Affordable alternatives to keep your pets happy and healthy

Having a cat will cost you an average of $1,500 a year not counting a major health crisis or any extravagant purchases (diamond collars and $500 kitty condos are optional). Dogs are even more expensive. Surprised? Most pet owners are. If you're thinking of sharing your home with an animal, or if you already are, these tips will help you cut corners without putting the health of your furry companion at risk!

1. Adopt a Pet From a Shelter

… instead of buying one at the local pet shop. Not only will you be save hundreds of dollars, you'll also be saving a life.

2. Keep Your Pets Indoors

You will protect them from illnesses, accidents, and attacks by other animals. If you're not willing to make them part of your family, then you're not ready for them.

3. Spay or Neuter

Spaying and neutering lowers or eliminates the risk of breast and testicular cancers, prostate infections and enlargement, perineal hernias, and false pregnancies. It also prevents many behavioral problems, makes pets less aggressive and less prone to wander away. The procedure also saves you money on caring for a pregnant animal (and the future babies) and cuts the cycle of unwanted and homeless animals.

4. Find Alternatives to Vet Clinics

For routine care, yearly vaccinations, and deworming, you may save a lot of money by skipping your vet. Animal shelters, the local Humane Society, and many pet stores sometimes house mobile clinics that offer great savings on routine care. Some places even offer grooming as a perk or for a large discount. PetsMart stores, for example, have a rotating vet offering low-cost immunizations on weekends. Petland stores have started to offer the same service in large cities.

5. Consider Vet Schools and Teaching Hospitals

Pets are usually seen by students in their last year of school, under the close supervision of DVM professors and licensed veterinarians. Some places offer complete services, including outpatient surgery and hospitalization, while others only cover basic health problems. Find out in advance and be prepared with alternative clinics in case you have an emergency they cannot treat.

6. Be Your Own Vet

Can you administer your own vaccines? It's easier than you think. Except for rabies shots, all other vaccines can be bought at online pet pharmacies and administered at home. Can get the courage up to do it yourself? Many vets will administer the vaccine for free if you bring it with you during a routine check-up.

7. Buy Premium Food

You'd be hard pressed to find quality pet food at the supermarket. Generic food usually lacks vitamins and it contains fillers (including numerous animal by-products) that may produce allergies and contribute to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Buy premium food from your veterinarian or, at a minimum, from the pet store. Stick to well-known brands if you're shopping on your own, or ask your vet for recommendations. Premium foods are usually high in fiber, so you pet will eat less, saving money (and pounds!) in the process. Many problems, such as frequent urinary tract infections (very expensive to treat and very painful for your animal), can be avoided by switching to special food. Although you'd be paying more for premium food than for generic brands, you'll end up saving on vet bills in the long run.

8. Shop Online

For routine or long-term medications, shop online. Both 1800 PetMeds and PetRx offer incredible discounts and shipping is fast and affordable. Many online pet pharmacies will offer special discounts to returning customers, increasing your savings even more. Pet Warehouse and Mail Order Pet Shop sell both medications and discounted premium food.

9. Learn to Groom Your Pet Yourself

Get a video or a book from your local library, or simply do an online search. There are very few occasions when you truly need a professional groomer, like in the case of poodles and some long-haired dogs. Even then, you can still save by shopping around for the best deals, such as grooming schools. For most pets, it's enough to invest in a few bath products and a good brush for home grooming. Nail trimming is also easy, but if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, your vet can do it during a routine checkup.

10. Consider Pet Insurance

For as little as $20 a month, pet insurance companies will foot about 80 percent of your yearly vet bills. Although most of these companies offer little to no coverage for routine care, even one major procedure your pet has to go through justifies the expense. Knowing you will get reimbursement for your expenses also gives you the freedom to choose the best vet around instead of going with the first one you can afford.

11. Learn First Aid

The Red Cross offers a certification in Pet First Aid. It consists of an intensive workshop, which you're encouraged to attend with your dog. It will teach you all the essentials of dealing with small problems such as cuts, bruises, and splinters, plus emergency responses (including CPR). Knowing how to treat small problems may save you unnecessary trips to the vet and would prove invaluable should you ever run into an emergency.

12. Be Informed

Do you know what constitutes a true emergency? What's the normal temperature for a cat? A dog? Can you recognize breathing difficulties? Vision problems? Knowing when you need to run to the emergency clinic and when you can wait for the more-reasonably-priced vet the next morning is priceless.

13. Consider the Extras

At some point, you'll want to go away on vacation. What happens with your pet then? You can either board him on a kennel or pay a petsitter to come and check on him daily. While both alternatives may cost about the same (from $15 to $40 a day, depending where you live), boarding is often stressful for the animal. If you can enlist a friend to stay over and keep Fido company while you're away, do so. Otherwise, look for a trusted petsitter that's willing to stop by twice a day.

Toys don't have to cost a fortune, either. Most dogs will be as happy with a $1 tennis ball as with a $25 one made with imported rubber. Catnip toys will keep a cat entertained for months. Keep an eye open for bargains --Many dollar stores sell pet toys, or check sales through online retailers.