Maintaining proper dental hygiene is crucial to a dog’s overall health and well-being. However, the cost of dental work for our furry companions can be a significant financial burden for many pet owners. If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot afford dental care for your dog, don’t despair. In this article, we’ll explore nine actionable steps you can take to help address your dog’s dental issues and improve their oral health, even on a limited budget.
Suppose you’re unable to afford dental work for your dog. In this case, you can look around for a low-cost veterinarian in your area, ask for money from pet organizations, borrow, sell something, use care credit or a credit card, ask for a payment plan, ask for a discount, and of course, follow good dental care and health practices in the first place.
Yeah, I know the above solutions are not ideal, but if you’re in a tricky situation, you must explore them. That’s why I will explain more about these in this article.
What Can You Do if You Cannot Afford Dental Work for Your Dog?
You might be very busy with your office work and children, busy with paying down your debt, rent, or mortgage.
However, these are not excuses for neglecting your dog’s dental health. Once you take on a dog, you also have to take on the mantle of responsibilities that come with it. You must recognize and act upon the problems.
Your dog’s health is a priority.
Let’s say you go to the vet out of the blue and have to fork out a mountain of cash to your vet. In many instances, this can be upwards of $400.
Some people really cannot bear such a bill. But in cases of your pet’s health, it’s not a good enough excuse.
Your dog cannot live without your help; they depend on you. You must find a way to ensure you can pay these out-of-the-blue bills. So, let’s see what to do if you cannot afford dental work for your dog.
1. Find a Low-Cost Vet in Your Area
It’s well-known that vets charge a lot. For your typical dental issue, it’s around $400.
Some people need to be more capable of paying that much. You cannot ignore your dog’s pain.
Consider googling low-cost vets in your area and take your dog there.
Suggested Reading: Do veterinarians overcharge?
2. Borrow Money
Dental health is essential, so don’t think twice about borrowing money. This is a problem with your dog’s health. Don’t let them suffer.
3. Sell Something
Because some dental issues, such as rotten teeth, can be life-threatening. You will need to find cash for the vet’s course of treatment post-haste.
At a time like this, your priority should be on your dog. To find some money, you may have to sell whatever you can find.
4. Ask for Help From a Pet Organization
Many organizations are willing to help when we are in a pet emergency. They may provide medicine, doctors, and such.
If you are in an emergency situation and lacking funds, you can contact an organization like that. They may even pay your bills. Remember, there are so many people who can help you if you look in the right places.
5. Save as Much Money as You Can
If you have a dog, you have to keep account of your dog’s needs. Who knows when our dogs get sick; we must be ready for anything, including forking over a ton of cash.
So, the best thing is to save as much money as possible. Just like how many people keep an “emergency fund” in case they lose their job or if their car needs major repairs, consider creating a “doggie emergency fund” of at least $500 for use in health emergencies. After paying from the fund, prioritize rebuilding the fund over any other spending.
6. Ask for a Discount
If you can’t afford dental work for your dog, ask for a discount from your vet.
There are particular times of the year, such as national pet day (February 20th) and national pet dental month (February); at times like these, your vet might discount a portion of the cost for you.
7. Payment Plan
You can opt for a payment plan if you are a trusted customer. Your vet will consider the possibilities and let you choose a payment plan.
8. Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Imagine a human neglecting to brush their teeth for years on end… Ew! Don’t let your dog be any different.
You could allocate time to brush your dog’s teeth in the first place. This will maintain or improve your dog’s dental health cheaply, solving their bad breath, gum disease, etc.
And, of course, consistent dental hygiene will likely reduce the need to go to the vet and pay massive sums suddenly!
9. Dog Mouthwash/Antibiotics
There are so many doggie dental products on the market. So please consider buying mouthwash for your dog — It will reduce the level of bacteria and improve their breath.
Also, mouthwash will help to overcome other issues as well. As we will see when discussing antibiotics, mouthwash can help with infections.
If you don’t have enough time to brush your dog’s teeth, you can hire someone to do it.
Or you can take your dog to a doggy care center now and then, where they care for these sorts of things.
By the way, here is an article on when vets can keep your pet.
Is Dental Care Essential for Your Dog? Why?
Have you ever had a dental problem? I would be surprised if you haven’t, as I imagine everyone has experienced one at some point. So how do you feel when you have tooth pain? I don’t need to tell you: it’s like hell.
Dogs feel the same. With that information, what do you think? Is dental care essential for your dog or not? Well, take yourself as an example.
From my point of view, the answer is YES. A good owner must take care of their dog’s dental health. Why?
Why should you care about your dog’s dental health? Here are the reasons:
1. Keeps Your Dog in Good Mental and Physical Fitness
When your dog has dental pain, they refuse food, never wanting to eat anything due to the pain.
As a result, a host of side effects can occur, including weight loss, heart issues, lethargy, and others.
2. Reduces Pain
Typically, dogs are very talented at hiding their dental pain. Although they may be suffering from dental pain, we often cannot notice it. That’s why dogs need us to pay attention to dental care.
Suggested Reading: Why do dogs refuse to drink water after dental surgery?
3. Prevents Your Dog From Losing Teeth
In time, with a lack of dental care, your dog’s teeth can be damaged. As a result, they will not be able to eat or even bite. Dental care will help to prevent the loss of your dog’s teeth and eating habits.
4. Saves Your Money
If you can brush your dog’s teeth from now onward, you will dramatically increase the chance of avoiding dental problems and sickness. It will also be good for your pocket. So, let’s start brushing your dog’s teeth!
5. Prevents Bad Breath
Have you ever noticed the breath of your dog? It’s possible that if it smells horrid, there are some problems with your dog’s teeth. To overcome this, dental care is essential.
How Can You Reduce the Cost of Dental Work?
Afraid of seeing your dog’s dental bill? For those of us both well-off and not-so-well-off, we all hate seeing a triple-figure bill.
When hit with such a bill, we try to reduce our expenditures and spend money parsimoniously. We wish to have some extra money to handle our daily routines.
It would be best to find a way to pay as soon as possible if your dog is already in pain. Let’s look at some ways to reduce the cost of dental work for your dog:
- Stop visiting expensive vets — The value of treatment doesn’t change with cost. It depends on the service they provide.
- Don’t buy unnecessary treats — These will damage your dog’s teeth.
- Give medicine on time — Always be consistent. Once you break the routine, the treatment may lose effectiveness, and you may end up having to buy more.
- Routinely visit the vet — Don’t let health issues get to breaking point before visiting the vet.
By the way, here is what to do if your dog has never been to the vet.
Here Are Some Habits to Keep Your Dog in Good Dental Health
As a responsible owner, you must monitor your dog’s physical needs. Dental health is part of this.
Your dog’s teeth are essential. Please check your dog’s dental health at least once a week.
So, if you follow the below tips in the first place, your dog will avoid dental problems. Let’s see what they are:
1. Brush Your Dog’s Teeth Every Day
To maintain your dog’s dental health, you must brush their teeth daily.
You can use regular human toothpaste when you brush your dog’s teeth. It should be dog toothpaste, but either dog or human toothpaste is fine.
2. Keep Your Dog Away From Harmful Foods
What kind of foods should your dog avoid? I’m going to list a few of them:
- Wheat and wheat-containing products
- Very cold foods and beverages
- Scorching foods and beverages
- Some species of rice and potatoes
When you feed your dog, concentrate on avoiding the above foods.
3. Check Your Dog’s Teeth at Least Once a Year
Make sure to take your dog to the vet and get a dental checkup at least once a year. If you want to visit the vet more than once a year, that’s even better!
4. Keep an Eye on Your Dog
You have to check your dog’s dental issues at home. See whether your dog unnecessarily bites things such as plastic, toys, sand, small rocks, etc.
Biting some rough things can lead to your dog’s teeth breaking.
5. Contact Your Vet Regularly
Keep a good relationship with your vet. Call them once a week and get advice. Keep them updated about your dog’s progress.
Things to Be Aware Of
- Don’t test medicine — Some people try to give treatment without having good knowledge or without asking their doctor’s permission. Please consider other options before applying medicine yourself, as this can affect your dog’s life.
- Don’t run away from your dog — Due to dental problems, your dog might have bad breath. At a time like that, you should not avoid your pooch. Mutual understanding is fundamental when you take on the responsibilities of a dog parent!
- Consider the foods you give — You already know the foods unsuitable for your dog’s health. Avoid them and provide healthy foods instead, such as vegetables, soft meat, fruits, etc.
- Give medicine on time — Don’t skip treatment. Be consistent.
- Don’t let time go — If your dog has dental problems, sort them out as soon as possible. Do it quickly because dental problems can be excruciating for dogs.
- Make sure to call your vet as soon as you notice a difference in your dog’s teeth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while dental care for dogs can be a significant expense, paying attention to the importance of maintaining their oral health is crucial. By following the nine actionable steps outlined in this article, you can help improve your dog’s dental hygiene, even on a limited budget. Remember to prioritize regular dental check-ups and preventative care to avoid costly procedures in the future. We hope this article has provided valuable insights and practical tips for managing your dog’s dental health!
