Source: Radio New Zealand
There’s a responsibility for the nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders who own a pet to make sure their companion animals are well looked after.
But how far can you go without stretching the budget?
Focusing on the two most popular pets – cats and dogs – Christchurch vet Elora Saha offers practical advice on choosing between premium and cheap food, medical treatments, dental care, and thinking of the future.
If you’re tossing up between premium and cheap pet food, Saha told RNZ’s Thrift podcast that higher-quality foods have fewer fillers, which can mean you end up feeding them less.
The price of premium food may mean it’s not an option at all, so Saha suggests a mix of cheap and premium instead, if your cat or dog is healthy.
Choose products that fit your pet’s age and life stage, and that are described as offering a complete and balanced diet.
But Saha cautions that if an animal has a health condition, sticking to a diet prescribed by a vet is important.
ThriftSeason 7 / Episode 3
She’s also wary of advice on the internet that suggests adding veggies or broth to stretch out pet food.
“If you are wanting to stretch it out with more human food, you really need to be talking to a veterinary nutritionist.”
Consider the amount too. “There is copious evidence to show that overweight animals have a higher incidence of health-related disease,” Saha says.
Vet care is expensive, Saha acknowledges. But you’re paying for the expertise, she says, plus medicines and tests not subsidised by the government like human medical care.
Missing a vaccination may seem like no big deal but can be a burden in the long run. For example, skipping a flea treatment may mean you end up with a contaminated home too.
Or say your dog has an ear infection. If you’ve handled his ears from a young age and you catch the infection when it’s just a little bit red, the treatment will be much cheaper.
“If it’s a more advanced case where we then can’t touch the dog, we have to put the dog under general anaesthesia just to look at its ears — that’s going to be a lot more expensive,” Saha says.
Dental care is pricey too. To keep an animal’s mouth open usually requires paying for anaesthesia. But regular teeth cleaning can ward off problems, Saha says.
For dogs, products like dental sticks and dental biscuits – which aim to remove tartar from teeth – have limited benefits, Saha says.
“If you’ve got very heavy tartar, it’s not even going to make a dent on it.”
The gold standard is brushing their teeth, Saha says. There are special brushes and some tasty-flavoured toothpastes like poultry or malt available.
The lockdown puppies and kittens who were taken in during the pandemic are now probably heading into the age where health issues — and expenses — may arise, Saha says.
Research breeds before adopting or getting an animal – some are prone to certain conditions. Saha warns that smaller pets, like guinea pigs and rabbits, don’t mean smaller problems.
Adopting an animal from the SPCA or another rescue organisation can also be a thrifty option, because they often come treated, vaccinated, and de-sexed.
Consider your insurance options too. Saha suggests a comprehensive plan that covers accidents, emergencies, illnesses, as well as blood tests.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand