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Save Money on Pet Supplies Although we have cared for many pets during our lifetime (cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, fish and birds), we currently have a very sweet golden retriever named Abby and we simply adore her! She was 2 years old when we adopted her and she's great with children (which is good because all the neighborhood children seem to find their way to and through our house on a weekly basis). And she was already house trained - a big plus for adopting an older pet instead of a puppy!!! Tip # 1 - So far, Wal-mart is still our best bet for the best price on dog food, though we have been able to buy the IAMS brand we prefer one time at the grocery store - when it was on sale! We've also just discovered we can get IAMS dog food cheaper at Sams Club, but we'll have to buy a 44 pound bag instead of the 20lb bag that Wal-mart carries. Please Note... We do not recommend feeding your pets cheap food that is not good for them; please look for high quality foods which will enhance your pet's life, but shop for the best price! Tip # 2 - Did you know you can get an instant pet ID tag made at the pet store for just $5.00, very cool! When we first brought Sadie home she got lose several times, it was quite a relief knowing she (at least) had an ID tag with our phone number! Tip # 3 - When it's time for annual vaccinations, use local day clinics when available - you'll save a bundle! Our area was sponsoring 5 separate day clinics during the summer for rabies vaccinations, but our pet's wasn't due until late Fall so we had to pass on this money-saving opportunity. Please Note... Although you can save money on vaccinations through these day clinics if they are available in your area, we still recommend that you continue your pet's annual vet checkups to keep them in the best of health! Tip # 4 - Speaking of vet bills (just as with anything else), shop around town and see who has the best price. You would think all vets might charge the same amount for annual check ups and vaccinations but they do not! Tip # 5 - My sister-in-law has a lot of pets and saves money by ordering vaccinations and other medical treatments from the vet, and then administers them herself. Whether you have just one pet or a houseful it's certainly a good idea to get more information about this from your veterinarian. And you could save a fortune if you have a houseful of pets like she does! Tip # 6 - You can find a large variety of flea and tick prevention products just about everywhere, including your vet and local grocery stores, but Advantix is definitely one of the best on the market and it's what we use. Since this product is not available at our local discount stores I save a few dollars each year by purchasing it online at 1-800-PetMeds, actually I save quite a bit from what our local vet charges. Tip # 7 - Heartworm prevention is a very important part of your pet's well-being so please discuss this with your vet during your next visit. When we were in the process of adopting Abby we were very sad to learn that so many animals were infected (and being treated at a huge expense, with no guarantee of success) for heartworms. Once your vet does a simple blood test to make sure it is not heartworm positive he or she can then prescribe chewable heartworm prevention pills that are given to the pet once a month. And just as with the flea and tick products, you can also save money on heartworm prevention pills at 1-800-PetMeds. Tip # 8 - Over the years I have also learned that some vets offer price matching for the products we like to purchase online to save money. Remember my favorite motto... "It never hurts to ask!"
Readers' Tips " I contact different dog & cat food companies via e-mail, snail mail, or 800 number. I let them know in specifics what I liked or disliked about their product(s). If I have not tried their product I let them know I would be interested in a free sample. This usually nets some great samples, promotional items, & coupons. This works for other things beside pet food. But pet food companies really appreciate any feedback since they do not get much." - Dawn in WI " Try shopping online with a friend, then you can split the shipping. I was buying a few things at Petco for my three dogs and found the very same things for half if not more of what I had already paid for them." - Shawna in Illinois " Consider feeding your dog the B.A.R.F. Diet (Bones And Raw Food). This is better for the dogs health (bones, teeth and digestive system). Information about this diet is available at the Dachshund Rescue of America-web-site. I buy my dog food at Aldi's, which is still the cheapest place also for basic food items for humans. I get frozen raw chicken legs ($0.59/lbs.), frozen turkey meat ($0.79/lbs.), and hamburger meat as well as seasonally available raw vegetables for at least 60 to 70 % of the price I would pay in a traditional grocery store. By feeding your dog this diet your will save money on yearly dentals, which can run up to $100.00 per visit." - Anette in Columbus, Ohio. "Don't buy pet tags from those little machines at the pet store! boomerangtags.com sells them for just a little more (around 7), and they last FOREVER. What's more, you get free shipping :) " - Margaret Stickland I received this message from a very caring reader, who saw my previous tip about buying our dog food at Wal-Mart (she did not know we were already buying a very healthy, top quality dog food because I had failed to mention the brand name; IAMS--and I have since edited the tip to include this information). I sent her a note and am also including her tip here because it is something everyone should keep in mind when trying to save money on pet supplies... "You will find that buying cheap Wal-Mart Dog food just doesn't pay off, because you will have more vet bills and health problems. It is much better to buy a GOOD quality dog food from a Feed and Hay Store. It very hard on the dog's system to keep switching those cheap foods. Usually most of the diseased parts from the slaughter house are used and then sprayed with a coating that the dogs like with very little nutritional variety. Right when the dog is in it's prime, it may develop a little case of cancer or liver problems, etc. IF you really love your pet you will not be cheap here." - Ann Patterson
"The yearly check up at the vets is a time for you to
ask any questions of your vet, address any concerns you have with your pet and
have a full check up of your pet, which may uncover problems that you are not
even aware of. From experience I know that leaving problems and not getting
regular check ups can end up far more costly and even put your pet at risk of
serious illness and early death. With regards to price-shopping, I have worked
at many different clinics with many different pricing schemes and generally
find that you do get a better service at the more "pricey" clinics.
It is not just enough to ask the cost of the spaying/neutering, you must also
consider whether the pet gets a full check up before surgery, does it get
fluids during the surgery, does it get pain relief and follow up examinations
as a standard, and are the most sophisticated anesthetic drugs and monitoring
protocols used? A vaccination or
spay/neuter appointment encompasses a lot more than you would think!!" -
Beth of Australia
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