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Ten tips

Learn to keep pet expenses low

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 1, 2006

Having a pet is a big responsibility, one that can lead to serious expenses, especially if your pet gets hurt or sick. Even if that doesn't happen, it's easy to spend between $500 and $1,000 a year or more on pet food, grooming, toys and routine medical care. The following tips can help you avoid spending too much without compromising the quality of your pet's care::

1. OPT FOR A POUND PET. One way to save from the outset is to adopt a pound hound or cat. Pets from animal shelters cost less money than purebred animals, and they usually have been spayed or neutered and have received their shots.

2. FIX YOUR PET FOR LESS. Regardless of where you get your pet, if you plan to have it spayed or neutered, look into cost-effective programs run by your local Humane Society or branch of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

3. CHOOSE A VET BEFORE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY HITS. Ask other pet owners for recommendations, then call three or four vets and do some comparison shopping. Inquire about the price of annual exams, rabies shots and other vaccinations.

4. ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS. Many veterinarians reduce the price of annual checkups if you have three or more pets, and some offer discounts of 10 percent for senior citizens. Humane Society and SPCA offices sometimes provide free or reduced-price services to low-income pet owners and seniors.

5. DON'T PAY TOO MUCH FOR DRUGS. You can ask your vet to write you a prescription so you can shop around at regular pharmacies, online pharmacies and wholesale pet suppliers, which typically offer the best prices. Buy generic drugs whenever you can, and buy pet medications in bulk if they'll be needed long term.

6. BE SMART ABOUT SHOTS. Contact your county's animal control office and ask about free or low-cost rabies shots and other vaccines. Also, ask your vet about getting booster shots for your pet every three years rather than once a year.

7. KNOW WHEN TO GET A SECOND OPINION. If your vet recommends an extremely costly procedure, don't simply say yes. See another vet about the matter. Keep your pet's health records in one convenient place in case you need to find information or change veterinarians quickly.

8. DON'T GET GOUGED. If you must visit an expensive emergency veterinary hospital in the middle of the night, arrange for followup visits to be handled by your regular vet during normal business hours.

9. WORK OUT PET-SITTING DEALS. Avoid the expense of boarding your pet or hiring a pet sitter by trading pet care with a friend or neighbor when you go out of town. If you must board your animal for more than two weeks, ask about long-term boarding discounts.

10. AVOID PREVENTABLE PROBLEMS. Make sure your pet gets enough exercise and the right kind of food. Ask your vet for dietary recommendations, and don't get carried away with too many treats or human-food handouts. Table scrap calories should represent a maximum of 7 to 10 percent of a dog's diet.

Sources: Money magazine (http://money.cnn.com) Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org); The Humane Society for Seattle/King County.

[Last modified January 20, 2006, 16:59:02]