A guide to saving money and keeping your animal healthy.
When you first obtain your new pet get the vet to check them over, stump up the cash in order to have them vaccinated and wormed, treat them for fleas and ear mites with a spot on treatment. This will reduce costs in the long run and should be done on a regular basis. Most vets are happy to provide additional spot on treatments without seeing your animal, this means no consultation fee.
Neuter your pet, this stops them roaming, spraying, fighting, humping your guests etc and takes the edge of a load of unwanted behaviours in a pet. How will that save me money I hear you say? Fights lead to infections and animals are not immune to STD's, un-neutered animals are more likely to roam and therefore more likely to get run over all leading to expensive vet trips and also the possibility of legal action against yourself. Remember if your pet causes an accident or attacks a person or animal you are responsible. Lets face it unless you intend to breed get them neutered, its better for them and cheaper for us.
Most dogs and cats need to be groomed once a day, this is an ideal time to check over your pet for any scratches or bites, and unwanted guests. Small cuts can be bathed with a solution of cooled boiled water and salt. If caught early enough and kept clean you can avoid the need for antibiotics and again the dreaded consultation fee.
If you own a dog with floppy ears I cannot stress enough the need for good ear hygiene, although I am sure that all dogs would benefit from this. I own a cross Springer? mongrel type dog and was unaware of this when I first got him. These types of dogs are prone to ear infections and need to have their ears cleaned daily in order to prevent them. As well as being extremely painful for the dog, the medication is costly and painful to the pocket (£28.00 at last prescription). A bottle of Sancerum ear cleaner, on the other hand costs £8 from the vet and lasts for months, no appointment necessary, and should be applied once a day. A gentle squirt into the ear canal and then gently rubbed on the outside of the ear to insure that it goes all the way in.
It is a good idea to do this outside and whilst wearing old clothes as the dog will shake its head vigorously after application and the wax can be quite smelly, when they finish shaking, gently wipe away any wax and dirt from the outside of the ear with cotton wool.
By doing this I have managed to cut the number of ear infections my dog gets down to one a year and at that it is nowhere near as bad as it was before we started this.
As a side effect of ear problems these dogs are prone to scratching their ears. This should be heavily discouraged as it can lead to all kinds of problems. Check for scratches and bathe if necessary, but also be aware that this level of scratching can lead to a haematoma developing in the floppy section of the ear. This is a large swelling, which will leave your dog miserable.
It is also very costly to treat as it requires an operation where the dog is sedated and the swelling is drained, and left open for a week in order to prevent further build up. The dog needs to wear a lampshade during this time and if your animal is anything like mine they will spend a week getting stuck against corners and stairs, and generally moping around and feeling sorry for themselves. The last time that we had our dog treated for this the total bill was in excess of £400. Fortunately through cleaning his ears every day we have managed to prevent this from happening again.
Training.
This is essential for both dogs and cats as it is the difference between a pleasant pet and a pain in the ass.
All of my animals over the years have come from rescue shelters and many of them have been a challenge but it can and must be done.
In the case of dogs an untrained dog is a menace to themselves and others, likely to be run over in the road, or to fight with other dogs, both resulting in expensive trips to the vet. If you are struggling with training your dog join the local training club, this also gives you a chance to meet other dog owners and if you are new to dog ownership pick up some tips along the way.
Contrary to popular belief cats can be trained (to an extent). When bringing a new cat home the scratch post should be in place before the cat, and covered with catnip. A scratch post will pay for itself a million times over by saving your furniture and carpets. If your cat insists on using your couch a quick shot from a water pistol will soon have them running off, and this is handy to discourage curtain climbers and other unwanted cat behaviour.
If at all possible take your animals to a farm vet. This can cut your bill by a huge amount, both on consultation charges and medication. The only difference between the farm vet and the town vet seems to be décor and cost, the level of care is just as high and they are honest and will tell you exactly what they recommend for your pet with none of the sentimentality that tends to lead to unnecessary blood tests and x-rays on a dog that is going to pass away no matter what.
Consider just what you want from a pet before you choose a breed. Irish wolfhounds are amazing animals but not too good with cats, they also need a large amount of specialist care not to mention their own mattress to sleep on. A bored collie can and will destroy a leather sofa in a matter of minuets. Oriental cats are very vocal especially when in season, to the point that they can drive both you and your neighbours to breaking point. Longhaired cats require constant coat attention otherwise they develop mats, which can if untreated lead to sores and abscesses developing. The list here goes on forever, even the common mongrel and moggy will need vast amounts of time and attention and you need to consider this before you embark on pet ownership.
A pet is a serious commitment and it is not unknown for cats to live into there twenties, long after the kids have fled the nest leaving you to care for them. Holidays also need to be looked at, as not all animals will tolerate boarding kennels. Do you know someone who will be prepared to look after them if you are away?
Consider how much time you have to give, how much walking you want to do and also your living circumstances. Far too many dogs and cats are abandoned every year due to poor choices on behalf of their owners.
A healthy diet is just as important for your pets as it is for you. Dogs and cats are not immune to heart disease and diabetes and the medication for both these conditions is extortionate. Prevention is better than cure both for your pet and your wallet.
Dogs should never be fed chocolate or grapes as these are highly toxic to canines and can cause death.
Tit bits should be avoided as they can lead to obesity and a fussy eater. Dried pet foods are best as they promote healthy teeth and gums as well as providing the nutrition that your pet needs.
Dairy products should not be fed to dogs and cats as their system cannot tolerate them and can lead to the animal developing colitis, a painful condition that results in them fouling all over the house and a long term expensive diet.
Exercise.
All pets need to exercise and let off steam. As a pet owner this can be some of the best time that you spend with your pet. There is nothing better than tramping along with mans best friend at your side, however you do need to bear in mind that dogs still need the same level of walking rain, hail or shine, and seem to be immune to cold.
A dog will expect the same level of exercise every day for the rest of its life, this needs to be remembered as many people walk their dogs for miles during the first month, before the novelty wears off and then appear surprised when their once placid pet has destroyed some prized piece of furniture. Again breed needs to be considered when finding a dog suited to your lifestyle, if you are not the most active of people it is best not to choose a Dalmatian or other active breed.
Cats also need to exercise or they quickly become overweight and bored. If your cat is to be kept indoors you need to provide them with stimulation and opportunity to run around or they will become bored and develop behaviour problems. If at all possible house cats should be kept in pairs as this gives them a playmate, this is especially important if you are out during the day. Do not be fooled by their wide-eyed cuteness and small size, a bored cat can cause extensive damage in a short time. Ideally cats should have access to a garden as this allows them to chase bugs and do whatever else it is that cats do outside. Your garden needs to be checked on a regular basis for hazards that could result in a trip to the vet, nails and rubbish that has been blown in needs to be removed daily and daily fence checks need to be performed.
Cats and dogs will eat grass so weed killer needs to be avoided or choose one that is safe for animals, the same goes for slug pellets. It is also worth noting here that you should check your shed at the end of the day, as cats are masters at getting themselves locked in. The Cats Protection League recommends that cats are brought inside at night and provided with a litter tray. This reduces the risk of them being run over and also as gross as is your cats faeces are often the first sign that something is wrong allowing you to treat any health problems quickly.
Teeth Dogs and cats both need to have their teeth cleaned at least once a week and wherever possible this should be started when they are young. This can be a challenge especially if you have adopted an older pet from a shelter but it is well worth persevering, as it will save you a fortune in vet's fees in the long run. With older cats and dogs a tooth brush dipped in tuna will usually be tolerated as a starting point before moving on to the dog and cat toothpaste that can be bought from the pet shop.
I would like to add here that wherever possible it is best to have pet insurance, however I have learned the hard way that the insurance companies are often reluctant to pay out on rescue animals and will often argue that the condition was present prior to the policy being taken out.
