It's A Dogs Life, Especially The Bills. Reduce The Cost Of Pet Ownership With These Top Tips!
We are a country of animal lovers. A staggering 93.6 million pound is spent on our pets every single week with an average dog costing just under 9,000 pounds over its lifetime. An average cat will set you back around 7,200 pounds.
With rising veterinarian costs and increases in the costs of keeping pets, the number of abandoned animals is growing year on year. The RSPCA reported that animals had been abandoned in droves over Christmas 2010 with inspectors investigating 329 complaints about abandoned pets between December 23 and 27. However, there are lots of ways that you can slash your pet care costs, and here are five of the best.
Pet insurance: Every year, 300,000 pet cats and dogs are put down simply because their owners cannot afford the veterinarian fees or the medical treatment for their animals. Between 2003 and 2008, 1.6 million people had to put down at least one pet thanks to rising vets fees. So, to avoid the significant cost of expensive veterinary bills, make sure you insure your pets.
Pet insurance is widely available and can cost as little as a couple of pounds every month. And, by insuring your pets are adequately protected, it could save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds in medical bills in the event that they fall ill or are involved in an accident.
Use pet sitting services: One of the significant costs to take into account when you go away for an extended period is the cost of putting your pets in a boarding kennels. Many kennels charge between 8 and 10 GBP per night per animal and it can easily cost several hundred pounds to board your pets whilst you are away.
Instead, why not consider a pet sitting service? A pet sitter will come to your home on a daily basis to look after your pets, feed them, walk dogs and change their litter. Pet sitters often charge per visit rather than per animal which can make them significantly cheaper than boarding kennels, especially if you have more than one pet.
Make your own toys: Many people are guilty of spending a fortune on plastic or metal toys for their pets. However, it is just as easy to create your own pet toys at home. Old socks and old fleece clothing are perfect for making pet toys as they are often brightly coloured, easy to wash and Do not fray. In addition, everything from old toilet roll tubes or old kids toys, squeakers or soft toys, make great pet playthings. And, why not make them a pet bed from a cardboard box and an old blanket or fleece?
Do not over feed your pets: One of the easiest ways to save yourself a fortune in pet care is to make sure you do not over feed your pet. A 2008 survey by Sainsburys Finance found that 43 per cent of animals were a bit on the porky side, according to the vets who examined them. Almost half (47 per cent) of all dogs were too fat, with more than a quarter of them (26 per cent) considered obese. The survey also found that 19 per cent of cats were obese.
Many medical conditions suffered by pets are related to or worsened by being overweight, leading to high veterinarian costs. Neal Devine, Sainsburys pet insurance manager, said: "People often think they are being kind to their pet by giving it treats, but being overweight can influence and worsen many medical conditions in pets, such as osteoarthritis and respiratory disorders, conditions that can be very uncomfortable for the animal."
Food concentrate on quality not quantity: Cheap pet food can appear to be good value but often is not. Good pet food can actually be more cost effective than cheap pet food as your pet eats less of it, and is less likely to fall ill as a result of poor nutrition. You will often find that dry pet food offers a more balanced diet and that it also goes a lot further than wet food.
About the Author:
Debi writes for JustLifeInsurance.com the leading website in the UK dedicated to providing over 50's life insurance, and life insurance advice.
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