is it ever okay to self medicate your dog to avoid the vets?

Absolutely not!

If you were previously a vet and you know what you're doing you should be able to take care of your dog to avoid the vets. If not, it's definitely not okay, the vets are the professionals, you've got to take your dog to the vets depending on how bad an issue would be with your dog, you've simply got to save up money to pay the vets, though it's expensive, if your dog has something going on with it that needs to be fixed, you've got to visit a vet.

Can you do X-rays? No! See the vet. Is it a cold or dog cancer? See the vet. You do not know enough to medicate the dog, and if you use the wrong medication you could make the animal sicker or kill it!

I wouldn't use youtube as my source, but there are plenty of veterinary books and online resources you can use FOR SMALL THINGS. For example, for an upset stomach, there are special dog foods for sensitive stomachs and home cooked foods (i've heard rice can be given to help) to try to fix it. However, if you can't figure out WITHOUT A DOUBT what is wrong, I would get help from a vet, at least by calling and asking them for advice (there is no charge for a phone call!). For anything unknown or larger than an upset stomach, PLEASE bring your dog to a vet. I work as a vet tech, and have seen too many animals suffer unnecessarily because owners thought the vet wasn't needed or too expensive. Many times, by the time they brought the dog in, it was too late for the vet to do anything about what would have been a simple fix if the owner had brought the animal in faster. A good vet will work with you to keep costs at a minimum, and may even teach you how to handle the issue yourself if it occurs again to prevent repeating visits. They can teach you much better than youtube can :)

To self medicate to avoid vet charges? NO.

To deal with certain medical' issues yourself? Yes however only if you know what they are, have the knowledge and experience to do that...obviously a broken leg is a vet job only.

No, it's never okay.

Interesting troll question.

If you know what you are doing, it can be okay. But do you know how to set a broken leg?

The answer is both yes and no. For minor problems, such as soreness because of arthritis or a mild case of diarrhea, there are some human medications, such as aspirin, which can be given in small quantities to dogs. But anything major requires a vet's attention.

It totally depends on what it is... obviously your example of a broken leg is an absolute NO and surely you know that. However, a slight upset tummy for 24 hours would be a yes in my book depending on the dog and how the dog is reacting / behaving.

no it isn't