Cash-strapped families should not cut back on sensible pet care because a sick dog or cat will cost more in the long run, a top Colorado State University veterinarian said Tuesday.
Still, there are ways to pare the budget for pet upkeep, said Dr. Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, head of CSU’s community practice unit within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
She urges pet owners to be frugal and creative. In the case of treats, owners who feed only a dry food should consider giving a small amount of canned food as a treat to dogs or cats.
Some pets may be lactose intolerant, but if they are not, yogurt and cheese may make suitable treats as well, she said.
Also, use a pet’s kibble as a treat. Measure out a suitable amount of dog food, and draw treats and meals from that, Ruch-Gallie said.
But she warns against skimping by buying low-cost food. Less expensive food often has lower nutritional value and may be high in “fillers” such as grains that are not typically digestible by the pet and provide little or no nutrition, Ruch-Gallie said.
Also, pets on low-quality food often will eat more to feel satisfied, which could eat up a family’s pet-food budget.
Low-quality food also could lead to health issues, such as diabetes and obesity, and lead to long-term and expensive treatment, Ruch-Gallie said.
There already is a surge in pet-related illnesses brought on by owners trying to cut back on care, Ruch-Gallie said.
“We’re seeing more emergency and problem visits rather than just routine checkups,” she said. “It’s probably due to people cutting back.”
Still, plenty of pet owners are still buying high-quality food to safeguard their dogs and cats.
“Lots of people are coming in trying to get their pets off the cheap, nasty stuff,” said a clerk at Willow Run Feed and Supply in Broomfield.
Ruch-Gallie offers other tips, including:
• Make sure other members of the family also are cutting back on handing out treats.
• Cut back on food if your pet is fat. About 30 to 50 percent of pets are overweight, so cutting back will help their health and the family budget.
• Curb pet-related impulse buys.
• Learn to groom pets at home.
• Take care of an animal’s teeth. That helps eliminate infections that can lead to more veterinarian bills.
• Don’t skip vaccinations or flea and tick prevention. These measures prevent major health problems that are expensive to treat.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
