Health Costs

mfpost

New member
My family and I are considering purchasing a Newfy puppy. We have been considering this for over a year and have ready a lot about the breed. We have read a number of things that talk about how expensive a Newfy is, so we are now trying to put a number to that.


Could any of you tell me how much you spend on normal vet bills? By normal I mean shots, checkups etc. The kind of things you have to do even for a generally healthy dog.

Also any illness/emergency issue you have had and about what they cost would be helpful. I am currently debating if we would want to get dog health insurance or not. If insurance helped in any of this could you please let me know.

Thank You.
 

lmfoltyn

New member
We have had pet insurance for our newfs to a certain age and then dropped it...it really does help in the 1st few years but when you add up the cost verses the pay out of healthy dogs it becomes expensive. Of course if you use it for a major surgery...it pays to have it...it really depends. We have healthy pet insurance now that covers the cost of normal routine visits such as the shots. I have never put a number to what we have paid for vet bills...but a normal year is probably around $1000.00.
 

Jeannie

Super Moderator
I had health insurance for Chase when she was a puppy for 1 year. I never filed a claim and the premium more than doubled the 2nd year. I didn't want to pay all that money for nothing. So I put so much money in an account so I had money for health problems if I needed it. I've never had to use it on Chase.

Vet charges can vary from vet to vet. I know if one of my dogs has say an ear infection and my vet has seen them before for an ear infection she will let me get the meds without seeing the dog. Many times I'll call and she will say to try this and if I don't see an improvement with a few days then she will see the dog. For me normal vet care in not that expensive. My vet gives a 3 yr rabies and a 3 yr parvo/distemper. I only have to get the Bordetella yearly. I keep my dog on heartworm year round so I do not have to get a yearly heart worm test. My vet sells me a bottle of Ivermecin for about $40. When I had 5 newfs the bottle would expire before I used it all - about 2 years. What is expensive for me with Chase is her meds for her allergies. She takes 1-2 apoquel daily at $1.60 per pill. Just be prepared to pay for the meds since they have to take such a high dose. Again my vet tries to help. If I can get it at Walmart cheaper she will call it in.
 

Brandie&Maggie

New member
Around here, annual well checks cost me probably $200.

Costs for flea/tick/heartworm prevention will vary depending on what you choose for those things.

Newfs should take some vitamins and supplements for joint health, etc as well. Again, costs vary depending on what you choose.

Emergencies/sickness/injury: Newfs are large dogs. Any surgery is going to cost at least $1000. Orthopedic surgery probably $5000 or more. For one leg.

I commented on your other post about our first newf. Without insurance, we would have spent probably $10k-$15 on her over the years we had her (5 years). I never added it up. Health insurance was really key for us with her. Hopefully you'd end up with a healthy dog, but you never know. If your dog has bloat or tears a CCL, that's a lot of cash. So I would either budget for insurance (at least for a few years) or start a savings account that you put money into monthly or annually so you have at least $5-8k on hand for an emergency, unless you have a credit card or something you know you can comfortably use to make up the difference.

For minor illness, I always expect a bill of at least $200-$300 to cover the exam, medicine, a couple of tests, etc. X-rays will run $200-500, depending on if they need to be sedated or not.

These are the typical costs where I live, but again, vary geographically as well.
 

wrknnwf

Active member
I don't use insurance. I have a credit card squirreled away for big or unexpected medical expenses.

I spend very little on ordinary health expenses. I'm lucky that my dogs have never had allergies, skin problems, or other on-going issues.

Piper had an emergency spay due to pyometra that cost $2500.00. Yogi had to have an eye removed at $1750.00. Hugo was on a temporary homecooked diet and lots of meds due to liver failure (from which he recovered) that cost around $800 to $1000. Spirit, the rescue I've had for 2 years now, has cost me about $200.00 in total medical fees, due to the fact that he was sick when I got him. He's healthy now, so I'm not anticipating any more problems. But if they arise, that's why I keep a zero balance on that credit card. Averaged over a span of 17 years, it hasn't been too much to handle in medical expenses.

But a catastrophic illness or on-going issues can be overwhelming, so you do need to have a plan in place. Sometimes I suggest that people start a savings account. That way, if you don't spend the money, you can put it toward your kids' college fund. Or a great vacation when you retire. :) It never has made sense to me to fork out money on something you might not need. That's money thrown away to me. But I do know that many people have needed that insurance. The alternative would have been grim.

Only you can decide what will work best for your circumstances.

By the way, great questions and I'm impressed that you are being so thoughtful about getting a dog. Wish more people would think it through as thoroughly.

Good for you!
 

victoria1140

Active member
Oh well here goes Beau £8000 over his 4 year lifetime with us as he had stomach issues.stopped when we changed him to orijen but he got cancer at 41/2 years old.

Max aka the munchkin £26,000 over his 2 year lifespan.he had elbow surgery and a triple pelvic osteochtomy to improves his hips.throat surgery and then he got terminal cancer.

Raven £11,725 two cruciate repairs on the same leg as first one failed.
£750 allergy and immunotherapy treatment :-on going.
£200 atm phantom pregnancy.

Believe me if things go wrong it's costly and even though l am fairly utd us on a lot of info and stuff there are a lot of curveballs thrown at you.
It costs us £2400 a year to insure our 3 dogs per year with Petplan but they have the top policy offered.l won't scrimp on this as rather they can get immediately treated rather than wait and don't forget these are UK prices so worth doing a $- £comparison.
 
Last edited:

victoria1140

Active member
Shots and general checkups generally cost us approx £200 pa.

Working and flea/lungworm treatments approx £ 400 pa for 3 large dogs
 

Sound Bay Newfs

Active member
Yes newfs can be expensive for vet billls but it depends on the dog. Which is why pet insurance is important. I insure mine with Embrace and have been very happy with them.
 
Top