Keep your Pet Healthy and Happy and Save Money!
Being responsible for a pet is a serious financial commitment but there are ways you can save money while maintaining the health and well-being of your animal.
Prevention is Key
By taking measures early on, you can prevent your pet from becoming ill and, avoid the accompanying medical costs.
Regular checkups: As with people, it is ideal to diagnose an illness or disease early on before it develops into something more serious and painful for your pet, and ultimately, more costly for you. Speak with your veterinarian about a checkup schedule or any other questions you may have about keeping your pet healthy.
Vaccinate your pet: Vaccinations help protect your companion animal from many preventable and potentially life-threatening diseases.
Spay/neuter your pet: Spaying (for females) or neutering (for males) provides countless benefits for your pet, your community, and your wallet, including:
- reducing the risk of many life-threatening diseases, including certain cancers and diseases of the reproductive system
- eliminating the costs associated with providing food and medical care to a new litter
- limiting unpleasant behavioural problems such as wandering, marking territory, and anxiousness
- contributing to the reduction of Alberta’s pet overpopulation crisis
Pets and the Bottom Line
Thinking of getting a pet? Before acquiring a companion animal, estimate the cost of maintaining a healthy pet to see if it will fit into your budget. Consider what type of pet would best suit your budget and lifestyle.
Food costs: Having a sound nutritional diet is as crucial for your pet as it is for you. Choosing the right pet food can be challenging but doesn’t need to be expensive. When deciding on the right pet food consider the food cost per day not food cost per bag. Better quality food contains less filler and therefore your pet needs to eat less, which means you are not purchasing food as often. Talk to your veterinarian about a diet for your pets that suits their nutritional needs and your budget.
Understanding veterinary medical costs: Veterinary bills can be expensive. There are options, including pet insurance, that can help.
Can’t afford to keep your pet? If the cost of caring for an animal is too much for your family and you need to consider the difficult option of rehoming your pet, it is important that you find them a suitable home. We recommend contacting your local animal shelter or animal control for assistance with rehoming a pet. Remember, abandoning animals is against the law.
Recycle
Make your own pet toys: Instead of buying your pet toys, consider making them yourself. You can recycle your unwanted items, save money, and treat your pet at the same time. Just make sure the toys are safe and do not have small parts that your pet may choke on.
Learn more about the importance of cat enrichment and how to make your own toys.
Learn more about making your own dog enrichment and the myths of dog training.
Helpful Links:
Vaccinations (Alberta Animal Health Source)
Spaying and Neutering (Alberta Animal Health Source)
Understanding Veterinary Costs (Alberta Veterinary Medical Association)