Your pet is very important to you, but the bills are killing your budget. These days, the expenses for both young and elderly pets are rising, but once you bonded to that animal it is hard to say no. Though with a little work you can save money on those necessary expenses and still provide your pet with excellent care.

Get a Pet from the Shelter

Getting a pet from the shelter means you will get a pet with their vaccines current, spaying complete and a recent medical exam. If you choose a middle-aged pet, you generally won’t have to worry about much in the way of medical expenses other than regular vaccines.

Be Selective on Vaccines

Not all dogs or cats need the same vaccines. A dog that spend a lot of time running in the woods will need a Lyme disease vaccine, one that stays indoors or goes on a walk around the block won’t. If you only own one cat at a time and it never gets outdoors then it doesn’t really need a vaccine for feline leukemia or FIV. Additionally, you can negotiate with your vet on prices and you can even comparison shop with others. Some Humane Societies offer low price clinics for vaccination and spay or neutering, so it is worth picking up the phone and asking when it is happening.

Purchase Meds Online

Many pet medications can be found online and in bulk. If you have a pet in need of regular medications purchasing them from a website and administering them yourself can save you big bucks. Ask your vet to teach you how to give necessary injections, if they are reluctant you should probably change vets since this one is more interested in making money than providing good, affordable care.

Even basic medications like those for heartworm or fleas and ticks can be found online for less money than you would pay at a store or at the vets. Applying topical medicines and keeping your pet pest free will pay off through lower maintenance costs and fewer vet visits.

Consider Pet Insurance

If you purchase pet insurance for your friend, you will likely save money in the long run. Usually dependent upon the size and breed of your animal, pet insurance policies run the gamut from basic care to platinum coverage. For a few dollars a month you gain the security of knowing that in a serious situation your pet will have a majority of their bills covered. If you don’t have pet insurance consider putting a few dollars aside each month in a special fund just to take care of pet emergencies, that way it won’t hit your budget so hard.

Invest in Good Food

Just because a food costs a lot of money doesn’t mean it is a healthy choice for your dog. Talk to your vet about lower cost alternatives that will provide your pet with good nutrition without killing your budget. Shop with coupons that are almost always available at the company websites. Getting good, nutritious food will help prevent many problems animals face as the years go by.

Once you have committed to a pet you are generally looking at ten years or more of care and expense. Of course, that is repaid by love, affection and “fluff therapy” in spades. In this economy we all have to find ways to save, but it is perfectly possible to have a pet and stick to a budget, with a little effort of course.

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