Do you really need pet insurance if you are a responsible pet-owner? We love our furry friends, even those without any fur, but the costs of having a pet are mounting and there is a lot of pressure on pet-owners to have the “best” of everything. The simple truth of pet-owning reality is a lot of what we do spend on our pets is simply unwarranted for their benefit – what we spend really is about making ourselves feel better.
You can cut down the cost of having a pet, and save the money for something you, or they, will really need, such as healthcare. Look at these simple, ready-to-go tips for cutting the cost of pet ownership:
Do not buy or feed your pet premium pet food.
The word “premium” is thrown around a lot by pet food manufacturers but the truth is it is simply a marketing label. There is no legal definition of “premium” when it comes to pet food – there is simply dog food and dog food, or cat food and cat food – premium dog food is still dog food. A major issue is that when your pet has a dietary need, owners buy “premium” foods thinking this will better nourish their pet. Unfortunately, it isn’t true and a so-called “premium” brand is not necessarily better for your pet and in any event, if there is a dietary need because of a medical condition, you should follow your veterinarian’s advice very precisely.
Look at generics for flea treatment
Frontline Plus is the leading flea and tick medication for prevention and eradication of a very real pest. It helped Frontline that the patent for the active ingredient was held by the company selling it, however that patent has now expired. This means that manufacturers are bringing to the market a range of flea and tick pet medications which contain the active ingredient, fipronil, and this means cheaper alternatives to the high priced Frontline Plus. Check out Petco’s SentryFiproGuard Plus and Walmart stocks PetArmor Plus ($28 for a 3-month supply compared to Frontline’s $62).
Count the cost of pet insurance
It is rare for a pet insurance policy to pay out more than the premiums you pay in. In other words, you are better off saving the money for a rainy day. In the vast majority of cases where there is a claim on a pet insurance policy, the payout is substantially less than premiums paid to date. A pet insurance policy costing a few bucks a month may be worth it for your peace of mind, but in all except the most extreme situations, that is all they are good for.
Engage in preventative pet care
Think about investing in a toothbrush and meat flavored toothpaste for your mutt or feline. This may sound like a money water, however the engaging in preventative dental hygiene for a few bucks will save you hundreds in dental work at the vet. Also make sure you keep your pet’s vaccinations current – the cost of bringing a pet’s shots back up to date is more expensive than a booster, and in any event, vaccination is far more cheaper than the cost of having to deal with a preventable disease.
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