Cut the cost of pets

Loyal, cute and loving - our pets are our best friends, yet they can prove surprisingly costly company. Fortunately, a few simple changes to your shopping habits and routine can dramatically cut your pet care costs.

Are you thinking of getting a pet for Christmas? Or perhaps you already have one and you're struggling financially.

Here, I'm going to look at how you and your furry friends can weather the recession together.

Which animal, which breed?

First things first - if you're thinking of getting a pet, work out exactly how much it's going to cost you over the course of its life.

Recent RSPCA figures show that an average dog will cost you just under £10,000 over the course of its life, with the average cat costing just under £9,500. (Read The priciest pets in Britain to find out how much it costs to care for everything from horses and snakes to rabbits, rodents and goldfish!)

Bear in mind that insurance generally costs far less for a non-pedigree mutt/cat, and because mixed-breeds are relatively robust, both vet bills and other expenses (like specialist food) are likely to be lower.

Plus, you'll always be able to find a friendly mongrel or tomcat at an animal rescue centre. Here you'll pay far less than at a pet shop or breeder, and many expensive health procedures - like neutering and vaccinations - may already have been performed.

Looking after your pets

Medicine: You can save a packet on treatments for your pet by shopping online.

Non-prescription medicines don't have to be bought from your vet, and can often be got much cheaper elsewhere. VetUK, Pet Drugs Online and Best Pet Pharmacy are all good sites to try.

They'll also allow you to order prescription medicines, as long as you provide a prescription signed by your vet.

Food: Bulk buying can really reduce your pet food bill. If you can't carry it all home, don't worry. Many suppliers will now deliver for free, or for a very small charge.

Lesser-known brands are usually far cheaper than their big-name equivalents - and the ingredients may well be largely the same. Obviously it's important to research your pet's nutritional needs - just don't assume that the famous names contain some magic ingredient!

Feeding your dog or cat sugary food can be bad for your wallet as well as its health. The damage done to its teeth could mean whopping dental bills in the long run, which many pet insurance policies won't cover.

Regularly giving your dog hard, dry food or 'chews' should mean you and your furry friend avoid the expense - and stress - of regular dental treatment.

Finally, make sure you're not giving your pet too much food: RSPCA research indicates that a big majority of UK pets are overweight.

Over-feeding your pet will obviously up your pet food bill, but you could also face bigger medical bills in the long run. As well as affecting an animal's quality of life, pet obesity can lead to arthritis, diabetes, liver disease and heart disease.

Housing and bedding: If you're on a tight budget, see if you can get some pet equipment second hand.

Rabbit hutches, goldfish tanks and cat carry baskets are all bulky, and people are often very happy to give them away for free. Your local Freecycle network, and Gumtree's 'pets' section, are both worth keeping an eye on for free or cheap equipment.

Obviously, just make sure you check everything's working properly before you add the pet... and give it all a good clean, as you don't want your new friend catching anything.

Toys: There are plenty of safe, cheap household items that can be turned into toys. Cats, for example, love messing about with ping pong balls, corks, plastic milk bottle tops, bits of string, and tin foil balls.

If you do want to buy something, have a look in your local animal charity shop. Some sell baskets of cheap toys suitable for dogs (and without dangerous bits that could be swallowed).

Insurance

According to recent research by insurer LV=, nearly a million pet-owners plan to get rid of their pet insurance over the next year, to save money during the recession.

But that £10-£20 monthly saving could turn out to be a false economy if their pets need expensive medical treatment.

And a good pet insurance policy doesn't only cover injury and illness. Some pay out if your pet is lost or stolen, while others will pay your expenses if your pooch causes a car accident or knocks over the postman.

A really good policy will also provide dental cover for both injury and illness-related issues. According to Sainsbury's Finance, Britain's pet owners face a collective annual bill of over £28 million for the non-routine dental care of their pet dogs and cats - so it's worth thinking about.

Unfortunately, cheaper insurance policies often don't cover all of the above. To find out more about the different types of pet insurance on offer, read my earlier article Protecting your pet: What you need to know.

Prevention is cheaper than cure

Don't over-feed your pet. Many medical conditions suffered by pets are linked to or worsened if a pet is overweight, and your pet insurance claim could be deemed invalid if you're found to have not taken proper care of your pet.

Here's are the top five conditions associated with overweight pets, alongside the average amount claimed:

• Osteoarthritis: £500
• Heart disease / congestive heart failure: £800
• Renal (kidney) problems: £500
• Type Two diabetes: £500
• Respiratory disorders:£500

Source: Sainsbury's Pet Insurance

As you can see, healthy feeding and regular exercise could avoid pain for both your pet and your wallet!

Finally, make sure that dangerous substances are kept well away from inquisitive noses - and this means cigarette butts and chocolate as well as prescription medication and dangerous chemicals.

According to Marks & Spencer's Vetfone customer helpline (a sort of NHS Direct for pets), there was a 34% increase in calls last year relating to poisonings, with many relating to the consumption of nicotine patches, gum and inhalers.

Free help from lovemoney.com

Got a question about your pet? Want some more money-saving tips? Head over to Q&A and ask other lovemoney.com pet lovers for their advice!

More: Protecting your pet: What you need to know | 50 things you can get for under £5