Tip of the week: Money-saving tips

It’s not only about saving a buck; we need to be getting the best value for our money as well. The economy has been hard on everyone. There are a lot of people looking to save a buck anywhere they can. Pet care is no exception.

There are several great ways to save money on pet care such as grooming at home, boarding with a friend rather than a kennel, play-dates instead of doggie-daycare, buying supplies in bulk, and cutting back on expensive treats and toys. Unfortunately, there are also places that are not good to try to save money. These things can actually cost more in the long run if we skimp.

In no particular order:

Vaccines:

Particularly in young puppies and kittens, quality, properly-administered vaccines are of vital importance. There are few things more frustrating as a veterinarian than when someone gets a new puppy or kitten but then cannot afford basic care that could be life-saving. It breaks my heart to see an unvaccinated puppy get the parvovirus because her owner couldn’t afford vaccines. Unfortunately, if you can’t afford the vaccines, you likely can’t afford to treat the puppy for parvo which can be deadly if left untreated. Similarly, kittens who are left unvaccinated for diseases like feline leukemia can accidentally get out of the house and become infected by a stray cat. On the other hand, your pet may not need all vaccines every year. If you’re looking to save money on vaccines, discuss your pet’s risk factors with your vet to see if some vaccines can be skipped or if your pet can have some vaccines less frequently.

Heartworm preventative:

Heartworms are deadly to both dogs and cats. If heartworm disease is diagnosed soon enough, treatment is available but it is very expensive and dangerous. Heartworm prevention usually costs less than $10/month and is a worthy investment in your pet’s health. For some it means the difference between life and death.

Dental care:

Proper dental care is paramount to good health especially in older adult dogs and cats. Routine professional dental cleanings and home tooth-brushing helps prevent the buildup of dangerous bacteria along the gum-line. This bacteria, if allowed to stay, can lead to heart and kidney disease not to mention painful oral disease. This is particularly true for small breeds of dogs. It’s much cheaper to have routine teeth cleanings performed than to wait until the pet’s mouth is laden with bacteria and needs multiple teeth extracted. By brushing teeth at home, you help prolong the benefits of professional scaling and polishing.

Food:

Good nutrition is the best prevention for many ailments. If you have a pet with allergies, a hypoallergenic diet may be more expensive but it’s usually cheaper than repeat trips to the vet and various allergy medications. Same goes for pets with sensitive stomachs. Also, proper nutrition is key to preventing nutritional deficiencies which can lead to diseases such as heart and eye disease in cats and skin disorders in both cats and dogs. Another bonus: food that is of higher quality usually means feeding it in a lower quantity as well as fewer stools to clean up. Make sure you’re feeding the right amount of good food to your pets, too. Overweight pets have more health issues and it costs more to keep them heavy! Cut back on expensive treats and the amount you feed if your pet is a little pudgy.

Yearly exams:

Catching a potential health problem early generally costs less than emergency treatments. You see your pet everyday so you may not notice subtle changes in his/her health. A thorough evaluation by a veterinarian can help pick up things like heart murmurs before they become congestive heart failure or mild dental disease before it becomes an abscessed tooth. Also, if you have any questions about things that may have changed in your pet’s behavior or activity level, this is the time to address those concerns before they become major problems. As a pet ages, yearly or bi-yearly blood testing may help catch things like kidney disease, liver disease or anemia before it becomes life-threatening and you can work with your veterinarian to help slow the course of disease.

We realize the economy has hit a lot of people hard but prevention really is the best medicine. By keeping up with high-quality, routine care, you can actually save money in the long run. Skimping on any of these areas may lead to more costly treatments in the future.