| BUYING
A PUPPY? THINKING OF BREEDING A LITTER? PLEASE READ THIS
FIRST!
The truth about breeding pure-bred dogs is that it costs
more than most people think. The Siberian Husky Health Foundation
has sketched out some of the actual costs of breeding a
litter. This assumes you own the bitch and will pay a stud
fee, the normal way breedings are done:
| Bitch Costs |
|
| A few months before she's due in season, she needs
to be seen by the vet so she can be vaccinated and dewormed.
This ensures that the puppies have the best protection
possible from contagious diseases. |
($150) |
| Hip certification after 2 years of age |
($150) |
| Eye clearances |
($100) |
| Thyroid screenings |
($200) |
| High-quality food for the bitch while pregnant and
nursing |
($60) |
| Ultrasound to check for pregnancy (optional) |
($75-$100) |
| X-ray one week prior to whelp date for puppy count
(optional) |
($75) |
| C-section, if necessary *(This is not optional, if
needed. It is an emergency, and if not done quickly
enough, will result in the loss of mother and pups.) |
($600-$1300) |
| Time off work for whelping (deduct two-three days
pay from your paycheck) |
|
| |
|
| Stud Fee |
($450-800) |
| |
|
| Litter Costs (assuming
6 puppies) |
|
| Initial vet visit for puppies |
($180) |
| Deworming (first) |
($60) |
| Deworming (second) |
($80) |
| Initial vaccinations |
($180) |
| 2nd vaccinations |
($180) |
| Puppy food (If you don't need to feed formula. If
the dam doesn't have enough milk, or becomes sick or
dies, supplementing the litter will cost approximately
$120 per week and you will have to be available every
3 hours for the first 3 weeks to feed and clean the
puppies. Deduct pay for time off work, if necessary.)
|
($100) |
| |
|
| Projected costs of the litter, not counting any lost
wages: |
($2,640-$3,715) |
These figures are up-to-date as of 2005. Please do not
look at veterinary expenses as something you can save on
by skipping some of the visits. Puppies die quickly when
not properly dewormed and vaccinated. If you are thinking
of breeding a litter, investigate which other genetic screening
tests need to be done for your particular breed. The above
thyroid, eye and hip screenings are for Siberian Huskies.
When purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder, you should
be shown proof that the puppies have had at least one set
of shots and a deworming before you are allowed to take
the puppy home. Additionally, you should be given written
instructions to follow the rest of the vaccination schedule
properly. If the breeder can’t provide you with this
information, please seek help in finding a better breeder,
one who cares about the health and well-being of the puppies
produced instead of just the income they might generate
by cutting enough corners.
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