Cutting the Cost of Pet Care

I love my Dog and I'm sure you love your pets, but are we going to the poor house Trying to keep them in the latest fashions? Are we always buying them the newest toy only to find out they prefer their old chewed up tennis ball?

In the U.S., people spend a fortune on their pets. Every thing from designer dog houses to jeweled collars are hot items in the pet accessories retail market. The question is Why? Do the animals really need these things? do they even want them? I would venture a no. It is the pet owner that is indulging them self because they may actually view the pet as an accessory for them. Expensive toy's and Gucci collars are not at all important to your pet.

Animals need to receive proper care not faux mink jackets. "A tremendous amount of the growth in pet industry sales have probably been due to things people don't really need for their pets," says Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, Ph. D., Executive Vice President, ASPCA National Program Office.

While it is fun to pamper your pet, it could actually leave you broke when your pet really needs something like maybe a visit to the emergency room at the veterinary hospital for some unexpected mishap.

What your pets do need is a good, premium-quality dog or cat food, a safe environment to live and play in, regular health checkups and current vaccinations. Make sure there are no hazards in your pets area such as toxic products or broken glass. Start a pet fund by putting $5.00 a week into savings. It will soon add up and will be there to off set any unexpected costs if your pet needs medical care at any point.

Shop for your pet online . You can easily compare prices and save quite a bit on medications, food and other pet supplies.

Groom your pet at home. Pet grooming can get quite costly over time. I used to spend $45.00 each month to have my Pomeranian groomed. I now groom him at home and save $540.00 a year. I brush him regularly and have invested $20.00 in a pedi-care toenail trimmer for him. He gets a bath with a cider vinegar rinse once a month. He looks amazing and I have saved some money.

Remember, when you you want to indulge yourself by buying expensive, fancy stuff, what your pet really wants from you is good care and a ton of love and affection