How to save if you have a pet

by Ally Hunt on 23 July 2009  |  8 comments
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Pets can cost a fortune - but there are some tricks that can save you a few quid.

I'm always keen to try and reduce my family's outgoings - be it by switching energy supplier, shopping around and making the most of offers. And one area you can save quite a bit that many people don't realise about concerns their pets.

Our cat, Arthur, costs very little to keep, to be honest. That is until the dreaded visits to the vet. And that's because his annual booster injection, plus a few month's worth of flea and worming treatments adds up to a pretty hefty sum.

Well that was until a few years ago when I discovered online pet companies. Because although we rely on vets to tell us what our pets need, what many of us don't realise is that many of the non-prescriptive treatments and medications can be bought elsewhere, and much more cheaply.

And I'm not talking about buying generic products (like supermarket own brand ibuprofen being far cheaper than Nurofen). Nope, I mean the exact same brand-named product can generally be bought online, just significantly cheaper.

Our cat, for example, has been recommended Frontline Spot on to prevent fleas. Now, purchasing a six month supply from the vet costs a hefty £25. But buy it online from a company like VetUK and you pay just £16.93, with free delivery. That's a saving of over £7 for very little effort!

What's more, I can buy worming treatments far more cheaply too. And our cat food can be bought in bulk for a third less than from the local pet shop..

Prescriptions

And interestingly, the same applies to many prescription medications too. You'll need to ask your vet for a prescription for any specialist medication, but if you send it to a veterinary medicine supplier like VetUK you will generally be able to purchase it more cheaply than you would directly through a vet.

There's clearly some serious money to be saved - and we only have one pet. Imagine how much you could save if you had a houseful?