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Caring for your pet the economical way

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According to statistics, there are about 73 million households in the U.S. that have pets. The interesting thing to note is that the public is spending about $50 billion on pet care. With the recession still having its toll on the economy, a cost effective way of caring for pets is a necessity in the country.

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The idea is to bring down the cost without sacrificing the well-being of your furry, scaled and feathered friends. With U.S. consumers owing $846 billion in credit cards, a savings based solutions for your pet is a viable strategy to go for.

Search for Cost Effective Stores

One of the probable modes of operation is to search for cost effective stores like America’s Pet Store and other similar resources which offer a number of discount packages. You’ll also have to decide whether pet insurance suits your monthly budget or not. Its efficacy is debatable on the account that it varies from the kind of care your pet needs.

Set a Savings Account for Your Pet

A recent trend is the setting up of a health savings account for pets. You can add money in this account over a period of time to cover the medical costs without having to opt for insurance. This saving would also help for unexpected costs resulting from pet care. If you have an insurance policy for your pet, be sure to check the options and then purchase it.

If you’re someone who is planning to buy a new pet, be sure to do a cost analysis and whether you can actually afford to care for him/her.

Buy Quality, Cost Effective Foods

This tip is pretty valuable if you’re planning to get dogs, since there are a number of breeds to choose from. Some dog breeds like the Great Dane would require more feeding, accommodation and activity. As opposed to this, a Chihuahua would be less demanding in terms of cost.

Don’t think that buying cheap food would be a cost saving option for you. The cheap food that you get may possibly not be digested properly by the pet and cause more problems than there were in the first place.

Secondly, the cheap food may also not be that nutritious so you have to buy more quantity in the first place. You’re advised to go for those pet food choices that keep your pet healthy at a reasonable cost.

Vaccinate Your Pet

Vaccination is a good way to prevent costs for treatment of infections. A viable tip is to survey for possible pet infections that take place within your community, and do get a vaccine for that if it’s not in the ones that you have administered earlier. For instance, in some communities, a heartworm infection may be common among pets.

Educating yourself about pets and their behavior is important for economizing the cost factor. If you know more about your pet, it’s possible to preempt a number of things. You can also provide better quality of life, and prevent your pet from major ailments.

The bottom line is that if you are proactive and set up a savings account for your pet, it can help minimize the cost. You’re also recommended not to opt for pet insurance unless you are pretty sure about details related to coverage. In the current status quo, pet insurance isn’t a great economical option.

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Monica D

Friday 14th of June 2013

These are really great tips but I have one question. How do you resist all the cute toys and collars? LOL I have 2 cats and it seems like everytime I go to the pet store to buy food or litter I come home with more toys!

Megan

Tuesday 4th of June 2013

Very helpful. Thank you!