The puppy stage is one of the most fun (yet most stressful) times as a dog owner. It kinda feels like a baby in a weird way because of all the responsibility, the little firsts they’ll experience, the silliness, the happiness, the curiosity, the little cries, just all of it. Just like the baby phase in a human, it also goes by way too quickly for dogs, too!

But while you’re focusing on long-term health for your puppy, you might be surprised to find out that it’s not nearly as easy as you might actually expect!  Basically, more expenses pop up than you might expect. But what exactly?

The Costs of A Puppy

Dental Problems are Surprisingly Expensive

Alright, so dental is one of those costs that seems optional, well, optional enough until it’s actually not. But a dog can have stinky breath for a while and still act totally normal, so it’s easy to brush it off. It’s a dog, of course, their breath stinks!

But tartar and gum issues are common, same for vet dental cleanings. Oh, and depending on the dog, there might be X-rays, anesthesia, extractions, and aftercare, and yeah, that’s when it starts feeling like dental work, just not the kind that gets paid off in monthly installments. It’s also annoying because a lot of dogs hate tooth brushing, so owners either fight that battle early or end up paying later. While they’re a puppy, it helps to already start the routine of brushing their teeth, so it gets a little easier.

Go Ahead and Start Planning in Advance

So, cleaning your dog’s teeth is just one example, and there’s honestly plenty of other examples too. But just in general, you’ll need to do preventive care with your dog (just like what you need to do with yourself), you need to take them to the vet, and you just need to be able to expect the unexpected sometimes (as bleak as that might sound). But having dog insurance for your puppy will help a lot since vet visits can get expensive. But what are some other potential unexpected costs?

Allergies Can Turn into a Whole Lifestyle

You hear people having allergies to dogs, but you rarely hear about this. Yep, it’s true. Dogs also get allergies. So, a dog starts licking paws, chewing at skin, getting red ears, or dealing with recurring hot spots, and it can turn into a whole thing. Basically, it could actually turn into a routine, kind of like how it is with humans.

This could mean vet visits, prescription shampoos, meds, special diets, maybe allergy shots, maybe trial-and-error food changes that somehow cost more than actual human groceries. Unfortunately, this has both a mental load and a financial load too.

Ear Infections Can Repeatedly Happen

If you think they’re bad for humans, well, they’re even worse for dogs, and they can come back often, too. Some dogs are just prone to it, especially dogs with floppy ears, dogs who swim a lot, or dogs who have allergies fueling the problem in the background. And just like allergies, there’s vet checks, medicine, special cleaning solutions, and so yes, those add up too.