) for a year with the above stipulations, assuming I was paying full price for everything (which I'm not...I get exams, hartgard and frontline free, other vet services half off, and labs/products at cost).

Yearly exam: $41
Rabies vaccine: $17
Distemper/Parvo vaccine: $16
Bordatella vaccine: $14
Heartworm test: $28
Fecal float every 6 months: $21 x 2
Frontline every month: $18 x 12
Interceptor every month: $8 x 12
That's the bare minimum. I also do bloodwork on my dogs every year, and they end up at the vet more than once a year as it is. So I'd tack an extra $150 for bloodowrk and at least a second exam.

Food - a 30 lb bag every other month: $45 x 6

Grooming: I groom myself, but I spend around $50 on shampoo/conditioner/ear cleaner a year, give or take. I could never afford to take my dog to a groomer every week.

Equipment, toys, beds, etc: I am addicted to collars and leashes so I spend way more than the average person on those things. But I think $200 a year is not unreasonable when you consider toys, training treats, dental care (chews, toothbrush, toothpaste), beds, etc.

Supplements: Varies from dog to dog. For what Logan is on (Showstopper, joint supplement, and a gas supplement) it runs around $350 a year.

So a grand total for this estimate is approximately $1500 a year, or about $125 a month (hey Roxie, right on ).
 

[Cera]

I've worked it out in the past and wont list it again, since I agree with everyone here:

1200-2000 a year. If there is a major medical emergency that can be blown in a night.

Like others said, there are many ways to actually cut those costs.

I always pull $50 every month to use for vet/major purchases and use about $30 for basic upkeep.

[mccoll95]

I realize the whole "how much per year" is not an exact science. You guys are all awesome for being willing to help me with this. Thank you!

[Cera]

How do y'all obtain donations for your dog. I get frundraising so you can get the dog in the first place, But it didn't occur to me to obtain donations to continue keeping my dog. In my head, once I get him/her then it's my responsbility. This sounds great though can y'all tell me more? Is this what a lot of SD owners do?

Your head is right. Once you get your SD they are YOUR responsibility. That said, you can be responsible and find alternate solutions outside of your own monetary funds if you need to. There are discounts, deals, barter, donations... people like to help especially if it benefits them in some way or another. There are foundations that help with emergent medical expenses, businesses willing to donate goods, people who have the finances and wish to help out. If there is a true reason why you need the help and it is obvious you are taking responsibility, it is amazing how much people will rally. I have been so fortunate it constantly amazes me. I'm not saying it is something that you should just expect though. The SD is reliant on you and is your priority to care for.

Of course, I have a feeling you knew this already 

[robbertbobbert]

1200-2000 a year. If there is a major medical emergency that can be blown in a night.

I agree whole-heartedly. Elliot has always been really healthy, but in the past 24 hours we have paid over $4,000 in vet bills, and this is only the beginning.

[mccoll95]

Oh dear! Poor Elliot I hope he's OK and gets better fast~