“Do this before you need to, because once you need to, it’s too late.”

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Note: Some responses were also pulled from this thread.

"Dental cleanings. If you wait until there's an issue and they need extractions, it will cost much more than just cleaning. On that note, brushing their teeth with doggy toothpaste can help prevent the need for dental work, but it is not a guarantee, as some breeds are prone to dental issues and have weak teeth, like chihuahuas."

"Regularly scheduled dental cleanings. Depends on the dog, but mine goes yearly. If you wait until they need extractions, it’s a lot more. I also find PlaqueOff to be a very effective food additive for reducing plaque."

"Taking care of teeth is a big one. Daily brushing is super important, but if it is not something you can do, there are alternatives. Check out the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) website for recommendations for other options. Obviously, genetics does play a part, but prevention is key, too."

"Pet insurance. I signed up early, and when my cat got cancer and needed $30,000 of treatment, it was covered 90%. It didn't save her, though. But you know what would have been worse than her dying of cancer? Draining all of my savings and STILL dying of cancer."

"Flea and tick meds given year-round. The last dog I adopted was when she was 1 1/2, and she died at age 4 of a tick-borne disease that she had contracted before I got her. It cost thousands of dollars to try to save her. It was a hellish experience. My current pup has gotten flea and tick meds every single month on the dot since he was 8 weeks old."

"Their body goes into DIC. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious, life-threatening blood disorder where the body's clotting proteins become abnormally overactive. It triggers widespread small blood clots that block vessels, followed by a dangerous depletion of platelets and clotting factors, ultimately resulting in uncontrollable, spontaneous bleeding. Vets call it Death Is Coming, and unless you have the savings (which was all of my savings) like I did for ICU, constant blood transfusions, white blood cell transfusions, round-the-clock IV fluids, and 24/7 veterinary monitoring."

"For me, it was quality food (not expensive, but quality), paying attention to my animals' body language, and annual vet visits. The food gives them a good basis. The body language tells me of potential issues before they become major issues, and the annual exams catch changes that I missed. For my cats, the number one thing that has saved the most money AND heartache was making them indoor only. I haven't had to take a cat in for an abscess, poisoning, or injury in over 20 years. For my dogs, planting dog-safe plants only, keeping their yard secure and clean (no junk pile, etc.), and not letting them off-leash in unsecure places has the biggest impact."

"Better food equals longer, healthier life. You don't have to go insane with it, but reading labels and knowing that the top two ingredients for most dog foods are low-key allergens will take you a long way toward making smart choices."

"Yep. Easy to register, too. Make sure that if you ever move or change your contact info, you update it with them."

Note: Some entries have been edited for length/clarity.