Can you administer your own vaccines? It's easier than you think. Except for rabies shots, all other vaccines can be bought at online pet pharmacies and administered at home. Can get the courage up to do it yourself? Many vets will administer the vaccine for free if you bring it with you during a routine check-up.
Buy Premium Food
You'd be hard pressed to find quality pet food at the supermarket. Generic food usually lacks vitamins and it contains fillers (including numerous animal by-products) that may produce allergies and contribute to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Buy premium food from your veterinarian or, at a minimum, from the pet store. Stick to well-known brands if you're shopping on your own, or ask your vet for recommendations. Premium foods are usually high in fiber, so you pet will eat less, saving money (and pounds!) in the process. Many problems, such as frequent urinary tract infections (very expensive to treat and very painful for your animal), can be avoided by switching to special food. Although you'd be paying more for premium food than for generic brands, you'll end up saving on vet bills in the long run.
Log On
For routine or long-term medications, shop online. Both 1800 PetMeds and PetRx offer incredible discounts and shipping is fast and affordable. Many online pet pharmacies will offer special discounts to returning customers, increasing your savings even more. Pet Warehouse and Mail Order Pet Shop sell both medications and discounted premium food.
Learn to Groom Your Pet Yourself
Get a video or a book from your local library, or simply do an online search. There are very few occasions when you truly need a professional groomer, like in the case of poodles and some long-haired dogs. Even then, you can still save by shopping around for the best deals, such as grooming schools. For most pets, it's enough to invest in a few bath products and a good brush for home grooming. Nail trimming is also easy, but if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, your vet can do it during a routine checkup.