Take Some Steps to Lower Your Pet's Costs

Earlier, I pointed out a few "misunderstandings" people might have about saving costs in relation to their pets. Trying to save money by purchasing vaccines online or using a less expensive flea medication often leads to bigger bills and potential danger to your pet.''

Luckily, there are a lot of easy steps you can take to help minimize your pet's healthcare costs.

First, (and this sounds very simple) play with your pet! Veterinary behaviorists all agree that a tired dog is a happy dog and happy dogs don’t tear up furniture or get into trouble. Since behavior issues are the number one reason for abandoning pets, this fun task might literally save your pet’s life.

Playing with your pet has health benefits as well. A well-exercised pet is less likely to be overweight and suffer from obesity related problems such as arthritis, certain cancers, or diabetes. Just think how a couple extra walks each day will help your pet and help trim your waistline!!

Next, when exercising your pet, use appropriate restraints and confinements. Pets who roam freely are often hit by traffic, get into fights or eat something dangerous. Emergencies like these can end up hitting your wallet very hard.

Even loving your pet has money saving benefits. Petting and caressing your pet can help find those little lumps and bumps sooner. Cancer is very common in our pets and can be very expensive to treat. Earlier detection generally means a better outcome and usually less expensive treatments.

Despite all of these precautions, some pets will just get into trouble or develop a serious disease. Although veterinary medicine is still a bargain compared to other health services, most of us would be hard pressed to pay a big veterinary bill out of pocket. Companies like Pets Best Insurance offer a variety of insurance plans to assist owners with unexpected costs. But even today only a small percentage of pet owners insure their pets’ health.

If paying a premium every month isn’t appealing to you, consider investing in a Pet Health Savings Plan. PetVetPro helps people save money for potential pet emergencies. Unlike insurance, the money you pay into the program is yours. This allows you the flexibility to use the savings for car repairs, dental work, or whatever – including emergency surgery for your pet!

These are challenging times and likely will be for some months, maybe even a year or longer. It is a challenge to think about your furry friends safety when just feeding the family stretches your budget. If you have concerns, talk with your veterinarian. Sometimes less expensive drugs are available or you might be able to get a written prescription for a generic form. The big lesson here is to simply communicate. Don't take matters into your own hands or you just might end up hurting your wallet in addition to your pet!

Dr. Patty Khuly, a friend of mine from the Veterinary News Network, had a recent blog post detailing a case in which well-meaning clients avoided her recommendation in order to save some money. Long story short, their dog needed extra surgery at an additional costs. So, although we all have a need and a desire to save money, cutting corners with our pets is probably not the best option.

Economy Continues to Pummel Pets

Each week I prepare a News Alert for the more than 350 veterinary reporters of the Veterinary News Network and each week I sort through way too many stories of pets being given up due to the bad economy, pets missing routine care because of the economy, and how shelters are being dealt a double whammy with decreased adoptions and donations while intakes of pets are increasing rapidly.

I can empathize with the millions of pet owners who are trying to make tough decisions every day...money is tight and expenses need to be cut. But many people don't understand that there is a lot you CAN do to avoid high pet expenses. Better yet, maybe people need to understand what you SHOULDN'T do...

First, don’t skimp on preventive care. Vaccinations and parasite prevention are important parts of maintaining your pet’s health and yours as well. Some diseases and many parasites are zoonotic. Did you know that you or your kids can contract roundworms or hookworms from the new puppy you got over Christmas??

Owners might choose to buy vaccines online or from a pet store. While this idea sounds great, there are many risks. Can you trust that the supplier properly stored the vaccines? Is the product expired? Vaccines are delicate biological suspensions needing refrigerations and proper storage. Improper preparation could make the whole process worthless.

Choosing a lower cost flea product from the store is another option a pet owner might investigate. Before you buy, consider this. The EPA has received more than 25,000 reports of over-the-counter pesticide reactions in pets since 2003. So, although you might save a few dollars on the product, the emergency trip to the veterinarian could cost a lot more! You can read about these pesticides and get the whole story here.

As I lurk in many pet health forums or even just surf the Web daily, I see a multitude of well-meaning people recommending Neosporin or other topical antibiotics for wounds and lacerations their pet might have received. On the surface, this sounds ok, but most veterinarians are frustrated when a pet shows up several days after the injury and now the minor wound has become a raging infection. Similarly, pet owners who try to bandage their pets often place the bandages too tight, restricting circulation and causing limbs to swell.

I think the worst thing I see routinely is the use of human medications for pets. A recent article from the ASPCA listed the top ten human medications that poison pets. Again, most people don't mean to cause a problem, but so many of our medications, especially pain relievers, can cause serious issues for our pets. Did you know that a single acetominophen tablet can kill a cat? It's true...a typical extra strength Tylenol tablet (about 500 mg of acetominophen) damages a cat's red blood cells to the extent that they can't carry enough oxygen and the cat dies.

In the next edition, I will take a look at what you CAN do to prevent those expensive veterinary bills! If you just can't wait, go to the Veterinary News Network and find the Pet Care During Tough Times story.

Expanding Our Pets' Waistlines are Shrinking Their Lifespans!

Statistics show that about one in four North American adults are considered obese. But, this epidemic is not limited to our continent nor is it confined to our species. More than half of our dogs and cats are overweight or obese. So, should your pet start an Atkins Diet ? Better yet, can weight loss lead to longer lives??

Ramsey is a “cheese-aholic”. At 6 years old and 156 lbs, this Bull Mastiff listens for his owner to unwrap the cellophane from a cheese slice and then makes a beeline for the refrigerator. Joyce Sternberg, Ramsey’s owner, says originally cheese was an incentive to teach Ramsey to shut the back door. But those cheesy rewards had a darker side.

Ramsey had become so heavy he actually tried to avoid walks. Sternberg states that “Ramsey would just grab the leash and head for home.” His dislike for exercise is a common theme for many pudgy pets.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 43% of all dogs and 53% of all cats are classified as overweight. What’s worse, an additional 10% of all dogs and 19% of all cats are considered obese! These expanding numbers are a warning sign of our pets’ expanding waistlines!

Joyce Sternberg was lucky in one respect… both her son and her veterinarian warned her about Ramsey’s rotund physique. -----Similarly, Irene Snow was chided by her veterinarian for allowing her Malamute mix, Yogi Bear, to balloon up to 127 pounds. “My veterinarian said he could tell how much I loved my pet by how fat he was,” says Irene, “but Yogi has always stolen food…that’s how he got his name!” ----- option to remove for length

Veterinarians and pet owners are showing concern over the increase in numbers of portly pets. An overweight pet is more prone to heart problems, poor skin condition, lameness, and more serious illnesses, like diabetes. A ground-breaking study actually details how pets who free feed live an average of two years less than pets with limited calories.

Both Sternberg and Snow realized that their dogs were overweight due to excess treats, like Yogi’s ice cream sundaes or Ramsey's cheeseburgers, but other factors can add to your pet’s propensity for weight gain too. Specific breeds, such as Labradors and Cockers, are at higher risk for becoming chubby as are most non-purebred cats. And, although spaying and neutering your pet won’t make them fat, their metabolism and energy needs actually do decrease. This means that neutered pets are at a higher risk for gaining weight if we don’t pay attention to their diet and exercise.

Without realizing it, many owners contribute to pet obesity through good intentions. “Some pets get twice as many meals each day because no one is in charge of feeding,” says Dr. Steve Hotchkiss, veterinarian and owner of Hulen Hills Animal Hospital. In my experience in the hospital setting, this is a HUGE problem in many families. Mom feeds the dog in the morning and then the kids come home and the bowl is empty. So, being concerned, the kids feed the dog as well. Meanwhile, when Dad gets home from work, our family dog has now figured out that he can get another feeding just by looking pitifully at his yet again empty bowl!

APOP says that pet owners should open a dialogue with their veterinarian about their pet’s weight. Most pet owners know their pet is overweight but many are unsure of how to proceed.

The very first step should be a good thorough physical examination and associated blood work. This will help rule out diseases that cause weight gain, like hypothyroidism in dogs. This is a hugely important step, plus it shows your veterinarian how concerned you are about keeping your pet healthy!

Next, devise a diet plan with your veterinarian for safely reducing the number of calories being fed while also increasing the calories being burned through activity. Hotchkiss recommends avoiding a self feeder or leaving food out for our pets all day long. Like us, our pets will do better if they eat small meals more frequently rather than one large meal in the evening.

Finally, make exercise a priority. Two or more brisk walks each day for our pudgy pooches and thirty minutes of playtime with your flabby tabby can help them lose that excess weight.

Above all, stay in communication with your veterinarian. You may run into temporary setbacks or even obstacles which will require a revision of your pet’s diet plan. With your love and commitment, your pet can lose that excess poundage which, in turn, could add years to your pet’s life. To learn more about weight loss and our pets, check out this great informative video.