costs and expenses by @FunDogs The Fun Times Guide to Dogs

Dogs + Mosquitoes = Heartworm Disease: Heartworm Prevention Is Cheaper & Easier Than Heartworm Treatment!

Did you know that your dog can still get deadly heartworms even if your dog is on a monthly preventative? It's true. Unfortunately, certain strains of heartworms are able to resist current heartworm medications. This appears to be true mostly -- but not exclusively -- in the south. So, if you happen to live in the southern part of the United States, be sure to talk with your veterinarian about the best options for you and your dog. If you're like me, even if you don't live in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Home & Garden Tagged With: costs and expenses, death and dying, facts and stats, fleas and ticks, injuries and emergencies, pet warnings and dangers, veterinarians and experts

Annual Dog Vaccinations & Pet Wellness Check-ups… Necessary Or Not?

It can be confusing to sort through all the hype about dog vaccinations being safe or not. photo by Tobyotter on Flickr

I recently posted something about this on my Facebook page... Had a long talk with our vet today about the state of the economy and how it's affecting the pet industry. Spending on animal accessories & fun stuff is up; spending on animal care & checkups is down. Vet visits tend to be for illnesses & emergencies, rather than for preventive maintenance these days. My dog Tenor got his 3-year Rabies shot today and everything else that goes with an annual dog checkup. What about you... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Home & Garden Tagged With: costs and expenses, vaccinations, veterinarians and experts

6 Ways To Get Help With Vet Bills After A Dog Emergency

Whether your dog is old or young, there are a number things that could inadvertently happen to your dog, leaving you with some very high vet bills. Not to mention the fact that your chances of incurring a slew of high vet bills significantly increase as your dog ages. If you find yourself unable to pay all the vet bills, you're not alone. Here are some ways to get help with vet bills... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Home & Garden, Pet Predicaments & Warnings Tagged With: costs and expenses, death and dying, veterinarians and experts

7 Dog Safety Tips To Add To Your Family’s Disaster Plan ~ Do This NOW To Protect Your Pet During An Emergency At Home Or On The Road

Most people have a disaster plan for their family in case of an emergency. Does your plan of action also include your dog? When planning for an emergency, you need to have your dog's safety in mind in addition to your own. There are all sorts of emergency situations to think about: Car accident Tornado Lightening storm Hurricane Poisoning Flood House fire ... to name just a few. Following are some dog safety tips to consider when preparing for an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Home & Garden, Pet Predicaments & Warnings Tagged With: costs and expenses, injuries and emergencies, veterinarians and experts

What To Expect The First Time You Try Doggie Daycare Instead Of Leaving Your Dog Home Alone

Most people who have children have probably taken their kids to some form of daycare. Have you ever thought about taking your dog to daycare? Doggie daycare has been gaining in popularity over the past couple of years. It's a place that your dog can go to have fun during the day and not be stuck at home alone. For some dog owners, doggie daycare is the only option to prevent their dog from destroying their home (or his own crate) while they're gone. For others, it's simply a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fun Dog Stuff, Home & Garden Tagged With: costs and expenses, doggie daycare, new dog owners, socializing dogs

Dog Vaccinations: What’s The Difference Between The 3-Year Rabies Shot And The 1-Year Rabies Shot?

All states in the U.S. have laws in place requiring dogs to be immunized to prevent the spread of Rabies. As of March 2009 Alabama is the one last remaining state requiring an annual Rabies shot. However, there is a proposed rewrite of their law in process now to remove the 1-year requirement there as well. All other states require the 3-year Rabies vaccination instead. The convenience of taking your dog to the vet for a Rabies shot only once every 3 years offers a nice savings, as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Home & Garden Tagged With: costs and expenses, vaccinations, veterinarians and experts, vomiting

Rent A Dog? The Pros & Cons Of Renting Dogs

If you love dogs but for some reason cannot have one, you may want to consider renting a dog. But wait, should you really rent a dog? Is it humane to rent a dog? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fun Dog Stuff, Home & Garden Tagged With: adoption/rescue dogs, costs and expenses, new dog owners

Do You Know What To Do If You Hit A Dog With Your Car?

Depending on the time of day, where the sun is in the sky, or the type of obstacles in your way (like trees, signs, other cars, etc.), it can sometimes be difficult to see things in the road when you're driving.This is especially true when things are moving quickly -- like a dog running into the street and right in front of your car!There are actually laws in place in most cities about what you must do if you hit someone's pet with your car. I was surprised to find that there is little … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Home & Garden, Pet Predicaments & Warnings Tagged With: costs and expenses, injuries and emergencies

Mobile Vets: Veterinarians That Make House Calls

Do you have trouble getting your dog into the car? Or maybe you don’t have transportation at all. Does your dog get carsick? Are you making multiple trips to the veterinarian because you have more than one pet? Or maybe you're struggling to get all of your dogs into the car and to the vet at the same time because gas is so expensive right now. Perhaps you're just too darned busy. For these reasons (and many more!), a mobile vet might be just the solution you’ve been looking … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Home & Garden, `Popular Tagged With: costs and expenses, dog allergies, grooming, veterinarians and experts

Good News: Auto Insurance Covers Pets Injured In Car Accidents!

The latest trend in pet insurance is to insure your pet on your regular auto insurance policy.Yes, dogs and cats are now covered by most car insurance companies -- at no extra cost to you, the pet owner -- should they be injured in an auto accident!Well... almost.While it is true that many car insurance companies will cover vet bills associated with car accidents, there are a few "catches". So, if you're not careful to read the fine print, you could easily get tripped up.Here are some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Home & Garden Tagged With: car rides, costs and expenses, injuries and emergencies, travel dog tips