Money Saving Tips for Dog Owners

As we've seen the economy fluctuate, the amount of money spent on our furry loved ones just doesn't go as far as it once did. Time to get creative! The pet industry is a multimillion dollar industry and they would just love for you to keep throwing away money things you could be making yourself. So here are five ways that you can save money and keep your wallet and your pet happy.

Toys. If you have a dog that loves to play, you know that toys are a must have. If you go to the local pet store or big box retailer you will notice pet toys can range anywhere from $5 to $10 dollars! So to save money you have a few options. For my pooch, who loves to play tug of war, I found an old pair of Halloween socks and tied them together to make the perfect toy. A trip to your local dollar store offers a number of cheap toy alternatives, ranging from rawhide bones to squeaker toys. Often a cheap stuffed animal can be your pets new best friend. If you animal is the destructive type try the thicker nylon rope toys. Consider a trip to the hardware store and but a bit of strong braided nylon rope, knot it at both ends and ta dah! You have a sturdy toy that can be tugged and thrown, but that will last! Sometimes quality is worth the extra money, if your pet is hard on toys consider spending a bit more and buy a well made toy that won't fall apart, then at least you are not buying a new toy every week.

Flea Medicine. This one's a biggie. Anyone with a pet knows that flea medication can put a dent in your wallet. When it comes to flea medication don't waste your money on cheap grocery store drops. Unless you've got a pet that never steps foot outside and never comes in contact with another animal you will just be throwing away your money. Your best bet is to go for the good stuff. Here is where the money saving tip come in, buy the package for the biggest size pet available. If you've got a twenty pound dog buy the flea medicine for the 80-100 lb dog, which is typically only a few dollars more than the smaller size packages. You can then use a syringe (minus the needle) to draw out the amount for your pet. Just poke a small hole in the back of the package and tape over it when you are done, put the remainder in a plastic bag and save it for next month. To find out how much your canine needs contact your veterinarian.

Grooming. Grooming can be costly. Depending on the size and fur content of your pet, you may be spending anywhere from $10 to $70 on a hair cut and a bath. I was spending nearly $60 dollars every few weeks grooming my two dogs. So I decided to take matters into my own hands. At your local pet store or big box retailer you can find pet clippers that range from $12 to $60 dollars. The thickness of your pets fur will determine what type of clippers you will need. I personally recommend spending a bit more and buying the 'professional' clippers, not only will they last longer, but it will make the process simpler. Typically included with the clippers is a grooming guide that tells you the best strategy for trimming or shaving the fur. Remember practice makes perfect. Next, you might want to invest in a pair of nail clippers, typically these are priced anywhere from $7 to $15 dollars. Ever since buying a pair of $45 dollar dog clippers and $7 dollar nail clippers about six months ago I have not had to take my dogs to the groomer at all.

Food. There are a number of ways to save on dog food. You could switch to the cheap generic brand, but I would not recommend it. Instead trying switching to a higher quality brand found at your local pet store. Brands like Canidae and Earthborn Holistic are great for your pup and full of nutritious foods rather than preservatives and fillers. But wait, these foods are more expensive than what I use?! Well by spending a bit more to buy quality rather than quantity you will be able to feed your dog less and the food will last nearly twice as long. Another alternative is to make your own dog food, which can be both rewarding and cost effective.