Firstly 3 dogs all over 16 when they finally died. All of them multiple long haul flights and lived with me in 6 different countries. Last died 2 years ago. Aside from compulsory vaccinations etc needed for inter-country trips, or physical injuries which were 1 - tooth extraction after a break; 2 - deep cut needing stitches from running onto a pointed stick; 3 - UTI infection presented by blood in urine, I never took them to the vets. When the last one was put to sleep the vets here, who I had them registered with, "what's the secret then for them to live to well and long" and my response was "I kept them away from the vets". So my advice to avoid vet bills is not to take them to the sodding vets unless 100% necessary.
1 - Food. there is no such thing as human v dog food. There is food and there is shite. Marketing companies came up with the idea that "Only one type of food..." to keep you as a buyer. It's all shit. My dogs typically ate what I ate except not junk food. By cooking or dishing them out extra it also keeps you honest as well not eating complete shit. I did use to keep some pouches from Butternut in the freezer as a back up which is basically real food. Less carbs then they tend to want to eat less as well. Funny heh?
2 - Most things can be cured with activated charcoal as the first line of defense. Tom Titts? Charcoal. Not seeming settled? Charcoal. Puking? Charcoal.
3 - They don't need front line and all that shit. Its literally poison. Find a tick and pluck it off. Power flea killer on and off it you need it.
4 - Stop washing their sodding hair all the time and keep them the hell away from groomers with all their toxic chemicals. Water wash is all they need. The more you wash the more they smell.
5 - when they get older and start to pee a lot,
External Link/Members Only is a great natural solution. DRY -
External Link/Members Only drops into their food and it gives them back their bladder control. Their EASE product if good for creaking joints as well.
6 - Smelly ears / ears cleaning - 50:50 solution of organic cider vinegar and tepid preboiled water. Put it in, massage it around, get it out and its problem solved.
7- Harness and never a collar. Laryngeal paralysis is not a good way to see your dog die in your arms. Believe me.
Most importantly - ADOPT DON'T SHOP. Never buy a dog and always adopt. You can not call yourself a true dog lover if you give money to an industry which is creating weak dog breeds whilst all the shelters are stuffed full of lock down dogs who have been turfed out.
