Pet care can be a major line item in the family budget, as food, medicine, grooming tools and toys aren't cheap. But there are ways to save money on pet supplies while keeping your pet healthy, happy and looking good.
* Check the mailbox for fliers, inserts and community newspaper ads from pet stores in your vicinity. You may score a discount on food, treats or grooming from a neighborhood merchant or a national chain.
* Look in the back of your local area phone book for coupons, which are typically valid for a long period of time. If you check the phone book when it first arrives at your house, you may have an entire year to redeem some of the discounts.
* Contact the companies that manufacturer your favorite pet brands and sign up for their mailing list. Be sure to include your e-mail address. That way, you'll be able to receive coupon codes to use online as well as coupons for preferred products to bring to your local brick and mortar store.
* Keep up with preventive maintenance, and shop online for prescription pet medicines through CouponHeaven.com. Most online pet pharmacies offer free shipping, and you can save even more with pet prescription coupons that are valid for heartworm medications, flea and tick preventatives, and more.
* Use the power of the Internet to save on most pet items. The exception to the rule is pet food, which is often too costly to ship because of weight. Shopping online allows you to browse different stores, comparing the quality and prices for all of your pet supplies, like a bed for your dog, a tank for your fish, toys for your cat or a kissing mirror for your bird - just to name a few. When you use CouponHeaven.com to find coupon codes for pet products, you can save money on the purchase, or get free shipping.
* Buy food in bulk at the discount stores. Yes, you will have to find an appropriate storage space, but the cost per ounce will be much cheaper, and you'll also save by not making as many trips to the store.
* Take care of your pet's grooming at home whenever possible. If that won't work for your family, consider asking your groomer if there is a customer loyalty program for discounts on services or treatments.
* Make sure your pet gets the appropriate amount of exercise, which contributes to overall well-being and cuts down on potential vet bills.
Happy pets make happy pet owners, and you can be even happier by combining pet care and cost-reducing strategies.
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Spring Into Pet Safety
10 Ways To Keep Your Pets Safe This Season
by Gina Caciol
You love your pets and the environment they share with you. Be mindful of the changes you make in your home, and especially your garden, over the next couple weeks as you usher in spring with different chemicals and products and how they effect the health and safety of your pet.
“With mosquito and tick season coming,” Michael Olivieri-Baker, Co-owner of It’s A Doggie Dog World, says, “people should make sure their pets are protected properly. They need to be on the right medication.” He suggests life preservers for pets of owners with boats, and goggles for those who take their dogs out in convertibles. “The air hitting their corneas is actually very bad for their eyes,” Olivieri-Baker says.
Here are the American Veterinary Medical Association’s top 10 spring hints for pet owners:
*Fleas and ticks
With weather warming your pets may start to roll and run through new areas and pick up tiny, unwelcome friends along with it. Restart preventive treatments to keep your home and pets flesh pest-free.
*Lawn fertilizers
Their harsh chemicals are unsympathetic to your pets tummies. Make sure to keep them in a part of your home where only you can get at it. Also spend the time to read the instructions on the fertilizer carefully. There’s usually a set time you should wait after spreading it on your lawn or garden before letting your pets in.
*Pesticides and herbicides
While some aren’t lethal, many are highly dangerous for your cats and dogs lives. Studies indicate the use of pesticides and herbicides may be tied to increased rates of specific forms of cancer in dogs. If you know your loving pets were exposed to these chemicals call your veterinarian immediately and wash them in soap in water.
*Cocoa bean mulch
Many gardeners have chosen coffee ground and cocoa bean fertilizers that are less toxic for the ground, but just as much so for their pets. Keep dogs out of these tasty additions to your lawn; they’ll do the same damage as chocolate!
*Lilies
They may keep your garden looking beautiful, but lilies are extremely toxic to cats, who often enjoy chewing them. Keep your kitty away or they could get kidney failure, or sadly, die.
*Rhubarb leaves
These tasty plants are found in a large amount of vegetable gardens, but they too can cause kidney failure in pets. To check what other items found in your garden could cause harm to your pets, check out avma.org.
*Rat and mouse poisons
While you’re trying to keep those disgusting vermin from returning to your home, your pets may be attracted to the scents of these poisons, which could end in fatality. Be careful where you place them and where you allow your pets.
*Cleaning products
You may be ready to get spring cleaning going, but double check the products labels. Some directions tell you to keep your pets away until the product has dried and its pertinent to follow those instructions for the safety of your pet.
*Paint and paint thinners
You’re all set for a new look in your house, but your pets aren’t going to love it as much as you. When painting, make sure your pets are in a safe place, distant from the paints. Solvents and paint thinners sometimes cause serious burns and irritation if their skin comes in contact with it or if they are swallowed. Keep their noses out of latex house paints too. While they sometimes only cause minor stomach problems, others have heavy metals or volatile substances in them which could be very harmful to your pets health.
*Preventative medications
Just like with ticks and fleas, you’re going to want to restart other seasonal medications. Heartworm medications, generally discontinued in the winter, should be retaken by your pets. However, be sure to check with a veterinarian before you start your pet on any medications; they have degrees in this field for a reason!
For more information, visit www.avma.org. For a full-length video on common household poisons and hazards, visit www.avmatv.org.
