Is Pet Care Too Expensive? This Is How You Can Save Money!
Nowadays, pets are treated just like family members. They are loved and pampered by their owners in the sweetest ways. However, pets usually have a curious nature. They get attracted to things without knowing the consequences. We know that “All That Glitters Is Not Gold”; however, they do not have the slightest idea about it. Therefore, they often get into trouble. They either get different diseases from stray cats that they encounter all the time or get injured due to fight, fall or accident. Taking them to the veterinary clinic for checkups costs a lot. Not everyone can afford to pay for their medical treatment every single time, especially if he has more than one pet. There are some ways that you can follow to minimize the amount of money you spend on pet care.
1. Prevention Is Better Than Cure
It is better to prevent a disease from happening from the start. Avoid everything that may lead to your pet catching a disease. Notice any symptoms that may indicate a disease at its early stage. Do not let him go outside unnecessarily. He might catch fungal, viral, and bacterial infections from the other animals. Let him have his food on time. When it comes to cats, they are very concerned about the cleanliness of their food, water, and bowls. If the water or food bowl is dirty, your pet might refuse to eat food.
2. Vaccination
Vaccination is the best way to save your pet from deadly diseases. It is inexpensive and worthy. It can save your pet from rabies, calicivirus, panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. Based on their lifestyle, a vet may recommend some additional vaccines.
3. Obesity Is Never Good
Obesity is a serious problem in pets and can be the cause of many illnesses. Obese pets live less than slim ones. They can develop multiple chronic diseases over time, such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, etc. Keep your pets slim and smart. Introduce different toys and scratching posts for them to be active. Don’t just leave the food out there. Give them food at specific timings during the day. This will stop them from overeating and laziness.
4. A Good Dental Hygiene Is A Good Idea
Pet dental hygiene is often ignored by pet owners. Keep your buddy’s teeth glowing by brushing his teeth for at least 30 seconds using a pet-specific toothbrush and toothpaste. Do not use toothpaste made for humans to brush their teeth, as our toothpaste is meant to spit out. They contain harmful chemicals that can disturb your fur baby’s stomach.
5. Brush The Fur
Pets are known for the way they groom their fur and keep it clean. However, they still need the help of their owner in getting rid of mats and different skin infections by brushing their fur. Their fur should be combed or brushed gently every day.
6. Cleaning Ear
Dirty ears filled with wax can become a home to parasites like ear mites and other ear infections. Proper cleaning is required to keep your furry friend’s ears free from infection.
7. Clip Nails
Clip the tips of nails very gently. You need to be extra careful not to cut the skin under the nail. Only cut the sharp tips. This will stop your pet from wounding himself by merely scratching his body. It will also help in preventing the nails from breaking off.
8. Don’t Smoke!
Do not smoke near your fur baby! They can inhale the smoke, which can cause different serious problems for them. You can smoke outdoors, away from your pets, to save them from developing cancer and other diseases that may be caused by the toxins from the smoke.
9. Visit The Veterinarian Annually
Do give annual visits to your nearby veterinary clinic. Annual checkups can be both economical and life-saving. Visiting the vet annually may be a way to avoid regular visits. Moreover, he may notice early signs of some disease that you may have looked over.
10. A War Against Parasites
Parasites are vicious. They can cause a lot of distress for your pet. Fleas and ticks can hide in the fur and make your pet extremely itchy. Intestinal worms can cause many infections. Heartworms can also be harmful to humans and can cause organ damage, blindness, seizures, and skin problems. Take your pet for deworming every 3 months to avoid such problems. Also, use anti-flea shampoo. You can spray your pet’s fur with anti-flea and anti-tick sprays. Start from the neck and go down till the tail. This will stop the fleas from running to your pet’s face.
11. Health Insurance
Health insurance can be a blessing for you. It will be a way for you to stop your wallet from losing money. Always get insurance for your pets as it will help you a lot in your time of need.
12. Health Plan
Discuss and formulate a health plan with your veterinarian. It will be specific to your pet’s needs and will act as a shield against many different diseases.
Pet care can be overwhelming. However, if you truly love your furry friend, then there is nothing in the world that can stop you from taking care of him. Love and care can be the best medicine for your pet. Your smile and gentle voice can brighten up their day.