The Price of Pets - Page 2

HEALTHCARE

• Practice prevention to save money on vet bills. Make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise and good nutrition. Bringing in your pet for regular check-ups will catch problems early and prevent costly visits, or even hospitalization in the future. Keep all records of pet immunizations so if you change vets, you won't have to repeat them.
• A local humane society may offer basic health services and proceeds from the visit will help protect endangered animals.
• Laura Shanahan, author of 21 Ways to Cut Vet Costs, recommends spaying or neutering your pet to prevent behavioral problems lower the rate of breast cancer in dogs and cats by up to 99 percent. Un-neutered male dogs, for example, have a greater risk of prostate infections, leading to costly treatments.
• Always seek a second opinion when the vet recommends a costly procedure. This may not be the only option available to keep your pet healthy.
• For prescriptions, try buying online at stores like 1-800 PetMeds.com. DrugStore.com also now fills pet prescriptions, often at deep discounts. If you see a better price online and want to save time and money on shipping costs, ask your vet to match it.

TOYS, NOVELTY ITEMS AND GROOMING

• Hit the dollar store to save big bucks. The same chew toy found in the dollar store is $5.99 on sale at a big pet store chain.
• For grooming, do as much of it yourself to save money. See petside's articles on cat grooming and dog grooming to learn basic grooming.  Also, check out Dr. Lauren's How-Tos for tips on cutting your pets nails, brushing their teeth and more!
• Try shopping online to find deals. Drugstore.com regularly has pet grooming supplies on sale. Pet shampoos and other grooming supplies can be found online at sites like terrificpets.com