In honor of Pet Dental Health Month this February, Bideawee is offering a special package to make dental care for pets more affordable. Only $250 will cover the pre surgical blood work and teeth cleaning for your dog or cat at a Bideawee Animal Hospital in New York City or Long Island. Appointments must be booked before February 29th to take advantage of this special offer. Call 866-262-8133 to make an appointment or go to Bideawee's site for more information.
In Pampered Pets on a Budget: Caring for Your Pet Without Losing Your Tail, Jeffrey Barnes, former Director of Marketing for the Florida Veterinary Specialists and NYC Veterinary Specialists, recommends daily teeth brushing to prevent heart and kidney problems in your pets, in addition to an annual teeth cleaning. The book, co-authored by Jeffrey Barnes and Kristen Levine, founder of Fetching Communications, the first pet industry marketing and pr firm, offers many tips to make owning a pet more affordable.
Knowing what it is truly a cost saver is fully explored and uncovered in Pampered Pets on a Budget, a “how to save” manual that is concise, clear and quick to read. Alternating chapters by the two authors offer a variety of ways for pet owners to cut costs, from your original purchase of the pet, to vets and proper diet, to boarding facilities, groomers, dog walkers and toys.
The book educates us that sometimes it is better to spend more now to save in the future. For instance, research has shown that pets acquired from friends for free make up more than 30% of pets in the shelters, because of additional, and often unexpected, costs. In other cases, it’s not necessary to spend so much money upfront. For example, expensive toys for pets are not needed, because animals are easily entertained by simple items we already have around the house, like socks and paper bags.
Prevention and regular vet visits will actually save you money in the long run, according to Barnes. While at first glance it may seem that your vet bills are expensive, and other options described on the internet or by pet product business owners may seem appealing, the truth is vets have received extensive training, and a good vet will know what is best for your pet. In Barnes’ words, “When considering taking pet medical or health care advice from someone other than your veterinarian, ask yourself what they are trying to sell you instead.”
Barnes also recommends consulting with your vet before making dietary changes for your pet and reminds us that the words “holistic” and “natural” are not legally defined by the FDA. Bottom line: if the food does not have a USDA seal, it may not actually be organic.
In one chapter, pet lifestyle expert Kristen Levine recommends pet health insurance to keep down veterinary bills. She suggests picking a policy based on the coverage, not on the cost, because a policy is only as good as its coverage. Be sure to read the policy, and all the fine print, and choose one that includes coverage for cancer, hereditary and congenital diseases and for chronic diseases. The insurance will not pay for all of your pet’s medical bills, but the savings is well worth it in the long run.
These and many more tips discussed in the book help make pets affordable and could even prevent animals from being dumped in shelters due to cost concerns. Copies of the book can be ordered at http://www.pamperedpetsonabudget.com/
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