Pets - Saving Money Tips

[doglar]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

Cats are true carnivores unlike dogs. Dogs can get some nutritional value from non-meat foods like vegetables, but cats cannot. They need the meat or else it is as if they are starving.

[Fern]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

Re: #15, if you have an indoor only cat, it's not necessary to get them the various vaccinations, which can be very expensive.

[shengmei]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

For tip #6, www.catforum.com is an excellent resource.

Also, kitten foods are usually higher quality than cat foods.

[Scamper]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

You don't need expensive products to clean up pet messes. Take and get up as much as possible. Then take 1/2 cup of distilled water, 1/4 cup ammonia, and 1/2 cup vinegar. The rest tap water. You need to add enough water to fill a 32 oz spritzer bottle. This will clean up urine, feces, and vomit.

[Scamper]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

Pet Tips:

Never give a pet to a child without parental approval.

Never give a young child a small animal as a pet. A young child must be taught how to handle the animal, as not to cause injury.

Never buy a pet from any establishment that appears dirty, or where animals appear lifeless. Unsanitary conditions breed unhealthy animals.

Never buy from a pet owner who is reluctant to answer any of your questions.

Your local veterinarian should be able to recommend reputable establishments.

Never buy a puppy or kitten until at least 6 weeks old. The ideal age is 8 weeks.

Never listen to anyone that says, an animal under 4 months old, has had all his shots.
It hasn't.

Make sure you get all necessary papers, if buying a purebred.

Pet store owners are not necessarily reliable, sources of information on animal nutrition, or care. If you have questions, on care and food for a pet. Then see your vet.

Make sure the size dog you buy, will fit in your house. Large dogs require space.

If children are in the house, make sure the dog will do good with them.

How much grooming will be needed. Who in the house will be responsible for it.

How much traveling do you do. Some dogs don't do good in kennels. Keep in mind the cost is more, with larger dogs.

When buying the food. Remember that dry food is an excellent source of nutrition, and good for teeth and gums. Make sure the lable reads COMPLETE AND BALANCED.

Don't feed your dog before, or immediately after exercising.

If moist food is not eaten within two hours, refrigerate it.

When dogs are outside use an angel food cake pan for a water bowl. Secure it with a stake. This will keep it from getting knocked over. Fill this bowl often on a hot day.
This will prevent dehydration, and heat stroke.

Don't give a dog milk. It can cause diarrhea.

If you change your dogs diet, do it slow. It can cause diarrhea.

Never let your dog drink from a toilet. Keep the lid down. Several bacterial infections are communicable, from human to dog and visea versa, through the stools. Toilet bowl cleaners are also toxic.

Dogs eat grass because of a stomach upset. shortly after eating grass, they will vomit.
A veterinarian 's attention is necessary, to rule out physical problems.

[Scamper]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

More Pet Tips:

Comb out a long haired dog, before a bath. Then you won't have to untangle wet hair.

Make certain the water temperature for the bath, is around 100 degrees. Warmer or cooler could make it harder, for you to handle your dog. It can cause distress.

If your dog smells bad, but no time to bathe. Rub baking soda into the coat, and brush good.

If your dog tackles with a skunk. Bathe him in tomato juice. Then use a pet shampoo.

Groom short haired dogs once or twice a week, with a grooming comb.
Longhaired dogs need a bristle or wire brush, and pet comb with rounded teeth.

Your dog will shed usually after cold weather months. He needs to be combed and brushed daily. Also you can take a fabric softener sheet and remove the dog hair. It will help keep it at bay.
For the furniture, wipe it off with a rubber glove with teeth.

You need to clean your dog's ears monthly. Clean only the part of the ear canal, that you can see. Now use a cotton swab soaked in mineral oil or alcohol. Remember that wax protects the ear canal. So a small amount is beneficial.

You need to wash off your dog's feet in the winter. He can pick up salt and chemicals from the street. These substances can injure the feet, especially if the pads are cracked.
If they do become cracked, then rub a little petroleum jelly into them.

If you dog just got clipped, keep him out of the sun. He can get sunburned.

Keep the corners of your dogs eyes clean. Wipe them with a cotton ball and warm water.

If the temperature is too cold outside for you, then don't put your dog out there.

Don't leave your dog in a car in hot weather. Their body temperature is different then ours. The heat will build up quickly and cause collapse, or even death.

Remove leashes from dogs in the car. They can get caught on door handles. Be sure and put it back on, before your dog gets out.

In hot weather exercise your dog. In early morning, or late evening. Midday heat can be dangerous.

Never give your dog bones. They can splinter into small pieces, and get caught in the throat and stomach.

Never worm your dog with any medication, not prescribed by the vet. It can be dangerous.

If you need to give a dog liquid medicine. First put him in the tub. Then if you spill any , it won't go on your carpet. Now pull out your dogs lower lip at the corner. You need to make a pouch. Now use a dropper, or syringe to place the medication in the pouch. Easy now a little at a time. Then rub his throat to stimulate swallowing.

If your dog twitches or jerks in his sleep. Don't worry, he's dreaming.

When walking your dog, keep it away from other dog's droppings. A disease known as Parovirus kills 75 % of the young dogs, under 5 months of age who contact it.
Older dogs are more or less immune. Most puppies will contact through contact with infected feces.

If your dog won't take his pill, try disguising it in some cream cheese. Most dogs have no complaints with this.

When ever you give your dog a command. First establish eye contact. This tells your dog , you mean business.

When disciplining your dog, never call his name, and then administer the punishment. Calling his name should be saved for positive acts.

Never punish your dog after any event. An animal cannot connect your present displeasure,
with a past misdemeanor.

A dog does not understand complicated language structure. So when training him use one word commands. Clear and easy to understand.

When you travel with your dog. Take along a plastic freezer container of frozen water.
The water will thaw, and your dog will have a freash drink readily.
If possible always give your dog water, that has been brought from home. Water from another location could have chemicals in it, that will give your dog diarrhea.

Before traveling with a dog. Let him get use to his carrier. Let him smell it, explore it, and sleep in it. His journey will be much easier.

[Scamper]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

I sent a part two on dog tips also. Don't see it anywhere.

[MarshallMiddle]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

Make pet toys, or use creative objects as toys. My dog loves empty 2 liter bottles. Also look into getting pet insurance, especially if your pet has multiple health issues, vet visits, and big bills.

[MairGrif]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

Re: #15, if you have an indoor only cat, it's not necessary to get them the various vaccinations, which can be very expensive.

Truthfully, all cats should get rabies and distemper vaccinations on the recommended schedule, whether indoor, outdoor or mixed. Most municipalities require all cats to be licensed, which requires proof of up to date rabies vacc., and if an indoor cat gets out, or otherwise exposed, the vaccinations will prevent transmission of these diseases as well as prevent the need for quarentine if someone is bitten by the animal. Like stated in the original post, there are inexpensive ways to get pets vaccinated. Even at my vet, the visit and vaccinations cost less than $100/cat total annually. Shelters and adoption organizations often have information on cheaper alternatives.

[puppypal]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

All these suggestion came from being a foster parent of an organization that had little money and the Animal doctor in our area shared his helpful tips and helped us save many.
Word to the wise check with your vet and explain the fund problem. If he is a caring vet he will help!

If you live in the country and have a feed type store tractor supply you can buy the 7 & 1 or 8 & 1 shots for your pets. The only cost 4.00 or so and you can ask a vet assistant to teach you how to give your pet vaccination. JUST A NOTE: Some breeds can not use the 8 & 1 (Dashchounds for example)and have to use the 7 & 1. But you can look on your last vet bill to see which he used!
You will still have to get the rabies shot from your vet but a huge amount of vets and humane societies offer rabies clinics and reduced costs for this.
NOTE: at these clinics and humane societies there is no office visit fee!
Also if no clinics are available and you are forced to go to a vet take all the animals at once. It saves the office visit charge per animal.
Also if your pet has the same problem and you know and treated this with pills the vet gave you, you can just call up the vet and request the medication without seeing the doctor everytime. I do this with my Boston. Every Year she seems to start this ear infection thing. I just call the vet and get the antibotics without going in.
NEXT USE ADVICE WITH CAUTION!
If you keep your pets on regular heart warm preventative, and frontline etc. and your pet is indoor a lot skip the blood work to see if she or she has heartworms. It will save as much as 25.00 on your annaul visit.
Humane societies also have low or no cost spay services. Hunt! Hunt! HUNT!
We offer a low cost mobile van which payment is actual cost of spaying an animal!
Which is 21.00 for a female and males are less
Brewers Yeast is wonderful at getting the flea problem under control.
Pure Breeds with the ever present hot spot or allergy of the skin can benefit 100% by of predisone. I have a mix that weighs 16 pounds and 1st sign of an allergy I give her 4mg tablet in morning and 4mg at nite. Your regular doctor will prescribe it and guess what if ya have insurance the cost is way cheaper. 1 human benadryl and a couple days later it has cleared completely.
Also sometimes doggies do not have an allergy they have a skin fungus. Dry flakey type with redness. You can use trail and error on this because it doesn't hurt a thing. Rub Monostact 7 YES yeast infection medication on the area. No problem if they lick it cause it isn't toxic....Also if your pet hasn't been proven milk intolerant I can't stress enough.......PLAIN Yoooo-gert! helps tummy, and skin, and hair shedding problems!

[Kathybear]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

You shouldn't clean up any urine spots on rugs, etc. with ammonia because it's what urine smells like (especially to a dog or cat) - so you are remarking the spot and it will probably go there again...

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

Don't name your butchering cows, chickens, turkeys or pigs. Then you end up keeping and feeding them for life....
speaking from experience

[ozzy gurl]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

I have to say that while I think it is okay for someone to vaccinate their dog if they have the proper knowledge and means to do so, I do hope everyone still takes their dog/cat/pet in for a yearly check-up. The yearly isn't just for routine shots. It's for the vet to note any changes in weight, energy, teeth, eyes, etcetera. Our vet has detected everything from plaque build-up to cancer in our pets. Some of this, we knew ourselves (plaque build-up does not lead to nice breath), while we would've never picked up on cancer.

If you are going to sacrifice your pet's health for the sake of a few dollars, then please don't have a pet. I have read every response in this thread and don't believe any of the posters would do such a thing, but I also wanted to write this for ANYONE who is reading. Please, when you are trying to save with animals, do your research before doing anything that compromise your pet's quality of life (or even the life itself).

I hope I don't offend...I just feel very strongly about this topic.

[ozzy gurl]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

If your dog twitches or jerks in his sleep. Don't worry, he's dreaming.

HA! Sorry, I just had to comment on this. My dog is so bad about this. I go home nearly every weekend, and he always insists on sleeping with me (in my twin bed!). Every time I am close to sleep, I feel a sharp kick! He is always having puppy dreams, meaning he is kicking, running in place, he even growls/whimpers/sighs.

[cptacek]

Re: Pets - Saving Money Tips

Wow. I had no idea. My experience with dogs taking care of dogs is driving into the driveway and making sure I don't run over them. My parents don't ever feed the dogs (except table scraps sometimes), they are outside all the time (maybe in a cold snap they are in the barn), don't ever brush them, don't take them to the vet unless they are really hurt (maybe a broken leg), etc. But we had one dog that was 20 when it died, and another that is, I'm guessing 15, so I guess they are just hardy outside dogs that don't need anything else. I honestly had no idea it was so complicated to have an inside dog.