Most pet owners are on the hunt for a good deal for their pet expenses – and they should be! There are great ways to save money by providing hand-made toys and home-cooked treats. There are some other areas that will save a lot of stress and money in the long run by not skimping on doing them well.
1. Early Training & Socialization
The best time to begin training and socialization is when your pet is still young. By giving your pet the proper attention and behavior modification they need now, you set them up for a lifetime of health, better behavior, saved furniture, and less stress for you! Around 3 to 12 weeks old is ideal for puppies, and 2 to 7 weeks is a great time for kittens to really spend time exposing your pet to new and different environments, people, animals, and other stimuli. Socialization does not necessarily need to cost you much money, but it does take a time investment that is really worth it in the long run.
For puppies, having behavior training classes can be a really worth-while investment in your pet’s safety and happiness – and by extension, your own happiness! K9 Basics Dog Training (click here) is known for their superb work with dog training.
2. Wellness Care & Preventive Medicine
The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is a spoonful of wisdom that has survived through generations for a reason. The value in preventing health problems saves not only a tremendous amount of money long-term, but keeps pets from suffering and living in pain. Preventive care works best when it is begun early and continued across the lifespan.
Examples of preventive care include puppy wellness visits, kitten wellness visits, teeth brushing, heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite prevention, spaying & neutering, diet and hygiene, to name a few.
3. Microchip Pet Identification
Getting a microchip in your pet allows a form of identification in case your pet is ever lost or taken. Of course, putting a collar and tag on your pet is the number one form of identification, but a microchip is really a great backup! After your pet is lost and has gotten out of their collar is too late to decide that microchipping is a good idea.
4. Therapeutic Diets
There is more than one way to provide a balanced diet for your pet, so talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s nutritional needs. Diet is one of the most important aspects of a pet’s health. And if your pet has a special dietary need, it is a good idea to invest the time and/or money to provide the kind of diet your pet needs.
5. Specialty Care
Sometimes, a pet’s health requires the care of a veterinarian with a very special focus of care, such as Dr. Amy Hinze’s acupuncture treatments. To become a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Dr. Hinze had to go through special training at the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine. The therapy she provides is special. It’s not something that any veterinarian could do. If you are concerned about the costs of specialty care, talk about your options with your veterinarian.
6. Pain Management
There are often times that a pet’s pain is ignored, either by their owners or those providing care for the pet. If a certain procedure, such as a spay or neuter, is significantly cheaper from one source than another, look into what is included. Some providers do not provide pain management, or charge for it separately so that they are able to provide a lower-cost estimate.
7. Dentistry
Investing the time it takes to brush your pet’s teeth can make a big difference in their health. Bad breath is not normal! It’s a sign of a dental infection. And that infection can spread into the bloodstream and affect major organs, such as the kidneys. We provide professional dental cleaning for dogs and cats at Winslow Animal Hospital. Brushing at least 2-3 times a week can help prevent the buildup of damaging plaque and tartar that allow bacteria to grow and infect the gums.
8. Pet Insurance
Investing a little every month in pet insurance can provide tremendous peace of mind. We all hope nothing terrible will befall our pet, and it may not. But in the event your pet has an accident or illness requiring expensive surgery or other treatments, pet insurance can make all the difference. The best time to look into getting insurance is before you need it!
