I’m a vet – my top tips could save you hundreds while taking care of your dog
THE top tips to save hundreds of pounds while taking excellent care of your dog have been revealed by a vet.
Dog food, parasite control medication, and everything that comes with providing your pooch with the loving care it deserves can be expensive – especially amid a cost of living crisis.
As prices soar and inflation increases, many pet owners across the UK are struggling to afford the necessary items for their canine companions.
But Dr Paul Manktelow, a strong advocate for pet health and welfare, has shared his helpful top tips to save money on TikTok account @vitabiotics.
One area the canine expert recommends cutting costs in, is on dog food and nutrition.
Speaking on his podcast, Top Tips for Pet Owners In A Cost-Of-Living Crisis with Dr Paul Manketlow, he said: “Dog diets vary hugely in costs, from a few pence per day to a few pounds.
“It’s fine to move to a cheaper dog food but do the transition over a few days.
“If you’re struggling to buy dog food you can use bulking agents just for a couple of days such as rice, pasta, and cheap mince meat.
“It will certainly get you over a hurdle until you can find dog food again.”
It is also heart-warming to know that many animal charities have now set up pet food banks, such as the one with the Blue Cross.
If a family is struggling, they are encouraged to find one of these services to help get through tough times.
Another helpful piece of advice is to introduce a multivitamin into your dog’s diet.
“I recommend your dog gets a balanced diet, and you might want to consider a balanced multivitamin and you can add that as an insurance policy to make sure your dog is getting the nutrients that it needs,” Dr Paul added.
In another episode of Top Tips for Pet Owners In A Cost-of-Living Crisis, the animal welfare advocate explained how to save the pennies when it comes to your pet’s parasite control.
He said: “Check in with your vet about what the most prominent parasite is in your area.
“As a minimum make sure you’re covering for those, for example if you’re in a lungworm area, you definitely want to be using a lungworm product regularly.
“In some situations you can stretch out parasite control, and instead of giving it monthly for example, you could give it every six weeks or two months, which will help you to save costs.
“The other thing you can do when it comes to fleas, is regularly check in the dog’s coat and look for evidence of fleas, and then you will know you definitely need to apply the product.”
It comes after research, commissioned by Wisdom Panel in partnership with Whistle Health, the health tracking smart device for your pet, revealed the average dog owner will fork out a staggering £1,648 per year.
This Morning‘s vet, Dr Scott Miller, has shared his advice on how to stop your four-legged friend being a huge expense.
He said: “Vet bills can be hugely expensive but there are many ways pet owners can keep these costs down – from the more obvious changes, such as food quantity and exercise, to keeping track of their health.
“The likes of track and test technology, including pet DNA kits and wearable pet devices, can get dog owners on the front foot by identifying common breed related health risks early on whilst tracking a dog’s behaviour for clues about ongoing issues.
“A simple wearable device will spot habits like excessive drinking – which could point to kidney disease and if left untreated could cost thousands to treat.
“Likewise, itching and scratching could indicate issues such as an allergy which if caught early would save the pet owner considerable money down the road.
“With frightening numbers of dogs being abandoned due to the rising cost of living, being proactive about pet care gets owners back in control and saves money.”
The expert also encouraged taking good care of your canine’s teeth using chews, gels and brushing to reduce risk of gingivitis and tooth loss – which incur on average £750 in vet bills.
For more tips on how to reduce expense worries for your dog, click here.
TOP 10 PET EXPENSE WORRIES FOR DOG OWNERS:
- Unexpected vet bills
- Insurance
- Anticipated vet bills i.e. yearly vaccinations
- Food
- Grooming costs
- Flea treatments
- Accessories
- Toys
- Pet tech e.g. wearable devices
- Outfits