I’m thrilled to bring you today’s Budget Tip Tuesday Post from my sweet friend Lady Sara of Solid Gold Eats! Since I don’t have pets, I asked her to share some of her best frugal tips when it comes to loving your dog well without losing your wallet. Thanks Sara for your words of wisdom and the way that your love for Brandy and Dollar shines through your words!
Dogs bring joy to our lives. They greet us when we come home from a long day of work, they comfort us when we are sick or sad, and they cuddle with us on the couch while we read a book or watch a movie. Brandy (age 5) and Dollar (age 7) make my heart whole, but they can occasionally empty my wallet.
I am a dog lover and I would do anything for my two kids. Over the past few years I’ve learned to love my dogs and care for them without spending a ton of money on entertainment, exercise or health care.
Entertainment and Exercise
Dollar’s favorite toys are simple tennis balls that squeak. They happen to be one of the cheapest toys out there for pets and for that, I am thankful. We learned the hard way that stuffed animal-like toys with loose stiches are five-minute blunders. They are seen and heard and then poof – destroyed. Recently we purchased a Kong DoDo Bird and Dollar loves it. He has yet to tear it up because of Kong’s reliable sturdiness. It was more expensive than other toys, but because he has not torn it up it has been cheaper than buying toys of lesser quality. When you learn how your pets play with toys, you can make better purchasing decisions.
KONG DoDo Birds Dog Toy, Medium
We used to belong to a dog park, but frankly it was expensive and we didn’t use it enough to get the full value out of it. While dog parks are great as you can let your dog off their leash to run around, they usually come with a monthly fee. If your dog can be controlled on a leash, consider taking them to one of Indianapolis’ amazing (and free) parks. Our favorite is Holiday Park off of Spring Mill Road. It’s large, has plenty of parking, and has unique trails that run at the back of the park through trees. They are well maintained and our dogs love the rugged trails that offer something other than concrete and asphalt.
Health Care
I am no veterinarian but I’ve had a few years to learn about pet care and how to cut costs. Both of my pups have terrible breath because of boxers’ jowls tendency to collect and store food. There are brands of treats that claim to offer dental care and help with bad breath, but they are expensive and have to be used regularly. Dental rinse is cheaper and lasts longer. You put a little of it into their water bowl and it helps with gingivitis and bad breath. This Nylabone brand is similar to what I use and at less than $11.00 a bottle it can last much longer than bags and bags of dental treats.
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Liquid Tartar Remover, 32-Ounce
Did you know that February is National Pet Dental Health month? Dental cleanings are discounted at our veterinarian clinic because of this awareness initiative, and while cleanings are expensive, a discount of $20-30 is very helpful and appreciated. Ask your veterinarian if they offer this discount or others during different pet awareness months.
Pet Store Discounts
Sign up for emails from your local pet food and supply stores. Pet Supplies Plus sends weekly newsletters that list deals and sales, and once a month I receive a $5 off coupon that I use on dog food. Their rewards program also gets us additional discounts at the register. petco also gives rewards, coupons, freebies, and 5% back on what you purchase through their petco pals rewards program.
Emergencies
Chances are you have come across at least one “oh no” moment in which your furry friend ate something they shouldn’t have or they simply do not feel good. Brandy has had not one but two surgeries to repair torn ACLs. These were expensive surgeries that we could not avoid.
Check for emergency care hours with your veterinarian clinic. Vet visits can cost two or three times as much as it would at 8:30 AM if you go in at 8:30 PM. In no means am I saying to delay emergency care based on cost, but consider this an option if your pet has a minor health care need after hours that could potentially wait until the next day.
You might also want to see if your vet will give you a discount if you pay cash up front, instead of using credit or opting for a big bill later. While difficult, you may need to sacrifice your own wants and needs to pay for your pets health.
Pausing and thinking outside of the box when it comes to caring for your dog is the simplest way to save. Like people, dogs relish simplicity and human contact – a walk outside, a snuggle on the couch, and kind words – more than physical things.
How do you care for your pup without spending too many bucks? We’re better together! Share your tips in the comments.
Sara Croft is a recipe developer, Indy adventurer and dog lover in Indianapolis. Find her writings at http://solidgoldeats.com.
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Our dog is a crazy chewer and we can’t keep most toys longer than a minute, but I’ll second the Kong idea. We get Kong’s Wild Knots stuffed toys for her–less stuffing, and a rope ‘skeleton’ that helps keep it together. Great toys.
Less stuffing, more ruffing! 😉
I totally didn’t know about the mouth rinse product. I’m so bad about brushing Molly’s teeth. Thanks for the great tips!
You are very welcome! It works like a charm, though we only put in half the amount suggested as Brandy doesn’t care for the flavor that much.