More on Pets & Saving Money

Classic Rebel from The Rebel Blog May 2006:

VETERINARY SECRETS REVEALED

I know, I know: Who needs another eBook?! Not me. I have sworn off downloadables (again and again and again…). But darn it, when you need good information on a specific topic, and trying to research on the Internet is running you around in circles, and you find the promise of just the right thing — exactly what you are looking for — and there are bonuses and a “Rock-Solid 90 Day Unconditional Guarantee…”

We have a dog I love dearly, and we also have three (human) children. We paid $85 for our furry friend, to rescue her from the county animal shelter, and then we invested several hundred dollars more on veterinary care, vaccinations, training, treats, toys, leashes, beds, etc. (She’s only been with us about three months.) We do not have health insurance for the dog, nor can we afford it. We can barely afford the health insurance for the humans in the house, much less the $40 co-pay anytime one of us needs to visit the doctor.

So when a non-emergency, seemingly-minor veterinary concern arises, I have to hesitate because I know it’s going to be expensive, even if it turns out to be nothing, if I take her to the vet. This time, it’s a case of “goopy eye” — messy, but no other symptoms of illness. Whatsoever. She’s running and leaping all around at the moment, happily tossing and catching a rawhide chew — like a cat on catnip (crazy dog!).

For less than the price of a visit to the vet, I downloaded VETERINARY SECRETS REVEALED by Dr. Andrew Jones, a DVM in British Columbia, Canada. AND the “Three Super Bonuses Valued at $122″ — mine to keep, even if I end up requesting a refund on the big book (173 pages, with a full index, table of contents, and well-organized, easy-to-find, easy-to-understand information) — which I won’t! Goopy eye resolved (and reassured), and that’s worth the price right there.

That’s all I have time for now, but I’ll put it on Rebel Reviews soon. Meanwhile, if you need veterinary information, practical help, or common sense advice on pet issues A to Z, check out VETERINARY SECRETS REVEALED – CLICK HERE.

Our 75lb Mutt & Saving Money on Pet Medications

Healthy Dog Report: Today’s Mission of Outrageous Fun & Adventure (MOFA?!) was to take Mocha to the vet for her annual visit and vax updates. She’s a very healthy, happy and gorgeous chunk of puppy love, literally, weighing in at 76 pounds.

Mocha has been with us for a year, since we adopted her from the Fulton County Humane Society. We’re still trying to figure out just what she is, guessing some kind of mega-mix, several generations removed, possibly with some Flat-Coated Retriever, Black Lab, and just a little bit of Chow (blue-spotted tongue, doesn’t bark). She is gorgeous, with big, brown eyes and long, curly hair, a beautiful mix of chocolatey-browns, light and dark. Definitely a Fulton County Mystery Mutt, one of a kind.

The biggest surprise is that she’s grown from 25lbs to 75lbs in a year, and that, while she has no problem jumping up on the rocks at the Dog Park (Piedmont Park – Atlanta), she can’t haul her own carcass up into the back of the Jeep. (She doesn’t like riding in the car, doesn’t like water — is this really a dog?!) I had no idea I’ve been tossing 75lbs into the back of the truck every time I “help” her. (Actually, it’s a process: First, put the front paws up on the back bumper; Second, pick up the rest of her and on the count of three, “help her” get it all up in the truck. Like she helps, NOT!)

Anyway, she’s healthy. I re-ordered her Heartworm/Flea medicine (required here in the South), Sentinel, and have to mention 1800PetMeds.com. We have been using them for many years, for Mocha, and prior pets, and they have fabulous Customer Service, even when you call on the telephone. You actually get to speak to a real person! The best part, although their catalog prices are high, they Price Match, and shipping is usually free (on orders over $39, I think)(mine always are, so I kind of take that for granted!).

To get the lowest price and the best Customer Service on pet products and medications, I start by running a Google Search for “Sentinel White” (for dogs 51 – 100lbs) and then check the different sources for the lowest price. Usually there will be prices in the ads listed on the right, and I click the best offer and write down the website address. With lowest price info in hand, I call 1-800-PETMEDS, and they match the lowest price I’ve found after a quick visit to the website to verify the lower price.

What I didn’t know before today is that 1800PetMeds not only matches the lowest current price I find (today it was $60), but they’ll go back and match the lowest price I’ve ever found on the product on my 1800PetMeds account! So while the current catalog price is $83.99, because I do a little extra research, my total today was $58.95. That’s a lot of money to me, in the difference, and well worth the couple of extra minutes.

Now, if I could only do that with everything else I buy…