Archive for the ‘Pet’ Category

Pet Care | Ways to Save

By: Green Panda | Date posted: March 20, 2009 (10:10 pm)

Our Cat’s Situation

Our cat has been sick for over the past month. He has started to have accidents on the carpet which is bad enough, but we also noticed his urine was a reddish orange. Worried, we called our regular vet office and scheduled an appointment.

He was diagnosed and got medication, but after some weeks we haven’t seen any improvement. we took him to the vet for a follow up

My friend had her pet go through something similar and recommended her vet. I was scheduled an appointment Wednesday and had the records from the old vet sent over so I could get an informed second opinion. We are on a new diet regime and he got some medication. We’ll wait and see if it improves. I’m grateful that we some money saved to pay for his bills. I’m considering getting some pet insurance for him, but I have to run the numbers first.

If anyone thinks having a pet is cheap, they’re wrong. Having a pet means being responsible for a life, with all the expenses of food, medicine, and everything else.

Try to get my cat feeling better

Try to get my cat feeling better

What’s Having a Pet Going to Cost?

Pets are not as cheap as people think. SPCA has some yearly estimates on the costs of pets. Are these estimates close to what you thought pets cost?

DOGS:

Food 12 bags dog food (18kg) @ $45 $540.00
Biscuit treats 2 boxes per month @ $3.99 96.00
Veterinary Care Yearly Visit – exam and vaccinations 120.00
Nail clipping 6 trips to the vet  @ $15.00 90.00
License fee 30.00
Grooming Spring bath and brush out 40.00
Vacation 2 weeks dog care  @ $20/day 280.00
Total
*please note that is not the Adoption cost at an SPCA shelter, this is an approximate yearly cost of keeping the animal		 $1196.00

CATS:

Food and Treats 4 cans of cat food per month @ $2.00 $96.00
Dry cat food 1 bag (3.6kg) per month @ $20.00 240.00
Cat treats 12 bags @ $2.00 24.00
Veterinary Care Yearly visit – exam and vaccinations 80.00
Kitty litter 1 bag of cat litter per month @ $12.00 144.00
Nail clipping 6  @ $15.00 90.00
Anti-furball medication 2 tubes @ $7.50 15.00
Cat care Vacation 2 weeks @ $15.00 per day 210.00
Total
*please note that is not the Adoption cost at an SPCA shelter, this is an approximate yearly cost of keeping the animal		 $899.00

While these are estimates, it would be reasonable to try and see if you could afford the financial responsibilities of being a pet owner. For some people in this economy, now is not a good time to decide to own a pet. Look at these numbers as a guideline and see if you can afford it.

Personally we have spent more money than we saved from paying off the car loan and switching our car insurance. The truth is we love our pets and make sacrifices to take care of them. It can be excruciating to decide the tough choices.  Life happens and we do we have to protect our pets.

Tips on Saving on Vet Care

  • Schedule regular check-ups: You may think you’re saving money by only taking your pet to the vet for emergencies, but you can easily end up paying more when they get seriously ill.  Take your pet to their yearly check up exam.
  • Ask your vet about treatments: Check with your vet if treatments are necessary or are some optional. Shop around to see if you can find good deals on pet meds.
  • Try some DIY grooming: Bathe your pets at home. Grab a Pedi-Paw or something like it and trim your pet’s nails.
  • Consider Pet Health Insurance: Check around and see if  pet health insurance is a smart financial move for you. Some policies can save you some money, but double check the fine print. Puppy and kitten insurance can save you some money during that expensive first year.
  • Keep careful records of your pet’s inoculations and other health-care services. If you move and or switch vets, make sure you can send the information to avoid duplication and misdiagnosis.

Please plan ahead and save money up for your pet. Be sure you can afford them before you get one. What tips would you give to potential, new, and current pet owners?

Photo Credit: Green Panda

This articles was included in the Festival of Frugality #170 – Frugal Living is Timeless.

Frugal Pet Care

By: Green Panda | Date posted: April 23, 2008 (10:52 pm)

 

 

I’ve had my (baby) cat for about five years. I got him while I was still in school, which meant I did not have a lot of money to play with. He’s been healthy and for the most part happy (he’s a bit mean at times). I’ve set aside money in my budget for him and it has worked so far. Now that I’m married and my husband has adopted my cat, there are two people looking out for him.

 

Having a pet is not cheap, so if you’re struggling to make ends meet and want a pet, please wait. Even though there are ways to cut some expenses down, it cost money to take care of an animal.

Find a good and affordable veterinarian

If you’re low income, consider speaking to your local animal shelter. Some of them have clinics with reduced fees for vet visits and commonly used medications for lower income families. Also ask around for more information on vets in your area. A good vet can save you money if they can diagnose the problem early.

Also don’t be afraid to ask the vet if you can workout a payment plan. Some are willing to work with you if you’re upfront.

Consider a healthcare plan for your pet.

PetSmart also has the Banefield clinics which are supposed to be affordable to most people. They also have a monthly health plan that covers many common appointments. I haven’t used it, but my sister swears by it.

Keep your pet up to date on vaccinations.

Some cities sponsor events that offer vaccinations at lower than normal costs. Take advantage of such programs.

Vaccination Recommendations for Cats

  • FVRCP(Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Chlamydia)
  • Rabies
  • Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
  • FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis)

Vaccination Recommendations for Dogs

  • DHLPPC (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Corona combination)
  • Bordetella (Internasal)
  • Rabies
  • Giardia
  • Lyme

Play with your pet

By exercising with your pet you’ll:

  • Keep your friend healthy
  • Bond with him/her
  • Get some exercise for yourself in

There are a lot of cheap toys you can buy to keep your pet entertained. My cat is addicted to his 99cent mice. Remember, though, your pet’s best companion is you. Don’t just buy toys, interact with your furry friend.

If you have a dog, taking him or her out for a walk is good both physically and mentally for them.

Groom your pet yourself.

Keep their nails, teeth, ears, and hair clean. My cat isn’t exactly a fan of when I use the fine tooth comb for his hair, but he loves when I use the wider toothed comb because it’s like a massage. You also save some money.

 

Being frugal doesn’t mean being skipping on vet visits and buying low quality food (which in turn can aid a pet in gaining weight and developing other problems). It means saving money in case a serious problem comes up and you don’t worry about paying the light bill or your dog’s surgery.

 

Please be responsible and only get a pet if you can afford the basic care.

Where to find more information on reducing your pet care expenses

In case you want to compare and find some more information, here are some other posts on the topic:

Do you have pets? How many? How do you take care of them?

I’m curious to see how many people are pet-owners.

Photo Credit: fweez

 

 

 

 

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