Kiplinger

Trim the Cost of Pet Care

It happened in a flash. One minute Dan Perlowitz of West Orange, N.J., had his dog Gracie's leash in hand, and the next she had broken away and run onto a nearby highway. She was hit by one car and rolled over by another, but, thankfully, she suffered only a broken rib and a concussion and healed with no complications.

The bill for Gracie's hospital stay and veterinary care-$4,063-could have been painful, too. But Dan and his wife, Jamie, had purchased pet insurance after adopting Gracie in 2014. "Because we didn't know much about her past or what medical issues she might have, we wanted to have the insurance just in case," says Dan. The policy from Healthy Paws, which costs $48 a month, paid for all but $659 of the tab, after excluding certain charges, applying a $100 deductible and a 10% co-payment.

In 2016, U.S. pet owners spent $66.8 billion on their pets, compared with $38.5 billion in 2006, according to the American Pet Products Association. Almost half of that was for food, almost one-fourth for vet care, and just over one-fifth was for supplies and over-the-counter medicine. But there are smart ways to save while providing the best care.

Mutt or purebred?

The Perlowitzes found Gracie, a Labrador retriever mix, at an adoption event held by a rescue group at a local pet store. The fee was $350, and Gracie was spayed and up to date on her shots.

The assumption has long been that mixed-breed pets are healthier and thus less expensive to own than purebred ones, which often suffer from inherited disorders. But a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found no difference between purebred dogs and as well.)

[PULLQUOTE]

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Kiplinger

Kiplinger5 min read
4 Steps for Managing Income Withdrawals in Retirement
If you’re like most Americans nearing retirement, you’re worried about whether you have enough savings. In fact, only 22% of those approaching retirement believe they’ve saved enough to retire comfortably. At a time when the stock market is down, inf
Kiplinger12 min read
The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Whether you travel often or just take the occasional vacation, a travel rewards credit card can be an excellent companion. With every purchase, you can use a good travel card to collect points or miles that are redeemable for flights, hotels or other
Kiplinger3 min read
19 Best Stocks to Buy Now for High Upside Potential
If the goal is to find stocks to buy when prices are lower rather than higher, it stands to reason that the time to go looking for the best stocks to buy is right now.  After all, the market is off by more than a fifth so far this year, which means i

Related Books & Audiobooks