For many people, pets are real family members who, ideally, should not want for anything. But here, too, high costs can be incurred by pet owners. We show which tricks can be used to minimize costs – without the animal having to suffer.
It already plays a role which pet it is. For example, unlike a cat, a dog is subject to a dog tax which, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance, pursues “regulatory objectives” and is intended to help “limit the number of dogs”.
This insurance prevents high cost traps
According to the consumer advice center, pet owner liability insurance is an “absolute must” and can protect pet owners from high costs in any case. Owners are liable for the damage caused by the animal – regardless of whether they are at fault or not. In these cases, pet owner liability insurance takes effect, which protects the pet owner from the costs of the damage. The annual premium for dogs is therefore well under 100 euros. In the case of cat owners, the “consequences of unpredictable behavior” are covered by private liability insurance.
Are pet health insurance premiums worth it?
Visits to the doctor and, if necessary, special medically necessary interventions are often and very quickly associated with high costs. A case for animal health insurance?
Not necessarily. The consumer center warns against taking out animal health insurance, as it is only worthwhile in rare cases. Animal health insurance reimburses veterinary and surgical costs for outpatient, inpatient and surgical treatment, medication, accommodation and diagnostics – but only in cases that are medically necessary. Standard services such as vaccinations or castrations or sterilizations are often not covered by insurance. In order to be able to take out insurance, there is often a minimum and maximum age. The older the pet is when the contract is signed, the more expensive the insurance premium is.
The schedule of fees and deductible (usually 20 percent, since usually only 80 percent of the reimbursable costs are covered) stipulate that, despite insurance, a large amount still has to be paid by yourself. And that despite the fact that dog owners pay between 120 and 1,300 euros and cat owners between 160 and 560 euros to the insurance company, according to the consumer advice center. Therefore, according to the consumer advice center, it can make sense to take out surgical cost insurance instead of animal health insurance, with which part of the expensive surgical costs are reimbursed. Animal health insurance can be dispensed with entirely, provided that a reserve has been formed for emergencies and money has been reserved in the account for any emergencies.
Large quantities of food and homemade toys
There are significant price differences in animal feed. Of course, regardless of the cost, you should never do without high-quality animal feed. High-quality nutrition can promote animal health, which in turn leads to savings in veterinary costs over the long term. Here it can be advisable to buy the feed in bags that are as large as possible instead of in small quantities. However, this should not affect the regular amounts of food given to the pet. Strict attention should be paid to the diet of the pet, because overweight animals often have to struggle with pain, exhaustion, but also serious illnesses. This in turn leads to higher veterinary costs.
In addition, it does not always have to be the expensive, new toy from the specialist shop or the pet shop. It doesn’t matter to the pet where the toy came from or how much it cost. A homemade toy can bring just as much pleasure to the animal. An empty plastic bottle in a sock for dogs, or boxes or balls of crumpled paper for cats are also great for play, according to the animal care site Pawshake. In addition, rescue groups often offer used pet equipment such as boxes, beds, or even toys in good condition. Buying used items can also be considered, provided they are thoroughly cleaned before use.
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