{"id":162,"date":"2026-05-11T17:36:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T17:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arizonamovinginsider.com\/?p=162"},"modified":"2026-05-11T17:36:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T17:36:56","slug":"pet-care-savings-simple-hacks-to-save-on-food-and-vet-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arizonamovinginsider.com\/?p=162","title":{"rendered":"Pet care savings: Simple hacks to save on food and vet bills"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As the owner of an independent pet shop, Elisabeth Mayer knows rising prices are pushing some pet owners to their limits.<\/p>\n

Read more Press dinner gunman pleads not guilty to attempting to assassinate Trump<\/a><\/p>\n

She tries to avoid price hikes, and help her customers find affordable food options.<\/p>\n

“What we do carry, I feel very confident in their quality and also their price point,” she said. “I try to do a combination of the two.”<\/p>\n

The average pet owner can expect to spend over $4,000 a year on routine expenses for a single cat or dog, according to pet insurance company Healthy Paws.<\/p>\n

RELATED STORY | <\/b>Having a pet is just as valuable to your life as having a spouse or friends, study says<\/b><\/p>\n

Food alone can run $58 to $268 a month for a medium-sized dog, as tallied by the pet care app Rover.<\/p>\n

But as pet care costs continue to climb, some simple changes can make caring for your beloved pet more affordable.<\/p>\n

Watch as a a pet shop owner explains why cheaper food can really cost more:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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Save on pet food and care, as costs continue to rise<\/div>\n
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Check your pet’s food ingredients<\/b> <\/p>\n

Mayer, who owns Argos Pet Food & Supply in Cincinnati, said many brand-name foods are packed with fillers, like corn, soy and animal byproducts, that can cost pet owners more in the long run.<\/p>\n

“There are a lot of cheap ingredients in the cheaper foods,” Mayer said. “You end up having to feed more of it, in fact, because the dog is hungrier, the cat is hungrier than a higher quality food that has quality ingredients.”<\/p>\n

Mayer cautions a larger package doesn\u2019t always mean more food or better value, so check labels for both ingredients and weight.<\/p>\n

“We don\u2019t have the fancy bag,” she said. “As nice as the fancy bag is, who needs it?”<\/p>\n

Pet living expert and author Kristen Levine said when switching your pet food, it\u2019s ideal to switch slowly.<\/p>\n

She also said you can add premium quality food to your pet\u2019s diet without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n

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“Use it as a topper on top of what your pet is currently eating,” she said. “Then you could slowly change the ratio so that your pet’s getting better nutrition, but you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money.”<\/p>\n

Prevent costly vet bills<\/b><\/p>\n

Surprise veterinary bills can put the most strain on pet owners\u2019 budgets.<\/p>\n

Levine stressed that prevention is one of the most effective ways to avoid large vet bills, even if that means upfront costs.<\/p>\n

To protect your pets outdoors, she recommends plant-based, pet-friendly products like Spruce Weed & Grass Killer to keep yards safe for animals, including bees.<\/p>\n

She also recommends wearable health monitoring devices like those offered by PetPace, to detect problems early on.<\/p>\n

“Potentially saving you a costly trip to the veterinary ER clinic or to a vet visit,” she said.<\/p>\n

Pet insurance doesn\u2019t eliminate vet bills completely. But it can soften the blow.<\/p>\n

According to Healthy Paws:<\/p>\n