Tips for Cutting Pet Care Costs
Pet ownership is such a rewarding experience that it’s hard to put a price on all those years of loyal companionship. But the fact of the matter is that the real expenses associated with owning a pet can make a serious dent in your family’s budget. The cost of grooming, training, veterinary care, pet medications and pet supplies can really add up. Luckily, there are a few things pet owners can do to combat the high costs of pet care.
An Ounce of Prevention: Taking responsibility for your pet’s health can greatly reduce the likelihood of a serious illness from occurring and prevent expensive veterinary bills. So, make sure your pet eats healthy food, gets plenty of activity and don’t skip routine vet checkups.
Consider Going Generic: Just like human medications, some pet meds are available in a generic form. Ask your pet’s veterinarian if generic is an option for the medication they’re prescribing.
Stock Up: Typically, buying a larger bag of pet food saves more money in the long run than opting for the smaller bag. Also, with products like topical flea preventatives, you typically get more bang for your buck with a twelve month supply rather than a pack with fewer doses.
Groom at Home: You can cut down on grooming costs by grooming your feline or canine companion at home. Purchase a quality shampoo for routine baths. If your pet’s fur is too much to handle yourself, consider purchasing a pair clippers for touchups, allowing for more time in between necessary haircut appointments at the groomer’s.
Order Online: By shopping online, pet parents can find some serious savings on popular pet medications and supplies. Online retailers oftentimes offer better prices on both prescription and OTC medications than most veterinarians. Just makes sure the website you order from is U.S. based and either LegitScript or Vet-VIPPS approved.
These helpful tips were provided by VetDepot.com.
Also, some store chain prescription programs ($4 or $5 for 30 day supply) will include pets. If your pet is prescribed a human-type medication that exists in generic form, try one of those programs. I saved dramatically for my older dachshund.
Tip: they say 30 day supply, but often mean 30 pills. Try to modify your prescription to hit 30 pills, or 90. For example, if the vet says 2 pills per day for 30 days (ie. 60 pills) the store will count that as 2 x 30 day supply. Ask vet for prescription for 2 HALF of DOUBLE size pills for 30 days, and invest in a pill cutter. This gets you into the store chain’s 30 days supply and saves 50%.