How much does a pet really cost?

We know that some of the toughest conversations about pet ownership revolve around costs. In this edition of Q&A with Dr. Q., we're going to get real about the financial expectations of bringing a furry companion into your home, and keeping them healthy and happy for many years to come.

The costs of pet ownership, much like the conversation about the topic itself, can't be avoided! You will need to prepare an honest and thorough budget to keep your pet looked after properly. Generally speaking, these expenses fall into the following three categories.

#1: Initial, up-front costs

Whether you acquire your pet from a breeder, a pet store, a shelter, rescue group, or other adoption facility, You will incur expenses essentially the moment your new animal comes home, if not sooner. These initial costs include the following:

Depending on where or how you acquire your pet, some of these expenses may be grouped together. For instance, a breeder might have your new pet microchipped and their first round of vaccinations done before you take them home. Or the animal shelter will spay/neuter the animal prior to adoption, and send you home with a bag of their food to help you slowly transition them to a new diet. Be sure to check ahead and work all this into your budget!

#2: Ongoing, recurring expenses

Get your monthly budget organized to accommodate regular purchases for your pet. Expect some of the following expenses to occur on a regular basis:

#3: Unforeseen and emergency expenditures

You can do your best to keep your pet safe and healthy, and still something unexpected and traumatic can happen. This can be the sudden onset of illness, or an accident, or even a legal issue stemming from an incident with your pet.

This is where the conversation about costs becomes the most awkward and emotional. Emergency expenses tend to be the most significant one-time costs incurred by pet owners, leading to considerable financial strain, especially if they're not prepared. It leads to difficult and sometimes heartbreaking situations for animal owners and veterinary professionals alike.

Financial preparedness is invaluable

Owning a pet goes beyond sharing the joy and companionship they bring. It involves a financial commitment that goes beyond that initial outlay of funds. Pet owners can expect regular and unexpected expenses for the duration of the animal's life. Preparing for this can involve setting a realistic budget, setting aside money in an emergency fund, and having a dedicated credit card for pet emergencies. By ensuring the costs of pet ownership are addressed, you can foster a positive and supportive relationship with your veterinary professionals, and give your beloved pet the care and attention they deserve.

Is there a new mystery canine illness?

You may have been hearing across social media that there is a new mystery disease affecting dogs, and my think that it's reached outbreak proportions. I think it's important to discuss this on Q&A with Dr. Q.

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex, or CIRDC for short, has become a hot topic of discussion, with many wondering about its origins and implications. Pet owners are reporting symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, runny eyes, lethargy, fever, and a diminished appetite.

Dr. Scott Wiese, an infectious disease specialist from Ontario, established the term CIRDC for this emerging disease. His expertise, especially during the early days of the COVID pandemic, brings a unique perspective. Dr. Wiese emphasizes that while the symptoms might resemble the common kennel cough, that may be an oversimplification. The "respiratory disease complex" indicates a condition involving various organisms. It can include different viruses such as canine parainfluenza and coronavirus, as well as bacteria like Bordetella and Mycoplasma. Veterinary professionals have expressed concern about how the complex causes prolonged bouts of coughing, increased lethargy, and unfortunately, cases of pets succumbing to the illness.

If you notice any of the above symptoms in your pet, consult your veterinarian and request testing as soon as possible. They will take swabs from the nose or throat in order to identify the different pathogens. Treatment varies based on the pet's condition, ranging from antibiotics to hospitalization with intravenous therapy. Because this condition can be highly contagious, infected animals need to be isolated to prevent further spread.

Prevention plays a vital role. Whether your furry friend is headed for grooming, boarding, or a playdate at the dog park, always make sure their vaccinations are up to date. Keeping your pet's health and nutrition levels high, and their stress levels low, are great ways to keep illness in check!

How do I know if my cat has a UTI?

Cat owners: this Q&A with Dr. Q. is just for you! Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in cats is a painful - and painfully common - health issue, that you want to be able to recognize and deal with as soon as possible.

Male cats can develop urinary tract infections or blockages, and either issue is dangerous for their health. Female cats aren't prone to blockages, but they can develop bladder stones. Any of these health problems run the risk of being fatal!

If you notice the following signs, you will need to get veterinary help for your cat right away:

As you've probably discovered, your pet cat has a routine they like to stick with. This is true of their bathroom habits as well! If you see anything out of the ordinary with their behaviour, even if it's not as extreme as some of the examples in the list above, don't take it lightly. Act quickly and get your cat to the vet. You could be saving them from a life-threatening urinary tract illness.

Can I give my pets human medication?

This edition of Q&A with Dr. Q. addresses something a lot of pet owners wonder about: are there human, over-the-counter medications that we can give our pets?

There may be cases where you're able to give your pet human medication, but I wouldn't recommend it outright. It's very risky to do so without the guidance or your veterinarian. The information about doses of medication are based on general weight ranges for humans, not dogs or cats. It's frighteningly easy for a pet to overdose on over-the-counter medication. What's worse, a lot of human medications, such as Tylenol and anti-inflammatory drugs, can lead to kidney disease or failure in cats and dogs. It can be heartbreaking, and I've seen it many times in my veterinary practice experience.

We need to be careful ourselves when taking many different over-the-counter medications. That level of care has to be even higher when it comes to our furry loved ones. It's way too large a risk to take. Always check with your vet first before giving your pet any human medication!

Why should my pet have annual check-ups?

We may talk a lot about dogs and cats, but this Q&A with Dr. Q. is one that's important for all pet owners: is it really so important to take my pet for a check-up every year, even when they're healthy?

When you bring your animal to the vet for a check-up, they will receive a thorough health inspection. They will check for standard wellness indicators, much like you would get if you go to your doctor for a physical. The vet will check the animal's weight, ears, eyes, and teeth. They'll check the joints for mobility or pain. If applicable, as is the case with dogs, they'll receive their annual vaccinations.

But is this necessary? Or are these frequent check-ups an excessive expense when pet ownership is already so pricey? In short, yes, it's absolutely necessary. Regular vet check-ups are preventative medicine for your beloved pet. It's a small expense now, but if they find a health concern, it could be resolved before becoming a huge expense later. In the case of more serious health issues, it can even mean the difference between life and death!

Because animals have such shorter life spans than humans, they age more quickly, and their illnesses can progress more quickly. It's commonly said that one human year is equivalent to seven dog years; could you imagine going 10 or even 20 years without visiting a doctor? That's what it would be like if you waited a couple of years or so between check-ups for your pet!

What do I do if I find lumps on my dog?

In this edition of Q&A with Dr. Q., we shed some light on a topic that might confuse and worry some dog owners. If you find a strange lump on your dog, do you wonder why it occurs or what to do next?

Believe it or not, finding little lumps or bumps on your dog can be pretty common. It's not necessarily something to worry about, but it's important to check with your vet early on.

In a lot of cases, these lumps can simply be benign, fatty deposits. This occurs in a lot of dogs, particularly large breeds. In some cases, though, it can be a cancerous mass, which will need to be removed promptly to prevent further health concerns for your dog. Your vet may want to biopsy the lump, or take a needle to draw some mass out of it, to get tested. Alternatively, they may suggest to get it removed right away, which will require your dog to be anaesthetized. Surgically removing the lump might be costly, but can save the cost of doing a biopsy if the results indicate it'll need to be removed anyway. Also, if you find your dog licking or biting at the lump, you can save them discomfort and stress by removing the lump.

The bottom line is that finding a lump on your dog isn't the end of the world, but at the same time it shouldn't be taken lightly! Even younger dogs of two or three years of age can develop cancerous tumours. Give yourself and your pooch peace of mind and get those lumps checked out!

Why is my dog scooting?

In this edition of Q&A with Dr. Q., we address something our dogs do that can look pretty funny, but should be taken seriously. You may have seen your dog "scooting", or dragging their behind across the ground. Do you wonder why they do this?

Just behind your dog's rectum are two glands, known as anal glands, or anal sacs. These are scent glands, and they will secrete a fluid. The glands are usually expressed through regular bowel movements and other activities from the dog, but can occasionally fill up with fluid, and become itchy and irritated. When this happens, the dog will attempt to chew at their behind, or drag it across the floor or ground in an attempt to express the fluid themselves. This can happen most often in small breeds, but larger breed dogs can be affected as well.

If you are concerned at all about your dog's behaviour, be sure to consult your veterinarian. When dealing with an issue around the anal glands, the vet will normally shave the area around the dog's rectum to perform an examination. If there are signs of irritation, they will apply ointment to the area. They may then put on some latex gloves, insert a finger into the dog's rectum, and express the glands manually. If the case is more serious, the dog may need to be sedated and the glands flushed or even surgically removed.

In some cases, this scooting or butt dragging activity can be the sign of a tumour or abscess, so it shouldn't be taken lightly! It can seem like strange or silly behaviour at first, and it can be a gross topic to deal with. I appreciate you taking the time to understand the issues behind your dog's scooting behaviour, and your pet will too!

Never skip this medication for your pet!

This might be one of the most crucial pieces of advice we can give here on Q&A with Dr. Q.: your pet needs heartworm prevention!

Heartworm disease is a mosquito-borne illness, mostly seen in dogs, cats, and ferrets. It occurs primarily in warmer seasons and climates, where mosquitoes will bite an infected animal (it could even be a wild animal) and transmit the infected blood by biting another animal (potentially your pet!). The parasites will travel through the animal's bloodstream, settling in the heart where they grow into larger worms, reproducing dramatically. This leads to lung and heart disease and can be fatal to pets.

When you get your annual checkup for your pet, the veterinarian will usually recommend a heartworm test. This is a simple blood test, and is important to get. The test will read the antigens or chemicals released by the heart in the presence of the heartworm parasite, so this is a case where you're hoping for a negative result. Once you're in the clear, it's time to talk prevention!

Your vet can prescribe a heartworm medication that is either a pill or a topical liquid applied to the skin. You may not need to give your pet heartworm medication year round; in Ontario, for instance, the time frame for heartworm prevention has traditionally been between June and November. As we're seeing warmer weather in the fall and winter, though, you might need to give your pet the medication for longer. And if you live in regions where it's warm all year, you'll probably need 12 months of heartworm prevention!

If your pet does have heartworm, it can be treated if caught quickly. But it is still dangerous and definitely expensive, not to mention traumatic for your beloved pet. Prevention is always the best way to keep them safe, healthy, and happy!

Why should my pet be spayed or neutered?

Let's kick off this Q&A with Dr. Q. session with a popular and sometimes controversial question. Pet owners often want to know if they really need to have their animals spayed or neutered. Everyone who has an animal as a companion and not only for professional reasons (such as a qualified breeder) should absolutely ensure that their pet is fixed. There are many benefits for the animal, the owner, and the environment.

Unwanted Pregnancies

The most obvious reason to have your pet spayed or neutered is to keep them from breeding. An intact animal will always try to mate, sometimes getting very resourceful in doing so! Depending on the animal, that can mean a large litter of offspring. The animal shelter system is a strong indicator of the overpopulation problem we're experiencing, and every unplanned pregnancy just creates a greater strain. Not to mention the stress on your pet when they're pregnant.

Behaviour Problems

When pets start to reach sexual maturity, which for dogs and cats can begin as early as five or six months of age, they can exhibit new, problematic behaviours. They will attempt to mark their territory with their scent, which if it happens indoors, can be messy and smell awful. They will exhibit more aggression, and try to wander off in search of a mate.

Health Concerns

As they get older, animals who haven't been fixed are prone to tumours due to hormonal issues. In males, this can mean testicular, prostate, or anal tumours. In females, it can lead to ovarian, uterine, or anal infections and tumours. Their senior years can be filled with discomfort and illness, and shortened lifespan. Neutered male cats or dogs can experience an increased lifespan of about 18-25%. Neutered female dogs and cats can live 25-30% longer than their intact counterparts.

The notion that spaying or neutering your pet is cruel has no basis in fact. This surgery is actually one that can give your furry friend a better quality of life! If you have an intact animal in your household, I strongly recommend you contact your vet today to consult about a spay or neuter!

Why is my pet so itchy?

Is your dog or cat scratching excessively? This edition of Q&A with Dr. Q. will hopefully help you find out why.

If your pet is scratching themselves a lot, the first thing you'll want to do is check them for fleas or ticks. Once you've ruled that out, there's a good chance your pet has allergies. Our furry friends can have the same allergic reactions that we do, to things like:

Your veterinarian can help you determine if your pet has an allergy, and from there, which kind. They can do food tests to see if it's a food allergy, blood or skin tests to find out if it's an environmental allergy. They can work quickly to help make sure your dog or cat can get back to their happy, itch-free life!