Keep Summertime Fun for You and Your Pets
06/29/2022
Summer is here, and our favorite furred, hooved, feathered and scaled friends are as ready to soak up the sun as we are! However, this new season can also add a few new costs to your pet budget in order to ensure your animals are healthy and happy. Here are some costs for pet owners to consider planning for this summer season:
1. Flea and Tick Prevention
While flea and tick prevention is important for your pets with fur year-round, it becomes even more important now that they are going outside more. Fleas and ticks can cause infections and make our pets uncomfortable, ill, and even in need of veterinary care. To protect your pet’s well-being, ask your vet what prevention they recommend for your animal. Then, explore your options - many pet stores offer discounts for medication subscriptions as well as payment plan options to make this necessity fit your budget!
2. Pet Care
Summer often means vacation and traveling. Make sure you are factoring in pet care costs as part of your vacation budget if you need to leave your pet behind. If your pet will feel more comfortable in a familiar place, consider finding a family member, friend, or neighbor to come to your home to feed, walk, and play with your pet while you’re away. If your pet is high-energy and loves to socialize, consider finding a place to board your pet so they can play all day while you’re away. If you have a small pet that lives in a tank or crate, make sure you have someone to feed them and clean out their living space for you while you’re gone.
3. Travel
Sometimes we just can’t bear to leave our pets behind when we’re traveling, especially for extended periods of time. If that’s the case, there are some things you may need to plan for financially. If you’re going to have your pet in the car for a long period of time, make sure they’re comfortable and secure by using a carseat hammock, a pet seatbelt, or a safely-secured crate, tank, or cage. If overnight stays are in your plans, make sure you’re considering any extra pet fees that may occur wherever you lodge. And to ensure your pet has everything they need, consider purchasing a to-go bag specifically designed to hold your pet’s necessities.
4. Heat Protection
If you and your pet love to be outside in the summer heat, you may need to take extra precautions. To prevent dehydration, consider purchasing a portable pet water bottle or travel water bowls for car rides, hikes and trips to the dog park. If your pet is walking on hot pavement often, protective foot gear may be necessary to protect your friend’s sensitive paws. If you have larger pets that live outdoors, make sure they have a shaded space to cool off and access to plenty of water. Even if your pet remains mostly indoors, make sure their living space is at a safe temperature, as the rising heat outside can affect indoor temperatures as well.
5. Emergencies
Our pets are like family to us. Emergencies can happen any time of the year, so summer is no exception. Make sure you have savings set aside for emergency veterinary care, just in case something were to happen to your animal friends. Also, keep the contact information for the emergency vet near you handy, such as on your phone or on the fridge so you can ask for help right away.
Special thanks to Team TSB members who provided photos of their pets for this post's banner!
Sources:
https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/budget-for-pet
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/travel-safely-your-pet-car-airplane-ship-or-train
https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2020/protect-dog-from-overheating.html