The episode was written by John Swartzwelder. Jim Reardon is the director of the episode. Producers wanted to make another episode about Santa's Little Helper. They liked the ones they made before, for example, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". Reardon says that one of the hardest parts of making the episode is that Santa's Little Helper has to act like a real dog. Producers wanted to show animals act as how they do in real life and not show human features. The story of the episode is similar to an event with Swartzwelder's dog. The "Gold Coast Bulletin" said that the Simpson family's problem with the price of the operation is a "very real" problem. They said that many families do not help with simple health for their dogs.