By now we are all acutely aware of the significant downturn in the economy and the impact it has had on our jobs and lives.  While some “belt-tightening” is probably good for us all, our pets are probably not the members of our household that should suffer.  Therefore, let me offer some suggestions that are valid not only in these times, but also applicable when times get better.

Have your pet examined annually, unless your vet recommends a greater frequency.  The thorough annual examination is a great form of preventative medicine.  In the long run it will save you money.  Most pet owners think of the annual trip to the vet as being all about the vaccines.  It is not!  Your pet should be vaccinated, however, the vaccine protocol can be tailored to the pet based upon its age and where it lives and plays.  This can often save some money as well.

Between visits to the vet do your own weekly exams at home.  Check their skin for lumps, bumps, flakes and scabs.  Exam the ears for redness and clean the inside of the ear and inside of the flap with a cotton ball dampened, not soaked, in rubbing alcohol.  Smell the breath.  A stinky mouth means you are not following the dental hygiene recommendations.

Keep your pet’s teeth clean.  This will help to maintain its overall health.  Dental disease will lead to loose teeth and infected gums, as well as possible abscessed teeth and heart and kidney problems.  You can brush its teeth daily (with pet toothpaste, not human toothpaste), add CET Aquadent to its water and feed Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d as preventatives.  These home treatments will also extend the time between veterinary dental cleanings.

Groom your pets at home.  You can perform regular brushings, baths and nail trims.  Your house will have less pet hair as well.  If you really want to save money, invest in a good electric trimmer and attempt a simple groom or shave down.  These suggestions will at least extend the time between trips to the groomer.

Be sure your pet is spayed or neutered.  You will save lots of money in the future if you do this when the pet is very young.  Unaltered females are likely to develop an infected uterus, (which they will die from if not surgically removed immediately), and/or mammary tumors, which are often cancerous.  Intact males are prone to prostate problems and rectal tumors that can also be cancerous.

Just as second-hand smoke is not good for humans, it is also harmful to pets.  Give up smoking altogether or at least do not smoke around your pets.  This will save you money on cigarettes and probably vet bills in the future.

Investigate pet insurance.  Price various policies and coverages for you pets.  The insurance may soften the expense of pet emergency expenditures.  In the alternative, open a savings account for your pet.  You can fund it with the money you would have spent on monthly pet insurance premiums and/or a similar fixed amount of money.  You will be glad you did as your pet ages.  Some clients actually have a separate credit card just for non-routine pet expenditures.  If you combine that with the pet’s savings account and/or pet insurance you should be somewhat prepared for veterinary emergencies.

Buy a very good quality pet food and feed it in moderation.  I would not recommend either the grocery store brands or the raw diets.  Grocery store brands are more likely to be too high in sodium and protein.  They also may not be age specific.  You want a food that is formulated specifically for the age of your pet.  Stay away from a diet that says it is appropriate for all ages – it is not.  Likewise, dogs may have eaten their food raw in the wild, but they did not live very long, for a variety of reasons.  We recommend and sell the Science Diet/Hill’s Prescription Diet brand of pet food.  They have many types of food for the needs of all ages and lifestyles of pets.  Their products are formulated based upon decades of scientific research.  Do not overfeed.  A trim pet will be a healthier pet.

Finally, skip the designer clothes, collars and toys.  A few basic toys and a good sturdy leash and collar (with an identification tag and rabies tag) are all that are needed.  You can rotate toys periodically so they think they are getting new ones.  Humans care about new stuff, but pets only care about human contact and love.