Financing your furry friend

This is a guest post from my friend, Suzanne Cramer, a social media specialist and blogger for Care One Credit. Make sure to check out her blog, A Straight Talk On Debt, which features not only posts from Suzanne but posts from some of my other blogging friends. 

I know Jana wants another furry friend and she knows that the “all around” expenses associated with a third dog will be tough. Sometimes you just can’t say no (and Jana, this may happen to you in your quest for a third dog). Rest assured I know from first hand experience that pets can be like our children and no expense is too much to make sure they are healthy and safe.

Owning and caring for a pet doesn’t have to be a budget-buster whether you have one, two or three, but preparing for your pet’s expenses by budgeting for them is a must!

Here are a few tips to keep expenses for your furry friends under control.

Feed one, feed them all

There are lots of ways you can keep your furry friends well nourished and happy.

• Buy in bulk.  Try to buy in bulk, checking unit prices to ensure you’re saving money, and preserve your pet food in airtight containers. Always comparison-shop, checking websites, supermarkets, big box stores, and pet shops, as well as utilizing manufacturers’ coupons and loyalty programs. This is especially important if you have several pets.
• Make your own.  You can find many healthy recipes online. Your veterinarian can also recommend essential ingredients to ensure you safely meet all of your pet’s nutritional needs.
• Try generic or less-expensive.  Less expensive doesn’t have to mean less nutritious. Check pet-food labels carefully, and look for the words “complete and balanced,” which indicate the contents can satisfy your pet’s sole nourishment. Also, look for a statement that the food’s nutritional value meets standards set by the American Association of Feed Control Officials. Armed with this information, you can be confident about swapping expensive brand name labels for less expensive generic versions.

Health care is important for Fido too

Just as humans do, pets benefit from preventive and proactive health care.

• Get all their shots.  Remain current on recommended vaccinations, which can keep your pet from contracting common diseases.
• Use your resources. You can often find low-cost options for common procedures and vaccines though local humane societies and shelters, such as American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). You can also visit www.Pets911.com and enter your zip code to find a list of animal shelters, animal control agencies, and other animal organizations in your community.
• Healthy diet and exercise. Our pets can suffer the same complications from obesity as humans, such as arthritis, high blood pressure, and diabetes, so don’t overfeed them. Increase their activity by taking them on walks and trips to the park.

Keep vet bills under control

No matter what you do, there might be times when your pet needs veterinary care.

• Check for discounts.  Many veterinarians offer discounts, including senior discounts and multi-pet discounts. Also, ask about military and law enforcement discounts.
• A new puppy or kitten. Your veterinarian may offer discount packages that cover all vaccinations, spaying or neutering, microchip identification, and other procedures. Likewise, shelters often include these services in their adoption fee.
• Go generic.  Ask if your veterinarian can prescribe generic equivalents of name brand medications. Moreover, ask if there is a human equivalent, such as baby aspirin. Not all pet prescriptions are more expensive, but it’s worth checking out.
• Get pet insurance.  The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends coverage for catastrophic expenses. Policies typically run between $10 and $20 a month. Petinsurance.com is a popular online resource for obtaining pet insurance information. If you’re without pet insurance, ask your veterinarian to submit an assistance request to the AAHA’s “Helping Pets Fund”.

Your pets deserve care and attention, but not at the expense of destroying your finances. If your pets are causing you to seek debt help its time to start implementing some of these money-saving tips.

What is your best tip for keeping your pet’s expenses down?