Pet Care on a Budget

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With the economic pressures the country is facing, people are concerned about how to stay in their homes and feed their children, let alone how to keep and care for their pets. Naturally, finances are especially tight during the holidays.  As a backdrop to this, shelters around the country are reporting a rise in pet turn-ins and vets are seeing a decline in visits and spending on recommended procedures.  Dr. Scott Line, Merial Unlimited, discusses some things you should and shouldn’t do.

It’s a time when people need to cut costs, but they must do so in a way that doesn’t compromise their pet’s health.

Don’t cut out vaccinations.  Vaccinations are a great way to prevent things from happening, such as parvo, distemper and rabies.  These conditions can be fatal and are very expensive to treat if your dog comes down with one of these problems.  Also, don’t cut out heartworm prevention.   Because again, it is very expensive and it can be very dangerous and damaging to your pet to go through an infection with one of these parasites.   Keeping up with routine preventives may seem like you are spending unnecessary money every month, but it is a good insurance policy and a good way to save over the lifetime of your pet.

You might want to look in your area for groups that provide low cost vaccination services.  Even some shelters may be able to provide veterinary care for people with a reduced income.  You can even check with your local humane organizations to see if they can assist you with vaccinations.

Some simple things you can do to keep your pet healthy is exercising them to make sure that they stay in good shape, and to ensure that they are not overweight.  You can take them on a walk or to a local park. This is not going to cost anything but your time, and can prevent problems such as diabetes and arthritis, which could save you money down the road.

Make sure you monitor the amount of food your animal is fed.  A good way to keep track is to measure the amount of food you give them each day and keep an eye on their weight.   Don’t overdo the treats and keep them away from table scraps.

Also, don’t buy that big inexpensive bag of dog food at the grocery store.  While it seems cheap, it is mainly filler and will actually cause your dog to eat more to get the proper nutrition that they need.  And don’t forget to pay attention to the expiration date.  If you have a small dog, buying that big bag that you think will last all year, could be a waste of money, as the vitamins can actually degrade over time.    One way to save is to perhaps go in on a big bag with a friend or neighbor and split both the cost and food.

Also pay attention to your dog’s teeth.   You can do some simple things like buying an inexpensive finger cap or doggy toothbrush and brush their teeth on a regular basis.  This can help prevent buildup of tartar and other problems, which could become very costly if your dog has to be anesthetized to have its teeth cleaned.