So earlier tonight I posted a tip that was very well meaning but I have since discovered that if not administered correctly it could kill your pet. That would be AWFUL and I don’t want to live with that guilt for the rest of my life. ;)
However, there are some great ways to save on vet bills, pet medications, pet food and more that doesn’t risk harming Fluffy. So if you have a tip, please share!
(And the thing I love the most about my readers is even when I say or do something crazy/wrong/weird, you are always so nice about it and I appreciate that. People often forget that others on the computer have feelings too and it’s wonderful to know that my readers never forget that.)
Tony says
It’s up to the vet whether they allow this or not, but for treatments where supplies are needed, like surgeries, our vet will allow us to provide our own supplies instead of having them supply it and add it to the bill. Things like IV needles and lines, and bags of lactated ringers, are usually about 2x to 4x as expensive from the vet as they are on the open market. If there’s a hospital stay involved, the vet will gladly supply whatever pain and other convalescent medications are required, also at multiple times the fair market value, during your pet’s stay. Ask what kind of medication they will be on during their hospitalization, and whether you can buy it yourself elsewhere.
RX drugs are another one. Almost anything your vet will prescribe can be bought for less money elsewhere. Veterinary-only medications can be bought at someplace like PetCareRX.com.
We have a friend who operates a ferret shelter, and she has a huge kit of all kinds of supplies and medications that she brings to the vet any time one of her charges needs any kind of procedure. It saves her a LOT of money.
Joy says
Here is a coupon for a free exam at Banfield http://www.banfield.com/App_Themes/Banfield/img/IM-304-0211_Free_Office_Call_Coupon-WebFNLLR-1.png
danygirl says
not sure why folks spend so much on flea meds. I use a flea comb if my dog gets fleas, it is safe for kids and the pets, and the dog loves to be combed. I have never used flea collars or any other medicated flea control products and my dogs and cats over the years have had limited problems with fleas. Most of the time if my dog got fleas it was because we kenneled him. Using the flea comb is a bit gross as you are combing out the fleas and their dirt, but I think pesticides are far grosser – they are a poison after all
danygirl says
My dog, Jenny is blind and has high blood pressure and glaucoma. The best tip I have is GET YOUR MEDS AT COSTCO. I priced her bp meds, and I save a ton at costco. I also found an online prescription discount card – I think it is RX Battle,. The card was FREE and I save $12 each time I fill her eyedrops. I save about $50 each time I fill the eye drops at costco vs. cvs or others.
ALso, ask if you save money by filling more months at a time. I pay the same price for 4 months bought together as I would buying her bp meds by the month. (and again, I save about $50 per month using costco vs. other pharmacies or the vet)
We are going to use a low cost spay service for our cat, saving $125.
MM says
We adopted two BIG rescue dogs and one has severe food allergies. We feed both Black and Tans Taste of the Wild (lamb and rice) as it’s the only one that agrees with them and takes care of the allergies. It’s about 45 dollars a bag. I called around to get prices and found that if I ordered larger quantities of bags (ex. an order of three bags or more) I got a discount off of my total price. I do that until Tractor Supply runs a sale where it’s 37 dollars a bag and then I spend about 300 bucks on dog food all at once. Also, we got our dog’s shots through the rescue at first (or there are other legit places to get certain shots) and had my vet administer them (so I didn’t have to worry about doing it wrong). Depending on the vet, they may not charge you for that especially if you’re already seeing them for something else (mine doesn’t charge to give shots if we already have the medicine since it literally takes a minute). Also, a plus about making sure my dogs get the proper exercise, not only are they healthy, but I NEVER have to trim their nails as the exercise they get outside trims them for me. :)
Finally, we live on a farm and we frown upon giving animals any type of shots except when absolutely necessary (since we eat that meat). So when we had the vet out for a pregnancy check, she showed us how to give different injections to all of our different types of animals (without actually injecting them) so that we could do it on our own and not call to have someone come out. Now that saves a boatload.
Siobhan says
I love the PediPaw- the commercials are silly. But honestly it is easy to use, my dog flips with normal clippers but after he got use to the pedipaw he was fine! And I use to take him to Petsmart for a bath, but thats silly now I throw in him the shower with me every few weeks and he is nice and clean… He is about 30lbs so its not that weird lol!
MM says
Hmmm…my Black and Tans wouldn’t go for taking a shower with me and vice versa…they take up too much room and they would hate to have to share with me, but it’s also a good way to save on water too if they don’t mind the spray. My two love to swim in the pond on our property, but hate getting wet in the rain and in the bath. Not sure what the issue is…guess I’ll have to bathe them in the pond! :) The male is really prissy about the rain, whereas the female takes it all in stride! :)
Joy says
This may be a double post (sorry), I don’t think the first one went through but its ok I though of some things to add.
We have 3 dogs and a cat so we try to save when we can. A humane society or a vet school usually offers less expensive vet care. One vet offers discounted vaccines every Saturday. We also do 3 year vaccines instead of 1 year. It is more expensive for the 3 year vaccine but cheaper than paying for the 1 year vaccine every year for 3 years. We have a mobile vet that also offers cheaper vet care. We got our cat neutered for only $40 there. Also a lot of humane societies offer low cost spay and neuter for low income families.
Every article I have read says that pet insurance it not worth it. Most people are better off putting the money they would be paying for pet insurance into a dedicated account for vet care. Consumer Reports has an excellent article explaining it http://www.consumerreports.org/pets/0307vet2.html
We also pay for our vet bills with a rewards credit card that gets paid off every month. Its only 1% cash back but every little bit helps.
Another thing is prevention (as previously mentioned). Our pets are fed a high quality food and they get supplements. We have a German Shepherd and they are prone to hip dysplasia so he gets glucosamine for healthy joints. And they all get fish oil and a multivitamin.
I also do all their grooming/bathing at home. And I brush their teeth so no expensive dental cleanings are needed
Heather says
I am very interested to see where this thread goes. Last year, my cat was vomiting every day for weeks quite a few times a day. She was losing hair and was down to only 6 pounds. We had a cricket problem in our house at the time, and she loves to eat crickets. I thought they were the problem and that she was having trouble digesting them. The vet didn’t think so. Anyways, they wanted me to get her a feline leukemia test. (despite the fact she has never been outside.) Then, they ran a whole ton of tests from heart to stomach to kidneys, etc…. She was in the hospital for three days. In the meantime, we manage to get the crickets under control. Well, $1800 and no diagnosis later, we bring her home. No crickets, no more vomit. She has been 100% fine ever since.
I would like to hear tips on how to save because I sure don’t want to spend thousands for nothing. Imagine how much it would be if something was wrong with her.
Does anyone have pet insurance? Is pet insurance worth it?
Kelly says
We do try to take advantage of specials our vet runs. As with most sales & savings it does require planning. Our vet runs specials on heartworm tests, dental care and the sort so it never hurts to ask if they have anything going on now or upcoming. Aside from that, a pet in our house is family, much like our human children so that is one area we RARELY skimp on. I once asked my vet about ordering meds through sites like 1800 Pet Meds because the savings were huge. While they will write Rx for those places, they don’t recommend it because the meds are not guaranteed. They can be from unknown discount sources that can be potentially unsafe for the pet. I wouldn’t risk my human children that way so I wouldn’t risk my pet either. You can always look for rebates for the meds your pet uses. Sometimes the vet will even give you the rebate info themselves. Just ask or do your own research. Recently I got $6-$15 rebates for Heartgard heartworm preventative meds.
When it comes to vet care, it’s very much like medical care for humans to us. Quality over quantity or even savings. If you’re really in a pinch and your pet needs expensive vet care such as surgery, contact some local shelters, humane society, and vet/vet tech schools. They may be able to help you out for a lower cost, or refer you to someone. Many shelters have vets on staff that are willing to assist pet owners in the community.
Darla says
Frontline Plus is now available in generic. Most pet and feed stores have this in stock already. I haven’t found a way to save on vet bills other than to take my animals to a country vet that works out of a shop at his house. He’s close by and does an excellent job.
One good piece of advice… it is a great idea to put a pet ID tag on your pet. Even house pets can disappear in a few seconds. I learned this lesson the hard way.
Coupon Rachael says
Ask if they do a cash discount if you have to have a surgery done. Also, we feed our Doberman Science Diet, which is about $40 for a large bag. I signed up on their website and got a few months worth of $5 coupons and I watched the sales at Petco and PetSmart and combined my coupon with the sale. I also signed up for the Petco PALS program where you swipe your card every time to earn points. When you reach a certain amount of points they email you a $5 off voucher. You can combine the voucher, with a coupon, with a sale! Also learn how to trim your dog’s nails so you don’t have to bring them to a groomer for this.
cara says
I agree. It is very easy to trim your own dogs nails. Sometimes it may take two people to hold the dog. If your dog has white nails you can see the quick pretty easy. Its pink and you don’t want to trim into it. Sometimes if you turn the paw upside down you can tell where the quick begins on black nails. You also want to stay clear of the metal cheap nail trimmers they dont work very well. You want the ones that almost look like a mini pair of hedgers.
cara says
Ok I have worked for a very large veterinary clinic for years. The best flea meds for your pet in my opinion is comfortis. It is an oral pill taken monthly, I believe is one of the best on the market. If you have cats you want to stay clear away from Hartz, a flea med sold at wal-mart, that can kill them if they were to lick it. Also, the clinic I worked at sold 6pks and 12pks of advantage. If you bought at least a 6 pk you would recieve an extra free dose.
Natoshia Smith says
well some call me a bad owner because im old fashioned and only take my dog to the vet when i can tell something is wrong(besides her rabies and booster shots) Luckily for me she is healthy and dont require any extra costs… but i was wondering before years ago and did find out that you can get health insurance for your pet… there are lots of sites out there that offer it… some thru Purina and other sites but i have seen there is no annual limits on some and some even reimburse you 80% after your deductible so this could be of great value to some since there is coverage for as little as $1/day… i just hope i can help someone because lots of people dont even know pet insurance even exists just google pet health insurance here is one i found to get you started but you should always shop around to get the best deals
http://www.petsbest.com/home_il.aspx
Jessica says
I work at a small animal veterinary hospital. Some tips are to call around for prices. however the cheapest is not always the best. We have 2 vet offices in our area that are dirt cheap however animals more often then not have complications or get sick or worse while at these places, and then you end up having to take them elsewhere. So you do get what you pay for. Always get an estimate. It is the vets job to offer you the best option for your pet 1st. But if that estimate looks scary ask if there are other options. Sometimes there is not, but it is worth a try. Some vets will explain the different options up front. Also, ask about specials. February is pet dental month and most vets offer large discounts on teeth cleanings and extractions during this month. Ours is 20% off but spaces fill up fast so book early. The other thing that bothers me SO much is that people wait until the last possible moment to get their pets seen. Lets say your new puppy starts vomiting Tuesday. Monday she is vomiting and has diarrhea. She still hasnt improved by Friday. So Friday at 3pm you decide to call to get her in. This late in the day, you will probably have to pay extra for the emergency appointment, AND now your pet needs alot more to get her feeling better, which means it will cost you alot more. Prevention really is alot cheaper. There is also insurance companies for pets. And some hospitals have online pharmacies with discounted prescriptions. If not then there are online pharmacies but make sure they are reputable. http://www.petmeds.com is good. Costco has great flea control products at Amazing prices. Whatever you do, DONT buy the hartz flea control. Its cheap, yes. but it does nothing and is toxic to many pets.
Leah says
At my vet’s office, they often have rebates available on some of the prescription dog/cat food, particularly Science Diet, sometimes you have to ask the receptionist about them. Also, many vets’ offices or animal hospitals have samples (just like doctors’ offices). Our local animal hospital recently gave us several cans of prescription cat food that we used for free because they had gotten samples from the manufacturer. Also, there is the option of asking for a discount if you pay in cash. All of these are great ways without compromising your pets’ health. I have learned it never hurts to ASK.
Kristen D. says
Just ask the vets! When my childhood dog Missy passed away, we donated all of her special food to the vet office to be given out to others who had pets with the same problems.
We also do a rabies clinic in various counties- $5 per pet. It’s really beneficial just to google stuff like that!
Thanks, by the way, for this topic! I look forward to seeing the comments of other folks. :)
RuthAnn says
Another way to save money is: When your vet says your pet needs some medicine, do this instead: Ask him/her if you can get this same med at the drug store. I have saved quite a bit getting our dogs meds there. Not all medicines are available, but quite a few are. One time I had to wait a day as the drug store had to order it and would be in the next day, but it was not anything serious to wait on. So check on this – it will save you some money or at least compare prices.
danygirl says
costco will be cheaper than any drugstore, believe me, I called them all.
Bridget says
Every year our city sponsors a large venue where vendors come in and advertise there…a veterinarian clinic comes and volunteers their time and we pay cost for the shots. $5 for Rabies, $10 for distemper, and I always get the Heart Guard Test for $20. I also make my dogs food and give him supplements. He has lost some weight since I put him on my homemade food and has stopped limping also! He is 11 and a large dog, so I wanted to find a way to help him without paying so much $. The homemade food and supplements cost 1/2 of what I was paying for the expensive commercial dog food that was suppose to be good for him. But, he looks younger now, moves better, and seems in general happier. His coat is amazing now! I make his food out of any kind of lean meat (chicken, turkey, beef, etc.) Brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, or green beans. I add hard boiled eggs sometimes and a calcium source like cottage cheese. I am planning on finding a food grade bone meal to add. I add fish oil, MSM, and glucosamine and condroitin to his meals. In one month the dog acts and looks younger! It is worth my time every other week to make his food!
Pam says
There is a company called Luv My Pet, which does low cost vaccinations on dogs and cats. They have packages that if you buy certain shots you get a rabies shot free. Depending where you live depends on where they go, up here in NJ, they are in Petco, Petsmart, and some smaller pet stores. All vaccines are given by a veterinarian. It really helps cut down on vaccine costs, especially in puppies when they need them so often and you don’t have to pay an “office visit” fee. They also sell heartworm medicine, and flea/tick products, and do microchipping. Their website is http://www.luvmypet.com . They have clinics all over. I hope this helps. :)
Charlene T says
I used these last time and i agree they were somewhat cheaper but I hate they try to upsell you on al these other things your pet could use.
jennifer flores says
as a groomer and breeder/owner/handler of multiple collies i have found best ways to save at the vet is to start early.buy the best dog food you ca,that your dog does best on.i have found no one brand is better then the other it is about what your pet does best on.also if you make your vet trips all in one shot when you have multipal animals like me it saves on the office visit since they charge for the first one only usually.also i dont do vaccinations once a year like some i have found and many other breeders i know do the same it is a waste of money and can harm some breeds of dogs like my breed for example.you can also save some by all natural flea and tick shampoos and items.i use ceadar shavings and 7 dust in my yard and kennels to combat fleas.i have not had fleas or ticks in the 15 years ive owned dogs.hope this helps.also as a groomer many shops will give a discount if you are a regulare customer and keep appointments before the dog gets matted and really bad shape.
Felicia says
My mom always gets our pets spayed and neutered with the snipz van at little to no cost. Apparently there is a branch of this program in most communities. Ask around, call your local animal control or ASPCA.
Shannon says
When you call the vet for an appt, ask if they are having any specials on anything. With the economy the way it is, many are offering discounts on many things. Such as reduced exam fee if you come in the month your pet is due, buying heartworm, and or flea/tick medication you can get discounts of buy x amount get x free or a reduced price. Senior discounts. Some months may be a discounted dental month. Some pet supply stores offer great coupons discounts with their card. There are ways to reduce, you just have to look and call around. Also alot of pet supply stores will have vaccination clinics with reduced fees that are very low.Also if your pet requires an antibiotic, some of them are available at pharmacies that offer free antibiotics, but you have to call to find out. Not all antibiotics are used for animals and people. It depends on what their need is. Always ask, you never know what discounts are out there.
ashley says
there is no way to save on vet bills. sorry! my dog is on prescription dog food $$, $60 insulin monthly, $ 50 insulin needles monthly, $70 dog grooming monthly, super expensive vet bills, surgery… etc. if you are going to take good care of an animal the cost is a killer, but how can you deny them when they are like your child?! if you know of any money saving ways let me know! we re-use the insulin needles twice to save on that cost!
Kristin from Couponing to Disney says
Awwwww Ashely your poor doggy! How old is it? My dog is 10 years old.
jennifer flores says
ashly also a saving instead of reusing needles is when i do vaccinations i found walmart sells them 12 for 3 dollars i think thats a great deal.and i want to add what breed of dog is it 70 for grooming that seems extreamly high unless its a breed like a standard poodle or something very large.
ashley says
he is a 15 year old blind and diabetic poodle. the groomer comes to the house in a special grooming van so it’s pretty high end pricing but our dog is too scared to go in the car to a groomer anymore. we stay on the van with him while he gets groomed. he also has an accident every time he is getting groomed because he gets scared, so the bill is $60 with a $10 tip.
tracie says
ashley, i work at a pharmacy and we have a lot of customers that come in and buy insulin and needles for their dogs. have you asked them if they have a bigger needle? i know our needles come in different gages and different needle lengths. I would also ask the vet what kind of insulin you need. Out right at the walmart stores in my area a vial is like $25.
Sarah says
Hmmm one of my dogs is diabetic as well. I was told to reuse needles until they are no longer sharp and are tough to put in, but also told that insulin needles are thin and shed metal if reused which can lead cause sepsis. I don’t reuse needles! I have found 100 (which is about 6 weeks worth) at Sam’s Club for $13. And, you don’t need a membership to use the pharmacy. What insulin do you use?
ashley says
our needles are expensive. we are using novalin (vetsulin was discontinued) and human needles which i don’t really like because the needle is tiny and it’s hard to tell if it goes in. i will need to talk to the pharmacist to see if i can get away with different needles. when we were using vetsulin we had different needles that were cheaper too.