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Step 1
Pet Insurance can save you money but take a close look at what it offers. Does it cover routine visits and vaccinations? Are your premiums $25 to $30 a month? Maybe it would be better for you to put that in to a savings account instead. Other pet insurance policies help cover catastrophic events which usually have high deductibles and lower monthly premiums of about $10 to $15 and make more sense for some. If you don't have the discipline to put away a small amount each month for future pet care then an insurance policy may be right for you.
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Step 2
Don't buy the cheapest food and don't overfeed. Higher-quality food helps keep your pet healthier and their weight down. Both things that will keep you out of the veterinarians office.
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Step 3
Spaying or and neutering your pet can save you money as they have fewer health problems and then are less likely to roam and get hit by a car.
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Step 4
Take care of your pet's needs yourself. Brush your pet's teeth regularly to reduce the number of dental cleaning visits and trim your pet's claws and clean their ears. If you don't know how to do it then next time you are at the vet have them show you how. Brushing your dog or cats coat saves you money on grooming costs and also cats have fewer hairballs.
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Step 5
Be in the know. The American Animal Hospital Association changed its guidelines and recommends that "a number of the core vaccinations (be done) every three years," instead of annually. When your vet calls to tell you it's time for their yearly vaccination, ask if they are really necessary.
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Step 6
Most people don't know that you can call your local pharmacy or look online for lower prices for prescriptions for your pets. Walgreen fills prescriptions for millions of animals each year.
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Step 7
If you have noticed that your veterinarian bills have gone up dramatically, try shopping around and asking friends for referrals. Don't sacrifice quality, and compare the same service by finding out what that routine visit covers. If you find that your veterinarian's prices are much higher than other offices you may decide to change or ask the vet directly how come the prices have gone up so much.
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Step 8
We love our animal friends like kids and tend to spoil them with toys. Next time you feel the impulse of buying yet another pet toy, think when is the last time they played with the last toy you bought them. Like kids, don't buy them things, just play with them more.
