I first adopted my dog Molly, I was so excited. She was the first dog in the first kennel at the SPCA, and the only dog in the group not barking. My fiance and I were instantly drawn to her.
We continued down the row of kennels, looking into the cages and seeing dogs of all different shapes, sizes and energy levels, but none of them got our attention like the little black and white dog in the first kennel.
After walking her around outside of her kennel for a few minutes, it became even more clear that this was the pup for us. She wasn't spayed, and the shelter wouldn't release her until she was, so we shut her back into her cage, and put our name down for her with the office staff. She'd be ready to pick up in a few days, but in the mean time, we were off to get her supplies.
That was six months ago, and since then, I've learned a lot about the huge industry that is pet products. For every genuinely useful or essential product, there are ten poorly constructed or downright pointless products sitting right next to it on your shelf or screen. So, today I'm going to go through some of the pet products I think are completely worth spending money on, and, just for fun, some that aren't a good investment.
A Strong Collar
Our first stop when picking up Molly's supplies was to Walmart, where I picked up a typical collar with a plastic buckle. Within one week, the flimsy buckle was snapping loose. So back we went, to replace the cheap-o collar with one with a strong metal clasp.
Tartar Busting Bones
Poor dental hygiene can lead to costly teeth cleanings and other nasty diseases if left untreated. To combat this, invest in some tartar busting bones. The rough surfaces naturally clean a dog's teeth when chewed on, and keeping tartar at bay early on means cheaper long term dental care (better breath too).
High Quality Dog Food
Now, I'm not saying you need to go out and buy the $30 bag of organic, free range, human grade dog food. But in the arena of nutrition, dogs aren't that different from people. Poor quality food contributes to poor quality health, and an unhealthy dog is an expensive dog. High quality food also contributes to better breath, a shinier and softer coat, and less…erm…waste.
A Dremel Nail Grinder
Unless you want your floors, couches and skin all scratched to hell, you need to clip your dog's nails. With some care and positive training, nail clipping can easily be done at home, without any need for a trip to the groomer. I bought a pair of cheap nail clippers, and their dull edges means I have proceed with nail clipping very carefully in order not to hurt Molly's little paws. To make the project easier yet still save hundreds at the groomer, consider investing in a Dremel Nail Grinder instead.
The Furminator
Pets shed. A ton. I have a long haired cat and a short haired dog in four hundred square feet of living space. To cut down on the crazy amount of hair that can accumulate ridiculously quickly, good quality brushes are a must. The furminator is great for that.
Things That Aren't a Good Investment
This, this, this, oh and this (although that one is kinda cute).
Not everything that is put out by the pet industry is a worthwhile investment, or even remotely useful. In fact, most of it is probably crap just released because pet crazy people love to spoil their animals. To make your dollar go further, make sure to invest in high quality items that will keep your pet healthy, and help you save money over the long term.
What's your number one indispensable pet item? I want to know!
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John S @ Frugal Rules says
October 26, 2012 at 5:29 amI was always amazed when my wife & I had our dogs how much getting their teeth cleaned cost. I guess part of the reason was we never had that done for my dog growing up. I totally agree on the food. Sure, you don't want to buy the expensive stuff, but the cheap stuff is just crap.
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Holly@ClubThrifty says
October 26, 2012 at 6:34 amYeah, we once bought the cheap stuff for our dogs and they had…um…digestion problems until we got them off of it. Totally gross.
AlexM says
October 26, 2012 at 9:54 amJohn, we use fresh marrow bones and deer antlers for chewing. I also brush my dog's teeth every day. She is five and her teeth are white without a spec of tartar. Not all dogs can digest raw marrow bones but you can boil them (ten minutes), scoop out the marrow (use in gravy or other human recipes), then cure (let dry for three days). Some dogs need to be introduced slowly so they get used to the richness of the bones. But this type of chewing/scraping works better than anything else! I will say I had one dog break a tooth on a bone when she was older. If you go to the butcher and ask for soup bones, you'll likely want the femur bones that have been cut to half the size (about six inches long).
What you feed your dog has a huge impact on dental health. Some people feed a raw diet (I do) and that leads to little or no tartar build up. And if you use bones too, their teeth stay white a loooooong time.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:18 pmHey thanks for the extra input! I've read about raw diets, but I haven't taken the plunge and tried them out yet, I didn't know it was good for tartar build up.
DC@Young Adult Money says
October 26, 2012 at 6:17 amThanks for sharing these! Especially with getting my first dog in a few weeks, this is useful. I want to make sure I have all the stuff for the dog before going and getting her, so I have been looking at different products. The one thing I am concerned about is nail clipping but it sounds like it can be made into a relatively easy painless process.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:16 pmNail clipping, while it might seem scary, is actually really easy to do with the right tools. The key is to go slowly and to make it like a fun game for the dog.
MoneySmartGuides says
October 26, 2012 at 6:29 amI would agree with the furminator. We have two cats and they shed non-stop. I thought once winter comes, they are supposed to stop shedding, but these cats don't. As a result, hair was/is everywhere…even on clothes I'm pulling out of the washer and dryer! The furminator has definitely cut back on the hair. I don't even want to think what the house would be like without it!!
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:16 pmI discovered the Furminator after getting a long haired cat, it's definitely a life saver!
Leslie says
October 26, 2012 at 6:31 amI've never owned a dog (on my own) but I've had cats. It's amazing how cheap owning a cat can be if you're just creative! Need a cat toy? Save your boxes & any cardboard! Need a cat bed? Throw a blanket in a cardboard box, voila! Need a scratching box? Sacrifice an old yoga mat!
The items you should spend money on for cats are food and litter. Cheap cat food (anything bought not at a pet store) is like junk food. Your cats will love it and eat it quickly and it won't fill them up. You'll end up buying more because it won't last as long as high-quality, healthier cat food. Quality litter clumps better which means you waste less and there is noticeably less smell.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:19 pmCouldn't agree more when it comes to cat food, but my cat is very particular about her cat litter. She'll only use the cheapest brand of unscented clumping. I'm happy with that, it's good for my wallet.
Lane R says
October 26, 2012 at 6:45 amFor food we just joined Costco recently almost solely for their dog food. They Kirklands brand is high quality and comparable to Blue Buffalo for half the price. The membership will pay for itself in a few months compared to buying Blue at Petsmart.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:20 pmI've heard that Kirkland has surprisingly high quality food for the price point. I always make sure to read labels on a wide variety of brands, you never know when you'll find a brand that is exactly what you've been looking for!
worksavelive says
October 26, 2012 at 7:26 amConsidering that my dog is 150lbs and the fact that he doesn't like other dogs, having a strong collar is extremely important for us. If I take him to the vet or on a walk, it's very important to know that I can grab onto that thing and it won't break.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:21 pmMy dog, though only 35 lbs, can also have bad reactions to strange dogs. I've had to grab her by the scruff on a few occasions when that cheap collar broke away, and I'm glad I don't have to worry about that anymore!
plantingourpennies says
October 26, 2012 at 7:26 amA $6 dog nail clipper works wonders on Kitty PoP's nails, and we use it every week. For cats, I've also found its worth it to spend more on good quality clumping litter than cheap non-clumping stuff. You end up using far less, and the cats seem to like it much better too since it's easier to "clean up" after themselves.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:23 pmClumping litter, scooped every day, is definitely a recipe for a nice clean and scentless litter box that is good for the cat AND the owner.
Laura Elizabeth says
October 26, 2012 at 7:58 amThis is great, thank you! I bet my dog will love these c:
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:23 pmAny time!
Katie says
October 26, 2012 at 9:35 amI have to totally agree with you. Good food is a must!
Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:23 pmI think that's the number one most important thing on that list.
AlexM says
October 26, 2012 at 9:49 amIf you give your dog plenty of exercise, you may be able to go a long time without dealing with nails! We don't dremmel, we clip. We give real bones too (and I brush her teeth every day).
Skimping on important stuff like Heartworm meds can be risky — the cost of treatment is higher (and more toxic) than using the preventive.
There are also vet test that seem stupid but are worth the money. The Fecal Flotation test is one — yes, my dog's poop floats (she poops when she swims – yuck!), but the test involves other processes that can identify dangerous parasites not visible to the naked eye.
We are critical about vaccines — but all pups need them and they should get the one year booster. But we do rabies and skip the others now that our dog has had her early shots. But they won't get the safety of an immune response without at least one round of vaccine. Skip Lepto, Giardia and Corona — in most areas these are not a problem and the vaccine is one of those "best guess" as far as the make-up of the strains of virus they include.
If your dog has any kind of coat, invest in a good comb. The cheap ones cause your hands to cramp and they break easily. Coming is one of the most important things to do! We brush her teeth — never use human fluoride paste. We either use a pet formula or Ecodent — human organic powder that is fluoride free (and works better than anything else, and one bottle goes a looooong way).
I also believe a microchip is one of your best investments that hopefully you will never have to use! Special training leads (like a gentle leader or sensation harness) are also worth the cost.
Sorry to go on and on… I used to be a dog trainer!
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:25 pmHey thanks for all of the great input! I definitely agree that proper veterinary care is key to avoiding potentially dangerous illnesses later on in life.
SavvyFinancialLatina says
October 26, 2012 at 9:57 amsounds to me like pets are expensive.
Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:25 pmYup, but they're worth it!
apenny4athought says
October 26, 2012 at 10:21 amThanks for the list, I'm looking at getting a puppy in the new year and I'm trying to plan for all the expenses. This really helps!
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:25 pmGlad I could help!
Sara says
October 26, 2012 at 10:29 amWe swear by the Furminator too! What a genius product – expensive but worth it when you have dogs that shed like crazy. The guy that invented it is from this area and has the most incredible giant mansion you've ever seen. Apparently he's doing very well off that one! 🙂
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:26 pmThat's awesome, and completely unsurprising. He definitely created a product that meets a huge need for pet owners.
HandlingWGrace? says
October 26, 2012 at 11:32 amIndispensable dog item is Advantage. Fleas equal a very unhappy Momma.
Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:26 pmI agree! Although I only treat my dog six months a year because I live in a cold climate.
Roxie says
October 26, 2012 at 11:50 amI am crazy. I have 6 dogs. Of those dogs, 4 are rescue dogs. Lucky for me they are fairly small. One is a Basset Hound that weighs in at about 60. I buy their food at Sam's club. Their best brand..I also feed them chicken. I can buy chicken for .99 a pound and I will use it to make them 'treats' with it. (I dry it like jerky)
The one thing I do think is a waste of money is the Dremel tool to do their nails. I got one. I thought it would be wonderful. WRONG !!! The noise scared the dogs so much that they were uncontrolable. I thought my older dog was going to have a heart attack. So I am someone who clips the nails.
I also just get their basic shots and the heart worm test. I can buy the heart worm medications at Walmart for less than the vet sells it for.
Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:28 pmI can definitely see how the Dremel would scare some dogs at first. I made sure to use lots of positive reinforcement when getting my dog used to it, so eventually she came running when she heard the sound!
SWR says
October 26, 2012 at 12:07 pmWe also have tick/bug repellant spray for our dog, which we use in addition to Advantage/Frontline. He's small and low to the ground, and we love hiking around our (backcountry) home so it's a must.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:28 pmI've never used spray on repellant on a dog, glad to know it works for you.
Leslie says
October 26, 2012 at 12:37 pmA couple people have mentioned pet food at Costco. Just a friendly reminder that the Kirkland pet foods were included in the recall earlier this year!
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:29 pmThanks for the reminder!
Canadianbudgetbinder says
October 27, 2012 at 5:04 amLots of great information in your article and in reading all the comments. We have a strong lead for our dog as there is no sense buying cheap stuff when you have to buy it again if it breaks. We also get bones for our pets teeth and breath and he has a mild hankering for marrow bones every day. We brush our dog with a good brush but have never heard of the ferminator so we might check that out. Sounds like it might be something great to help with the hair as we are forever cleaning. There are so many things people don't stop to think about before getting a pet especially expenses. These pets need to be cared for almost like humans and can get very costly so it's important at least to us to budget for this. It is with great sadness we see pets pile up at the shelter, lost roaming the streets, dumped off simply because some pet owners can't be bothered, don't have the funds etc. Our pets become a part of our family and should be treated as such. Great post. Cheers Mr.CBB… off to see about this ferminator now.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:30 pmThat's a great reminder that responsible pet ownership starts with having a budget for them, that way we can always be prepared for when they need care and products.
StudentDebtSurvivor says
October 27, 2012 at 12:01 pmGreat tips. We spend more for our pets (1 pup, 2 kitties) food and treats then most people. We wouldn't eat a steady diet of junk food and we don't want our pets to eat junk either. Yes it's more expensive to buy the "good stuff", but I'm a firm believer that if you can't afford to treat your pets like family, you shouldn't adopt them.
Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:31 pmIt's also an investment in their health, so that we don't have to pay high vet costs associated with long term exposure to poor quality food.
URFinanceSimple says
October 28, 2012 at 9:10 amI definitely agree with your post, especially on buying a strong collar and a high quality dog food. When we first got our dog (a bischon), we bought her a thin collar with cute designs. But after a week of using it, she snapped the buckle loose. So we decided to get her a heavy-duty collar that will last for a long time. As with her food, I always bought her the best I could find. What your dog eats will relate to how healthy they are.. plan and simple!
Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:32 pmI've admired a few designer collars for my Molly in the past, but I know there's no way they'd be strong enough to hold her if she bolted, so I've refrained from making any impractical purchases.
Crystal @ PET says
October 28, 2012 at 3:53 pmWe always invested in good good (Science Diet or Blue Buffalo), but we had to go even more expensive with our Pug as he developed allergies. Now I long for the days of the $30 15 pound bag of food. But it does keep him from losing his hair and becoming lethargic, so it ends up being worth it for us.
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:33 pmI seem to be hearing a lot about pets developing food allergies lately. I wonder if it's the food or the breed that's the problem.
Crystal @ GAC says
October 31, 2012 at 10:45 amAccording to the doggy dermatologist, it's certain breeds. Pugs are famous for it sadly…
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Evan says
October 29, 2012 at 1:15 pmHave you thought about getting insurance? I think it is overpriced in terms of risk, but we have had it since my dog was born just so we never had to ask ourselves the question, "how much is too much?"
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Jordann says
October 29, 2012 at 7:33 pmI wrote a post on my blog about my decision not to get pet insurance. It was a tough choice, but in the end, I think I made the right decision.
Jarrod says
March 27, 2013 at 12:08 pmThe truth is that you simply don’t know what’s in your dog or cat’s food. Even some of the so-called “premium” brands of pet food are riddled with filler products and even cut up organs. Pretty nasty stuff.
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