It's True What They Say...Dogs Are Expensive

I was naive. I figured after I bought the puppy (Alabama Westies are MUCH cheaper than Atlanta Westies, FYI), and spent some $$ at the vet for shots, etc., I'd be good to go....Oh, was I wrong! I do think I chose the area's most expensive vet, so that is my own fault (I've recently switched because of that fact!).

After shots, spaying (it NEVER costs what they say because there is always some shot, or procedure they need to do) and various weird ailments, year one was pretty pricey.

So early on I signed up for pet insurance....yes, pet insurance. Not sure if I'm getting my money's worth but I do like getting a check back in the mail. It makes me feel like I'm MAKING money on my terrier's sickness, (twisted, I know).

Recently, she was diagnosed with some sort of bacterial something or another--rough, dark, scaly spots on her tummy--and was prescribed an antibiotic. Westie owners, please help me out here! These dogs are notorious for skin conditions--are there any tricks of the trade to keep me from spending my children's college funds on our cute Westie's future skin problems?

Here is the one bright spot in this saga: a tip for my Southern readers who visit Publix. Coconut was prescribed a drug that is a people drug...the vet front office lady told me (after my probing) that I could probably get it filled at Publix FOR FREE! Publix offers free generics...very cool. So I called, they confirmed, and I went to Publix, filled out a pharmacy form for Coconut Quirk (very funny), and got my FREE generic antibiotic! Saved $9.

Yes, dogs are expensive, but maybe, slowly, I am cracking the code.