We are going to discuss an area of spending that can be quite costly, the vet’s office. We are not suggesting that you stop going to the veterinarian. Veterinarian visits are certainly quite important and necessary. Some things like vaccinations are unavoidable, but there are other ways you can save money at your vet. There are things you can do to avoid unnecessary trips to the vet and minimize your spending when you are there.
The best way you can avoid spending money at the vet is to not have to go there in the first place. People often bring their pets in for problems that could easily be avoided. One common area that often leads to problems are grooming related. Vets see a lot of problems with things like dental disease, fleas, ear infections, and even toe nails that get broken off very short because they were grown out too long. For both dogs and cats, you need to routinely groom your pet and do things like brush out the fur, clean the ears weekly with a good ear cleaner, trim the nails approximately every 6 weeks, brush their teeth (ideally daily), and use a good heartworm and flea preventative (and perhaps a tick preventative depending on where you live) monthly during months that are consistently above freezing.
The second area that you also have control over that will affect how often you need to go to the vet is related to your pet’s weight. There are, unfortunately, so many overweight or obese pets in this country. It sadly leads to so many health problems. Pets can get a number of diseases ranging from heart disease to diabetes to even joint problems like arthritis because of their weight. These conditions are quite costly between various treatments and medications and they are avoidable. It is certainly fun to give our pets treats, but we have to be careful on the amount and the type. Instead of fatty treats, give things like raw veggies or fruits (excluding grapes). You can also decrease their regular food by 10-20% and re-weigh them after a month or so to monitor their progress. Spend the time and take your dog out for a daily walk. It will help trim their waistline and give you quality time together.
Thirdly, if you do need to bring your pet to the vet, the most important thing you need to do is communicate clearly with your veterinarian. You should ask them for a quote before any involved procedure or testing is done so you are not surprised later. If your pet needs medication then you should tell your vet that you are concerned about the cost. It is your right to ask if there is a generic option available or another less expensive alternative. You also have the right to ask your vet to write you a prescription so you can purchase the medication elsewhere. Your vet is there to help your pet and provide you with good information so you can make the best decision. If you have a question, call them. Make sure you ask. If your pet is sick, but you are not certain how serious the problem is then give them a call and get their advice. They can tell you if you need to come in right away, or maybe you can give it a day or two to see if it improves on its own.
We hope these tips will save you money and also help improve the health of your pet.
