How to Save on Pet Expenses: Vet Visits, Medicines, Food, More

In this dog-eat-dog economy, the cost of owning a pet is skyrocketing. Average vet claims now 32% more expensive than just 2020, with prices for pet food and treats up 20%, forcing pet owners to make some heartbreaking decisions. Our Today Affordability Survey found nearly two-thirds of respondents say they've cut back on vet visits for their pets. My pets are definitely suffering as well as I because of the economy. Illinois high school teacher Joni Johnston says her 12-year-old Shiba Inu, Truman, and her 7-year-old golden retriever, Luca, are everything to her. You just are thankful every day for them because they're my family, they're my roommates. But as a breast cancer survivor struggling with medical bills, Joni says she's had to cut way back on vet visits as well as medications for her dogs. Truman suffers from a serious skin allergy. I just had to watch him limp around for two months. Because his foot was so irritated, knowing, oh, I couldn't, you know, take him to the vet or give him any relief. Do you worry about what happens if there's an emergency with your pets? Oh, yeah, I'm in fear that something like that happens. There's no way I could afford that. But experts say there are strategies that can dramatically reduce your pet expenses. That will save you tons of money every month. Robin Ganzert is CEO of American Humane Society, a nonprofit supporting animal welfare worldwide. She says at the vet, you can actually negotiate the bill. When her daughter's kitten recently needed emergency surgery, Robin was able to get the charges cut nearly in half. What are the questions you can ask the vet when it comes to payment to maybe negotiate that bill down? I asked about the priority of care, what is needed to save the cat's life, and the other items that were on the list that the veterinarian recommended we could put off to do at a regular veterinarian for a fraction of the cost. She says to save at the vet, also spend on preventative care, like annual wellness checks, vaccines, and medications for heartworm, fleas, and ticks. You're able to treat the animal in advance of something becoming life-threatening. Don't skimp on the preventative care. It's better to be proactive than reactive, and you'll save money that way. 100%. She says another way to lower vet bills, regularly brush your pet's teeth using a pet toothbrush and toothpaste. If you don't have good dental care with your pets, they're going to have infections. You end up in the ER with very expensive bills and antibiotics. Robin says filling pet medications at a human pharmacy can be cheaper, but check with your vet first to make sure it's the same drug. You can get generics, which saves you a lot of money. Think about the anti-anxiety pills. I had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He had a heart murmur, and a human form of medicine through our CVS saved us a lot of money. Joni says Truman requires pricey prescription food, forcing her to cut back on her own groceries just to afford it. My weekly essentials doubled and over-doubled in price in the last six months. So we shared her story with American Humane Society, and they offered to help. The American Humane Society, they want to give you Free veterinary care, free medication, and free specialty dog food for Truman and Luca for the rest of their lives. He told us it's a lifesaver for her and her precious pets. Thank you. Thank you so much. So sorry. I know. Our thanks to the American Humane Society. And experts say if you have noticed... Vets are so expensive. Well, one reason is because many clinics have been purchased by private equity firms. So we do want to tell you there are some other great ways to save. You can look for free services. Many animal shelters and pet supply chains do offer vet exams, vaccinations, even spay and neuter at no cost. And also remember to buy your pet food in bulk when it is on sale. We got Black Friday coming up. That is a good time to think about getting some of those pet supplies as well. I love that you've extended your portfolio, by the way, to include cost saving for our free. Listen, that's right. Money is money. Money is money, and those are our family members, no doubt. Quick question. Dylan and I were just talking about this a few minutes ago. Pet insurance. A lot of folks always wonder, is it actually worth it? Is pet insurance worth it? So it very well can be, especially if you have a breed that is prone to... Like injury or known health issues, or if your pet is older, you do also want to check with your employer. We have this here. They have discounts on pet insurance. If you're a member of Costco as well, check there, but you want to read the policies carefully. They are different. You can also go online and kind of search and compare plans, but a lot of them don't cover expenses like the annual health exam, vaccines, and medications. Also, if your pet has a preexisting condition, it's like human health insurance. That is a factor too. So sometimes you want to get it Get it when your pet is younger, but there are options for older pets. A whole different matrix Can we offer a discount here with our company? Yeah. I was just about to say. I might look into that. We have it. We have it. You have it for your dog? We do. Really? Wow. Dylan, did you know that? I didn't, but I'm not messing with anything. I'm not buying in bulk. I'm not getting rid of insurance. Bosco's $16. Wow. I don't want to jinx anything. Oh, that's great. I'm just going to keep it as is. That's true. You're doing a good job. Just keep paying the bills. Yeah. And Bosco just turned 16. We treated my dad the same way at the end. You're such a cuck. Let pops be pops. Hey, thanks for watching. And don't forget, you can catch the Today Show every morning on NBC or take today when you're on the go. Just follow the Today Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.