14 Ways to Cut the High Cost of Pet Care
It is no surprise that pet lovers and owners treat their animals like their children. If the cost to keep your fur babies fed, healthy, cared for, and looking good has gotten so high, you’re the one coughing up fur balls—take heart. There are many little ways to cut the cost of pet care that can add up to big savings.
If the cost to keep your pets fed, healthy, cared for, and looking good has gotten so high, you’re the one coughing up fur balls, take heart. There are many little ways to cut the cost of pet care that will add up to big savings.
According to one survey, owning a dog costs an average of $1,480 in basic expenses annually. For cats, average annual expenses amount to roughly $902. Fish are the cheapest pets coming in at about $750 a year to care for aquatic friends.
So how can you afford to care for your furry, feathered, and scaled friends in sickness and in health? Make preventive maintenance your top priority as a pet owner, and then carefully track every expense.
Consider these tips to help cut your pet expenses without risking your pets’ health or well-being.
How to Cut the Cost of Pet Care
Free exams
Search for free initial exams. Local veterinarians often advertise a complimentary initial examination as part of marketing to attract new customers. Take advantage of the offer. This kind of office visit typically runs between $40 and $60.
Mobile, low-cost clinics
Check around for low-cost or mobile clinics for vaccinations, microchips, heartworm, and flea preventatives. While you may want to stick with the same vet for annual exams, you can save a bundle on preventive services.
Search “low cost animal clinic near me” to learn if such a clinic is available for you and your pets.
It Is Official
Some pet owners treat their pets like kids and refer to their cats and dogs as their “fur babies.” The word was recently added to the Oxford Dictionary: “A person’s dog, cat, or another furry pet.”
Restrain
A fence or some other reasonable restraint is the best way to avoid big vet bills, says David T. Roen, D.V.M., board-certified veterinarian and owner of the Clarkston Veterinary Clinic in Clarkston, Wash. “I see more dogs in my office because of injuries sustained while unrestrained than for any other reason. Dogs should always be leashed, fenced or supervised.”
Choose the right food
Dr. Roen advises pet owners to skip all the fancy premium foods vets sell. Use name-brand pet food labeled “complete and balanced.” Or look for the seal of approval of AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials).
And when it’s on sale, stock up with enough to last until the next time it goes on sale. Stick with the same brand. Switching abruptly can cause health issues for some animals. And less is better, as slightly underweight pets have fewer health problems.
Spay and neuter
Reproductive issues aside, the Animal Health Foundation reports that spayed and neutered dogs have fewer health and behavioral problems, which translates to lower vet bills and other health-related pet costs.
Make wellness routine
Some pet supply stores offer in-store clinics and special events. Humane societies and veterinary schools host low-cost clinics where professionals administer inoculations and wellness exams. Keeping good records of your pets’ inoculations and treatments can also help save time and money down the road.
Don’t forget about dental health. Maintaining your pet’s oral hygiene is essential for their overall well-being. Exclusively for dogs, Bark Bright Dental Kit makes it easy with its toothpaste and chew combo that lets your dog “brush” their teeth while enjoying a tasty treat. This monthly kit is an affordable and effective way to make dental care a routine. For cat owners, regular brushing with feline-safe toothpaste and scheduling professional dental cleanings are key to avoiding periodontal disease and keeping your kitty purring happily.
Forget pet health insurance
Dr. Roen says that Pet insurance will probably cost more than it saves. Still, you need to anticipate future medical bills. “Instead of sending premiums to an insurance company, put the amount you’d pay in premiums into a savings account.”
Get second opinions
Even if it’s an emergency, get a second opinion if the estimate is for more than a few hundred dollars. If the estimate is for $800 and you can only afford $400, speak up, says Dr. Roen. There may be less aggressive and cheaper alternative treatments.
Shop around for medications
Don’t buy medication at the vet, as most veterinarians who sell medications and supplements directly typically charge a big markup. Ask your vet for prescription drug samples to get started. Then call around to retailers such as Wal-Mart or Costco pharmacies (many meds are the same for humans and animals) to compare prices.
To save even more, sign your cat or dog up on prescription savings programs like the ones offered by Walgreens, Kroger, Rite-Aid, and Walmart.
Exchange pet sitting
Hiring a pet sitter or boarding at a kennel can run from $40 to $80 per pet, per night. Ouch! That adds up fast. Instead, exchange pet sitting with a friend or neighbor when you travel and need sitting. Choose someone you trust who doesn’t vacation more than you do, so it’s an equal exchange.
Find the bargains
Don’t rush to the pet store when you need a crate, cat carrier, or other pet equipment. Instead, look at Craigslist.org, and Facebook Marketplace. You won’t believe all the bargains in gently-used, even brand new, pet gear. Make sure you sanitize crates, carriers, and the like, even if they look clean. A 50-50 ratio of either vinegar OR bleach (never mix the two) to water should do the trick.
Look for coupons
Just the other day, I saw a coupon in a flyer for a free nail trim at a local vet, a savings of $15. Keep your eyes open for coupons in the mail, grocery, and pet stores.
Check yard sales
You can safely never again buy new toys for your pets when you think of yard sales instead. Instead of $12 for a new monkey or hedgehog, one from a yard sale will work just as well—for a much better price of $.25 to $1, which is typical. Most stuffies come out fine after a trip through the washer and dryer. Hint: Add Lysol to the wash cycle to sanitize and disinfect.
Create an account
Seriously, you need to establish a savings account just for pet care, into which you regularly deposit money. Even $10 a week will turn into $520 in one year. Earmark that account for pet emergencies only, then congratulate yourself on being a responsible pet owner. Woof!
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Mary Hunt2022-10-04 00:07:482023-11-27 14:23:1814 Ways to Cut the High Cost of Pet Care
I must say that pet insurance has saved us thousands of dollars with unanticipated severe health emergencies with our young pet. It’s certainly a personal choice to have it and I feel fortunate we can afford it. That said I think people need to be responsible first and foremost to consider the high costs of owning an animal these days “before” you bring one into your Home.
Just a FYI – we don’t get drug samples like human medicine. While I have seen one over the years for an anti-inflammatory, that was a rarity. I agree to check with Sams and Costco for lower prices and you don’t have to be members to use the pharmacy where I live (don’t know if it’s that way nationwide). DVM for 30 years.
I couldn’t agree more with your post about the benefits of owning a pet. My pet brings so much joy and love into my life, and it’s great to see others recognizing the positive impact that pets can have on our mental and physical health.
I love the tip about “forget pet insurance.” As a long time pet owner of multiple pets over the years, I once sat down and seriously thought about purchasing pet insurance. I solicited quotes from multiple pet insurance companies but when I ran the numbers I thought it was crazy. For a minimum of $25.00 per month per pet (6 pets at the time) I would still have to pay a deductible and co-pay. And if I didn’t use the insurance, I still had to pay and have nothing to show for it. I decided to set up a savings account for pet emergencies instead. I set it up where a set amount is automatically taken from my paycheck each check and deposited for our pets. We’ll all set up for emergencies and routine trips to the vet no matter what. I highly advise this way over purchasing pet insurance. Start small. I began with just $5.00 a month to now $150.00 a month and the result is few thousands for pet emergencies. Either way, whatever you don’t spend will sit and earn interest rather than go to a company who gives you nothing in return when you don’t use the insurance. Even a small amount of money in an emergency is something.
I discovered that Sam’s Club had my dog’s prescription medication for much cheaper than a mail-order business. Handier too!
Costco does, too!! And I came upon learning that completely by accident. I’m thankful and grateful that my parents have an account, as does my sister.
Check out Chewy online for pet RX’s. We save alot of $$ by asking our vet to send them a RX. Much cheaper and is delivered.
Wow. Happiness study.
Many thanks from the South.
while i agree that shopping around for the best price in medications [or anything, for that matter] is a good idea, we should keep in mind that traveling 20 miles to save a dollar defeats the purpose. gas and shipping and handling charges can tack on extra costs.
The picture of the two cats look pretty much just like my sister and brother cat except at a little younger age. Because so many people got pets during COVID, making appointments is that much more difficult, and the price of services like everything else skyrocketed. My vet actually charges $25 just to clip their nails. Guess what the first thing I learned how to do was?
We got a cat that came with our house. The first time we took our cat to the kennel, we carried her in a plastic storage box with holes drilled in the top. The kennel gave us a real cat carrier and told us they had lots of them that were left behind or that people donated. It was in great shape and the kennel was glad to get rid of it.