In these recessional times we are all keeping an eye on our spending and how as a household we can save money. If we own a pet, one of the biggest expenses can be vet bills and these unexpected bills can hit our pockets hard. However, here are ten tips designed to keep your vet bills as low as possible.

Tip 1 – Ensure that the health of your pet is checked regularly
It is important to schedule regular heath checks for your pet as this will ensure that your pet is in the best health and highlight early any potential health issues that may occur. It may be possible to cure or prevent these health issues from occurring if caught early enough and this will save you money in the future.

Tip 2 – Get the condition of your pets teeth checked
If you own a dog or cat then you should get their teeth checked as dental care for animals can be very expensive if left to chance. You can carry out simple checks yourself to spot any changes in their teeth’s condition by looking in their mouths and checking for discoloured teeth or sore gums.

Tip 3 – Feed your pet the right food
Ensure that your pet has a healthy and balanced diet. Consider buying premium quality food as often as possible because your pet won’t need to eat as much of this type of product. Also, make sure you keep your pet at their ideal weight and don’t overfeed them as this can lead to obesity which can be costly to treat.

Tip 4 – Give your pet regular exercise
All pets will need some form of exercise and exercise will keep them healthy for longer. You will need to research and give your pet the most appropriate exercise for their age and condition. If you do this they will be less prone to injury and disease.

Tip 5 – Groom your pet
Some pets will need to be groomed and this is to protect their fur and condition of their coat. Grooming is a great way to keep their fur healthy as well as looking for any early signs of health conditions that may be appearing.

Tip 6 – Check their ears and eyes
Ensure that you know your pet and look out for any changes that may occur especially around their eyes and in their ears. If your pet starts behaving differently such as shaking their head then this could denote an ear infection or if their eyes start to become cloudy these are early warning signs that something may be affecting their eyes and overall health.

Tip 7 – Make sure they are treated for fleas and worms and have all their vaccinations
It is important to ensure that if the pet requires worming or catches fleas that these are treated straight away to avoid any unnecessary vet costs. Also, ensure that the pet has all recommended vaccinations as this will mean that they will avoid any illnesses which would lead to a significant vet bill.

Tip 8 – Socialise your pet
If your pet is a social animal such as a dog then you should ensure that it comes into contact with people and different social occasions as this exposure will lead to them being more balanced. Social animals like interaction and this makes them healthy and happy and more likely to be healthy for longer.

Tip 9 – Look out for any special discounts or event discounts
You should investigate whether you are eligible for any special discounts on vet bills through the veterinary practice, for example you may get a discount if you are on a pension. You should also look out for any special events that are looking at a specific area of your pets health e.g. pet dental month as there may be special check-up deals related to these events.

Tip 10 – Purchase pet insurance
Pet insurance is one of the best ways to plan against unexpected vet bills so it is important to investigate and purchase pet insurance that is appropriate to your needs and circumstance.

Article by Sarah Wain, 9th December 2011. Content correct at the date of publication.

Back to Articles