How to Save when Shopping for Your Pet's Needs

Being the parent to a furry friend can be expensive! However, there are many ways you can save money on your pets' necessities, and still make sure they are properly cared for (and even spoiled rotten!). You just need to put forth a little time and effort. It is possible to save up to 50% on your pet's food, toys, treats and medicines with only an investment of about half an hour per week.

Coupons

This one is common knowledge: check your Sunday paper and sales fliers for coupons for products you normally use. Keep the coupons in a folder, organized by product or expiration date. You can find coupons for food, treats, toys and even your pet's medicines. Frontline

Rebates

Many pet medications offer rebates when you purchase a 3, 6, or 12-dose package of the medicine. Iverhart frequently has $3 rebates on a 6-dose package of heartworm preventative tablets. Frontline also runs rebates from time to time on their flea preventatives.

Sales

Don't forget the good old-fashioned sale. Check out your pet store for an ad or sales flyer, and plan to buy your pet products during sales times. Keep enough product on hand to get you through to the next sale. Doing this can save you hundreds of dollars per year.

Online Shopping

Pet stores such as Petco and Petsmart are nearly always having online sales. You can save up to 50% on everything your pet needs, including food and non-prescription medications, such as some flea and worm preventatives. In addition, you can do a quick Google search and find coupon codes for %-off discounts and free shipping. This is a great way to save money on necessities, and save time and gas.

Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk is great for such products as bagged and canned food. You can save on rawhides and other chewy treats by buying the larger packages. Just make sure you comparison shop, and compare the cost per piece or per ounce before buying. In rare cases, smaller packages can be cheaper. Keep resealable totes on hand to store food and treats to prevent spoilage.

In addition, you can save money on your pet's normal medications by buying in bulk. Frontline and other flea preventatives decrease in cost per dose when you buy in 3-, 6-, or 12-month packages. Likewise, Iverhart and similar heartworm preventatives decrease in cost per dosage as you purchase more doses at one time.

It is best to purchase your pet's needs from reputable vendors. Be wary of purchasing pet medications online - some websites have been guilty of selling counterfeit or expired medications. Your pet is important, so take the time to ensure they have everything they need, so they can be your companion for as long as possible!