Save Money: Pet Care for Pennies a Day

Having a pet can be expensive.  According to the American Pet Products Association, US pet owners will spend an estimated $52.87 billion caring for their pets in 2012.  So, how can you save money taking care of your pet? Utilize items that you already have in your kitchen or utility cabinets.

1. Protect Your Pet from Fleas with Lemon Juice and Rosemary

Fall is flea season—and to prevent your furry friend from getting these pesky parasites, add a 1/4 of a lemon and 1/3 cup of rosemary to two cups of boiling water and continue to boil for five minutes. Cover pot and let sit until room temperature. Drain contents and pour into spray bottle.

Once the concoction is prepared, spray on your pet’s coat, avoiding the face. Pay special attention to behind the ears, under the arms, the legs and by the tail--the places fleas like to hide.  You can even add this mixture to your pet’s shampoo as a flea deterrent.   

2. Alleviate Dry Skin with Olive Oil

As the weather gets colder, Fluffy’s dry skin is causing her itchy upset.  Rub a 1/2 tsp. of olive oil into your cat's skin and coat once a week to help moisturize and heal any irritation and dryness. Brush thoroughly to distribute evenly throughout her coat. Olive oil contains fatty acids, antioxidants and other compounds proven to moisturize and restore the skin. When grooming, cats can safely ingest this vegetable oil which acts as a lubricant, preventing hairball accumulation in your cat's digestive system. Also, add 1/8 tsp. to your cat's food two times a week to help relieve his dry skin.

3. Clean with Vinegar

After cleaning the litter box, rinse it out and pour about ½ inch of white vinegar in the box. Let it stand for about 20 minutes and then swish it around. Rinse with cold water and dry the box. Once dry, you will no longer smell the vinegar.

4. Save Money by Crafting a Tasty Treat from Tuna Can Water

Other than throwing away the water from a can of tuna fish, how can you upcycle this 1/4 cup of liquid?  For dogs, mix 1/4 cup of water to the tuna water, pour into ice trays and freeze. Once frozen, give your dog this crunchy treat. For cats, it is important for them to drink water to prevent urinary tract infections and kidney disease.  Add one tbs. of tuna water to flavor their water bowl to encourage them to drink more. (Best to use low sodium tuna.)

5. Pumpkin: A Tasty Prescription for Tummy Troubles

Your pet got her paws on some of last night’s evening meal, and now she has the runs. The quick fix: canned pumpkin. Pumpkin’s fiber will absorb the excess water in her stool, nixing diarrhea within a few hours. The dose some vets recommend: 1 to 2 tsp. for a cat or dog weighing less than 15 lbs; 1 to 2 tbsp. for a dog 15 to 35 lbs; and 2 to 5 tbsp. for a dog over 35 lbs.