On many occasions we face the decision making that involves maintaining care for our dog and reducing expenses without affecting their quality of life. In this post we explain some steps to follow to do this successfully and be sure that it does not have a positive impact on both the dog and you.
Benefits of living with a dog and expenses at home
28% of families make ends meet with difficulties in Spain. And 10% admit that they accumulate delays in the payment of receipts.
Living with a dog, like expanding the family with a child, involves expenses.
Living with a dog implies responsibility, care and, like expanding the family, necessary expenses. The new member of the family needs veterinary care, a good diet, as well as affection and games.
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In return, our new friend more than returns what he receives. Living with an animal makes life more enjoyable and develops human skills that are difficult to achieve otherwise.
But, we all know, that in a period of crisis, saving is imposed as a necessity. Therefore, below we show you some steps to follow to reduce the expenses of the dog without this shaking his quality of life.
1. Forecast the dog’s expenses: prepare a spreadsheet
The average income of a Spaniard was 9,321 euros in 2012, says the INE. In some cases, much lower.
When it comes to anticipating expenses, it is good to get used to drawing up a dog expense sheet. Include in it vaccines, food and veterinary check-ups. So we can get an idea of how much we will need to balance the accounts at home. The ideal is to sort the information by months and concepts to plan games and not take surprises.
2. Save by arranging visits to the vet
According to the Official College of Veterinarians of Madrid, the average veterinary care of a dog per year is about 200 euros between check-ups, vaccinations, cleanings and more specific attention.
To sustain and reduce the dog’s medical expenses, it is advisable to distribute visits to the veterinarian. Veterinarians recommend two visits a year, therefore, the idea is to match these visits with vaccinations and deworming.
Another of the premises is not to skip the visits, since the check-ups imply a review that can avoid diseases and major expenses is a future.
3. Offers at the vet and flat rates for dogs
Study on the average prices of veterinary consultations
Flat rates are also available with veterinarians, these rates involve paying a fixed amount per year that covers different services for the dog.
There are also other types of discounts: there are large family discounts, if the owner has three animals or more.
Ideally, ask, because ratesvary by clinic.
4. Discounts on dog food
According to the National Association of Pet Food Manufacturers, 284,199 tons of dog food are sold in Spain every year.
Buying large bags of animal feed reduces the price by almost half.
The price of a high-end dog food ranges between 6 and 7 euros per kilo, depending on the brands. However, one way to save is to buy larger bags of food: if you buy one of 15 or 20 kilos, the price is usually reduced by almost half.
Another way to buy good quality food and save is to make the purchase online. With this option you can access interesting offers that are only available on the internet.
5. Choose durable accessories
Sturdy dog bed
When buying necessary accessories for the animal, it is advisable to think long-term. If we need a special mattress for dogs, it is important to think that an adult dog will need a mattress adapted to rest for an elderly or arthritic pet and opt for one of better quality and more durable.
If a small mat is acquired when the animal is a puppy, the purchase will have to be repeated once the dog grows. It is better, therefore, to choose a large one from the beginning.
6. Homemade outerwear
Coats for the cold, canine raincoats for the rain… Making at home some of the garments that the dog may need is simple and economical. A little trick is enough.
7. Save on dog toys by making them at home
It is not necessary to spend money to have fun with our dog, he will always find himself happy with a toy. One possibility is to manufacture the toys at home and combine this option with a dose of entertaining proposals that do not need material objects, such as walks in the mountains and games that exercise the dog’s intelligence.
8. Have friends and family to take care of the dog
Turning to the social network to attend to our furry friends is a very good option when one needs to leave home for a few days. So we don’t have to spend money on professional caregivers and share our pet’s company with family and friends.
Seven out of ten Spaniards have taken care of the dogs of friends and family on occasion.
9. Education to avoid damage at home
The arrival of a puppy at home can be a headache. Small dogs are prone to smashing shoes, plants and even part of the furniture in the house. These messes involve an obvious extra expense.
These items of money can be avoided, since there are some guidelines or products such as anti-bites to avoid the destruction of the puppy.
Education and even resorting to a professional if necessary, can also be more of an investment than an expense when there is a problem of continuous behavior in the dog.
Source: consumer.es
