Biting back against the credit crunch
With more and more families tightening the purse strings and looking for ways to cut household expenditure, Arthur Lodge Veterinary Surgery is offering advice on how to keep Moggy and Rover in the manner they have become accustomed to.
The UK pet food industry has an estimated worth of £1.9 million, indicating that despite the current financial climate the British public are refusing to stop spending money on their beloved pets.
Julian Peters, owner of Arthur Lodge commented:
“The easiest and quickest way to save money for cats and dogs is to switch from wet to dry food. By doing this you will be able to save approximately £10 a month.”
However, if you do decide to change your pet’s diet there are things that will need to be taken into consideration. Julian continued:
“Animals require a nutritionally balanced diet, so like humans, there are certain components that are needed for a healthy diet. When swapping to dry food make sure that it has the word ‘complete’ on the packaging, as this indicates that it can be a meal in itself and doesn’t need to be given alongside wet food.”
It’s not only food where you can make savings. Cats are renowned for being able to snuggle and sleep just about anywhere, so before you go and buy a flash new bed think about using a cardboard box and a blanket as this will work just as well.
Another saving can be made by making sure you have adequate pet insurance. Animals can become sick as quickly as humans, but in the absence of a free NHS for animals, treating your favourite pet could become quite expensive.
“We all have insurance for our cars, houses and belongings, so why not our pets who are members of the family,” commented Julian. “I always advise my clients to take out lifetime cover and not use policies that only provide cover for a specific condition or last for a year, and then have certain conditions excluded.”
Finally, with a number of leading animal charities having seen a significant increase at their shelters since the onset of the credit crunch, if you are looking for a new pet to add to the family, adopting an animal is a much cheaper option than a private sale.
If you are looking at ways to save some money, but concerned about what effects this will have on your furry friend, the Arthur Lodge team are always on hand to offer advice. They can be contacted on 01403 252964 or alternatively pop into the surgery based on Arthur Road, Horsham for a chat.