How to Save on Vet Care
This article is somewhat unorthodox but I think it is worth mentioning. First, I want to say for the record I am a very big animal lover and I want my pets to have great care. However, I also know pet care can get expensive so let me share my story on how I save on pet care.
My wife and I have 3 dogs, I had 2 and she had 1 when we got married. We live in the largest city of our state. There are several vets I have tried and they all seem good, but also the cost is noticeably higher than vets in rural areas of our state. For example, a dog’s annual exam and shots can easily eclipse $125 dollars if not higher. While that is probably cheaper than a lot of places, it is still high to me.
I was raised in a small farming community about an hour from our current city. The town has about 2500 people and there is one vet in the town. About 3 years ago, I checked and the vet in that town actually was opened every other Saturday. Since then, I have been taking my dogs on the one hour commute to get their wellness exam and shots from that vet. The care seems equally good, but the cost is $45 per dog.
On the rare occasions I have needed a vet closer, I still use my old vet in the city or the emergency after hours vet services in our area. I keep a current copy of the shot records to take with me. Otherwise, all my services are filled by the vet in the rural community I grew up.
Again, this might not be for everyone, but I think it is an effective way to save money. Plus, I like the idea that I am helping a vet in the town I grew up because he probably needs the business more than a vet in the city. I figure I save more than 50% each time I use his service so it is worth the few extra hours and gas in my truck.
If you are looking for ways to trim your budget, this might be something to consider. Perhaps you know a friend or relative who lives in a small town or rural area who can recommend a vet to you. It might be worth your time to give them a call and inquire about the possibility of using their services to save a little extra money.
This article is somewhat unorthodox but I think it is worth mentioning. First, I want to say for the record I am a very big animal lover and I want my pets to have great care. However, I also know pet care can get expensive so let me share my story on how I save on pet care.
My wife and I have 3 dogs, I had 2 and she had 1 when we got married. We live in the largest city of our state. There are several vets I have tried and they all seem good, but also the cost is noticeably higher than vets in rural areas of our state. For example, a dog’s annual exam and shots can easily eclipse $125 dollars if not higher. While that is probably cheaper than a lot of places, it is still high to me.
I was raised in a small farming community about an hour from our current city. The town has about 2500 people and there is one vet in the town. About 3 years ago, I checked and the vet in that town actually was opened every other Saturday. Since then, I have been taking my dogs on the one hour commute to get their wellness exam and shots from that vet. The care seems equally good, but the cost is $45 per dog.
On the rare occasions I have needed a vet closer, I still use my old vet in the city or the emergency after hours vet services in our area. I keep a current copy of the shot records to take with me. Otherwise, all my services are filled by the vet in the rural community I grew up.
Again, this might not be for everyone, but I think it is an effective way to save money. Plus, I like the idea that I am helping a vet in the town I grew up because he probably needs the business more than a vet in the city. I figure I save more than 50% each time I use his service so it is worth the few extra hours and gas in my truck.
If you are looking for ways to trim your budget, this might be something to consider. Perhaps you know a friend or relative who lives in a small town or rural area who can recommend a vet to you. It might be worth your time to give them a call and inquire about the possibility of using their services to save a little extra money.