The American Veterinary Medical Association posted some valuable tips for caring pet owners and we’d like to share some of them here with you.

While everyone likes to save money, it’s important to remember how critical it is to provide regular, ongoing healthcare for your pet and that an investment in preventive healthcare can actually reduce your long-term pet healthcare costs.

The process begins with selecting the right veterinarian for you and your pet.  Be sure to evaluate more than just the cost of their services – factors such as how the veterinarian and staff treat you and your pet, convenient office hours, what type of payment options and plans they offer, as well as whether or not their services are comprehensive, are all important elements to consider.

Once you’ve selected the right veterinarian, be sure to schedule annual preventive healthcare exams and regular preventive care – such as vaccinations, heartworm testing, fecal parasite exams, dental evaluation and more – as this can save pets’ lives by ensuring they’re healthy, not to mention saving pet owners money by reducing or eliminating the risk of health problems that can be more expensive to treat later on.

Many of us have experienced the high cost of prescription medications and this can be true for pet medications as well, however this may be an area where owners can save money, as there is always the option to purchase pet’s medications from a variety of sources, including large grocery or pharmacy chains, online pharmacies or your own veterinarian. Do be careful when buying medications from any source other than the veterinarian you trust with your pet’s well-being and be sure to purchase only from reputable pharmacies with a valid license in your state. You can check license status with your state pharmacy board.

There are many factors to consider when making decisions about your pet’s healthcare, but the bottom line is that ensuring they receive regular preventative healthcare from a qualified professional.

For the full article, visit:  https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/Money-tips-for-caring-pet-owners.aspx