I know very well that better quality dog and cat foods can cost two or even three times more than that of the cheaper brands. Pet owners who feel that cannot afford it, unfortunately will more than likely pay in the long run. When their pet becomes sick with kidney or liver disease or when their pet continues to be treated for skin irritations and/or ear infections - those vet bills to 'fix' the health problem due to years of inferior nutrition cost far more than the 'few cents' a meal to provide the pet better quality nutrition. Before you scoff at the 'few cents a meal' theory - let me explain.
Many pet owners experience 'sticker stock' when looking at a better quality pet food. They look at the price tag and gasp when thinking how fast Fido or Fluffy goes through that bag of food. What they don't understand is that with better quality dog or cat foods, you don't feed nearly as much as with the cheap pet foods. Cheap foods have cheap 'filler' ingredients that doesn't satisfy the nutritional needs of the pet - thus they tend to eat a great deal more attempting to get the nutrition their body is telling them they need. On average, dogs and cats that eat higher quality pet foods (higher quality ingredients) consume about 1/3 less than that of a cheaper inferior food.
Looking at a pet food cost per mealIf your pet currently eats 1 cup of food per day, a 20 pound of pet food will provide you with about 50 meals. If the dog food or cat food costs you $15.00 for a 20 pound bag, that costs you about $.30 per meal. Now, if you feed a high quality pet food - feeding about 1/3 less, a 20 pound bag will provide you with about 80 meals for your pet. If the better food costs twice as much as the inferior food - $30.00 for a 20 pound bag, that breaks down to less than $.38 cents per meal.
Even when the price tag of a pet food looks to be twice as expensive, it's actually far from the truth. With the example above, at $.30 cents per meal, two meals a day - in one month you will spend about $18.00 to feed your pet with an inferior food. With the apparent twice as expensive high quality pet food, at $.38 cents per meal, two meals a day - in one month you are spending about $22.80 to feed your pet. That's less than $5.00 per month difference between a high quality pet food and a inferior cheap pet food. It is necessary to consider the cost per meal of the food before you think it's too expensive.
With better, more nutritious pet foods - they do NOT need as much as with the cheaper foods. Don't let the old habit of feeding more sway you when you switch to a more nutritious pet food - again, with more quality ingredients they just don't need as much food as with inferior ingredients. In most cases, if you switch your pet to a quality pet food and continue to feed the same amount as the lesser quality food you were feeding - your pet will gain weight.
The exact serving size varies from pet to pet. If your dog or cat has no 'figure' or shows no waist, chances are they need to lose a few pounds. Just cut back the serving size a little. Or, if you can visibly see ribs, then you probably need to slightly increase the serving size. Also, a cup of food a day for a two year old pet will probably be too much food when they are a little older. It is best to continue to monitor your pets weight.
Please don't just consider the cost of a dog food or cat food - look at the first five ingredients of the pet food and consider the cost per meal.
Health care for dogs is not inexpensive. Yearly pysical exams, blood tests, vaccines, antiparasitics,and good food can cost a lot of money. However, preventative medicine is always cheaper than treating a disease Overall health care costs for your dog will be reduced if you invest in preventative health measures.
For example, a year of heartworm preventative for a small dog can cost on average $72 dollars, but treatments for heartworm can cost up to $600 dollars. It is always cheaper to avoid a disease than to treat it, and of course your dog will have the best chance for a long life if it lives a healthy lifestyle.
While the cost of health care for dogs has increased, there are now many different types of dog health insurance plans available.
Talk with your veterinarian about insurance plans. You should also check Internet websites for health plans that may work for you and your dog. Health insurance for animals is becoming a more popular choice for pet owners as these plans are becoming more comprehensive and cost effective. Take the time to research these plans, and you may find a plan that will save you money and help you to care for your dog.
Prevention And Early Diagnosis
Prevention and early diagnosis are the two factors your dog the best chance for a long, healthy life. Always pay attention to your dog's behavior, and never take a 'wait and see' approach. If you feel that there may be something rong with your dog, take it to a veterinarian immediately.
Take precautions to keep your dog safe in and around your home as well. Owning a dog is a lot like having small children as they like to explore, taste, smell and touch whatever they can get their paws on. 'Doggy proof' your home by keeping poisonous products out of reach. Always store medications far out of reach, Pay particular attention to pills that are left on a counter, in a purse, or in an accessible drawer. These are some of the more frequently reported incidences of dog overdoses).
The Dangers Of Poor Dog Health
While many of the dangers to your dog's health discussed in this article are not always lethal, they can cause damage to your dog's body that will harm your dog's chances of living a long life. One infection may not harm your dog. But repeated infections combined with such things as parasitic infections or poor nutrition can add up to damage over time.
Try to take all measures possible to keep your dog healthy from the very start. Good nutrition, owner vigilance, and parasite control will help keep your dog strong and healthy for years to come.
A Long And Healthy Life
As a dog ages, it is important to provide the problems that come with increased age. It is not enough for most owners that their dog live a long life. They want it to be healthy and happy as well. if you want your dog to lead a long and healthy life, you will need to increase its veterinary care and yearly screenings. Pay particular attention your senior dog's diet needs and watch for any changes in behavior.
Support your aging dog with pain control medications and adjust its surroundings so that i will be more comfortable. For example, put extra padding on the bed, and use a higher doggy dish to avoid neck pain in case yur dog has arthritis. You might also get a sturdy, movable ramp that will help your senior dog get up short flights of stairs or climb into the car.
Both Susan Thixton & Douglas Hanna are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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