SEASONAL EXTRAS

This past year left many of us with tight budgets and a need to evaluate our spending habits more carefully. Here are some tips to help you reduce some of your pet care costs, without having to give up on your pet’s health care:

Free Products. Some brands of heartworm & flea preventatives offer 1 free dose when you purchase a box of 6 or 12 at a time. This not only saves you $$, it also reduces the number of trips to your vet. Many also offer money-back guarantees if you are not completely satisfied with the product.

“Piggy-back” Planned Procedures. If your pet is healthy, have multiple procedures performed at the same time. For instance, combine: microchip with an anesthetic procedure, declaw with alter, bloodwork for ProHeart6 with an anesthetic procedure. By doing so, you can save the cost of multiple exams and co-align necessary testing. (double-duty)

Military Appreciation Program. If you are active duty, retired, or in the reserves, please let us know. We now offer special rates on our boarding and veterinary services for military personnel as a thank you for your service.

Care Credit – Although the last thing most of us want is another credit card, Care Credit is a unique option to be aware of, especially in a pinch! Care Credit is a credit card for veterinary care as well as your own medical care. They offer interest-free payment plans that can be a sweet relief for those unexpected emergencies.

Think quality over quantity when it comes to your pets’ toys & accessories. Some manufacturers offer lifetime guarantees on their products, such as Lupine’s collars and leashes. There are also toys, such as Kongs, which are made specifically to be more rugged and therefore longer lasting.

Training – Investing a little time and money to train your pets has a big pay off! Destructive tendencies can be managed, and well mannered pets make much more enjoyable family members. Even the most independent cat can be encouraged to have the preferred behaviors.

Learn how to provide some basic care yourself. We can teach you how to trim your pet’s nails, clean their ears, bathe and brush them. An added benefit is that this makes you more in tune with your pet(s)’s health, allowing you to notice small changes before they become big problems.

Keep your pet(s) active. Outdoor activities are a great option for your pocketbook, as well as for your pet’s health. Visit a dog park, take part in local pet parades and other pet centered events, or just go for a walk!

Injuries & Infections – Waiting until a bad situation is worse only increases the severity of the condition and cost of treatment. Many serious cases we see could have been easier and less costly to treat if the pet had been brought in during the early stages. Minor injuries and infections left untended can worsen rapidly and become more costly to treat, not to mention the threat to your pet’s health.