Sep 9, 2009 6:30 am US/Eastern
3 On Your Side: Cutting Pet Costs
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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How's this for treating your pet like the queen she is? A recent poll of female shoppers found that 68% were willing to switch brands of their over the counter medications to save money, but only 29% would change their dog food.
Bob Lopez/CBS
How's this for treating your pet like the queen she is? A recent poll of female shoppers found that 68 percent were willing to switch brands of their over the counter medications to save money, but only 29 percent would change their dog food.
Just because you want to give your pets the best doesn't mean you have to spend a lot. 3 On Your Side's Jim Donovan shows us how to spend a little less and love them just as much.
If you're like most pet owners, you treat your furry friend as well, if not better than you do yourself. Dog owner Nicole Cramer says that her dog basically gets to choose her own toys.
"So we go and I give her an array and whatever she kind of takes to, she gets. That's how she chose her bed, that's how she chooses her clothing," Cramer siad.
The American Pet Products Association (APPA) forecasts that total pet spending in 2009 will reach $45.4 billion, up from $43.2 billion in 2008. But loving your pet doesn't mean you have to go into debt. You can save money by cutting down on his food intake.
"If you can't easily see or feel your pets ribs, it's probably time to cut down on the pet food," Good Housekeeping Executive Editor Janet Siroto said.
If your pet is overweight, try feeding the lowest recommended amount on your pet food package - and you could save about $180 dollars a year. Keep those treats nice and small. Pets don't measure the size of the treat, but they know they're getting one.
If you don't already buy your pet food at a warehouse club, start now. At Costco, Good Housekeeping found a case of 24 22-ounce cans of Pedigree Chunky Beef dog food for $24.99, versus $33.36 at a local supermarket.
Supplement your pet's diet with your leftovers. But don't treat your pet like a garbage disposal with a tail; rather, feed her as if she were your 90-year-old grandmother: no spices, no dairy, be careful with fat; most lean meat, fish, and vegetables are food. But some human foods are toxic to pets, so check with your vet first.
Take advantage of your local shelter for checkups, spaying and neutering services. On average, they charge one-third to a half of what a private vet does.
"One of the ways we recommend people save money long term is to not skip on annual exams, which a lot of people tend to do especially during tough economic times," said Bideawee Practice Manager Michael Sanchez.
Finally, consider buying your animal's prescriptions online. It can save you a bundle. If your pet needs medication urgently, get a week's worth from your vet and ask to take the prescription with you so you can order the rest online. Or see if your vet will match the online price rather than lose the business.
Which vaccines are necessary for your pet depends on local ordinances as well as the animal's lifestyle, age, and exposure to risk. For example, if your pooch has no contact with other dogs, you may want to skip the "kennel cough" vaccine, taking about $20 off your vet bill. Similarly, indoor-only cats may not need the feline leukemia vaccine, saving you about $25.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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