Incredible Money-Saving Hacks Pet Owners Need To Know

What You’ll Need: 1 Rope & 1 Tube of Toothpaste
Est. Cost: $10*

One of the most important things about good dental hygiene is ensuring that one’s teeth are brushed. The same is true for the cuddly companions you’ve decided to take into your home. Since they don’t comprehend the importance of a good brush, getting a pet to sit still long enough to get the job done can be difficult. 

Put Dog Toothpaste On A Rope Toy @IHeartDogsCom/Pinterest

Instead of exhausting the effort needed to clean your canine’s canines, let them do it. Apply some of your dog’s toothpaste to one of their favorite rope toys (not covering it), then let them chew and tug away while giving themselves a teeth-cleaning. If you don’t have any rope toys, these can be picked up for just a couple of dollars on Amazon.

What You’ll Need: 1 lb Carrots
Est. Cost: $0.52*

Grinding away at a bone can lead to sharp shards of bone sticking into the dog’s throat, or worse. One of those bone shards has the potential to inflict irreparable damage to the dog’s insides. That said, it’s best to avoid the problem altogether by giving your dog carrots to chew on instead of bones.

Give Carrots Instead Of Bones ©Nicole Lienemann/Shutterstock.com

Carrots are not only better for a dog’s diet than a bone, but the orange root veggie also poses less of a direct threat to a dog’s well-being. Most dogs love the crunch of raw carrots and the ease at which cooked ones go down. Move over Bugs; bunnies aren’t the only animals eating carrots anymore.

What You’ll Need: Popsicle Tray
Est. Cost: $15-$20*

Considering the coats of fur they are always wearing, wouldn’t it make sense that a dog would enjoy the chance to cool off with a refreshing snack on a hot day? Making frozen treats for your dog to enjoy during the summer is an excellent way to help them do just that.

Make Doggy Popsicles For Summer Treats @biggerbolderbaking/Pinterest

Try freezing soup broth or some of your dog’s other favorites, and portion them out using an ice cube tray. A $5-$10 tray from Amazon will be more than good enough. However, if you feel like spoiling your pooch, you can always pay double for a popsicle mold.

What You’ll Need: A White Towel And A Brush
Est. Cost: $10*

Fleas should not be taken lightly. They are tiny little pests that — when left alone — infest and terrorize dogs and cats like little vampires that refuse to leave after they’ve had their fill. Alternatively, they set up camp. A pet’s person should purchase flea treatment at the first sign of the little bloodsuckers. But how do you know if your pal is infested or if it’s just dirt?

Do The White Towel Flea Test ©Photo_mts/Shutterstock.com

That’s easy. Put your pet on a white towel and run a comb or brush through their fur/hair. Look for anything dark that isn’t dirt. If you find something, it’s time for a flea bath.

What You’ll Need: Baking Soda / Cornstarch
Est. Cost: $1/lb*

Trimming a pet’s nails isn’t something most people want to do. They need to do it if they don’t want to end up with scratches all over themselves and the furniture. Many pet parents take the responsibility of cutting their pet’s nails upon themselves. Sadly, accidents happen sometimes.

Stop Sore Nails With Baking Soda ©Jus_Ol/Shutterstock.com

If you cut your dog or cat’s nails too short and notice a little blood, don’t panic. Instead, apply baking soda or cornstarch to the wound. The two substances should help with the discomfort and stop the bleeding. When the bleeding stops, clean the injured area by gently rubbing it on a bar of soap.

What You’ll Need: Multiple Water Bowls
Est. Cost: $5/Bowl*

Training pets to know which of the water bowls is theirs (and which is not) isn’t going to be easy, but if you’re able to do it, there will be much less confrontation around your pets’ water cooler. Getting a dog to abide by the rules shouldn’t be too challenging, but if a cat is involved, it will most likely do what it wants. 

Have One Water Bowl Per Pet ©ALEX_UGALEK/Shutterstock.com

If that’s the case, you might need to keep each animal’s bowl in a separate part of the house. Having their own bowl also helps cut down on the unnecessary spread of germs and bacteria.

What You’ll Need: Cat Carrier
Est. Cost: Free

A cat will often freak out a little when it’s time to go into its carrier for a trip outside the house. The only time most cats are used to seeing their carriers is when it’s time for a visit to the vet, so it’s understandable that they might not enjoy the sight of them too much.

Leave The Cat Carrier Out ©Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

A cat carrier doesn’t necessarily have to be put away when it’s not in use. Seeing the carrier, and having the opportunity to wander in and out of it at will, should help disassociate the carrier from vet check-ups. Then again, some cats enjoy being in their carriers. They like the fresh air and different scenery.

What You’ll Need: One Jug Of 100% Neem Oil, Vegetable Oil, Aloe Vera Gel
Est. Cost: $19.99*

Even if there are no signs of fleas on your dog or cat, it’s still a good idea to give them a preventative treatment once every few months. A concoction of 100% neem oil, vegetable oil, and aloe gel works very well to prevent fleas from bothering dogs. Put some mixture into your hands and rub it through your dog’s fur.

Use Neem Oil To Deter Fleas ©Te9l/Shutterstock.com

But don’t even think about using anything containing neem oil on a cat – it’s not healthy for them. Alternatively, cats have no problem with neem tea leaves that’s been steeped and cooled. Apply the tea to your cat in the same manner as you did the oil to your dog and continue to keep your home (and their fur) flea free.

What You’ll Need: Washing Detergent
Est. Cost: $15-$20*

Accidents happen more often than you’d like when you have pets, and no matter how hard you try, there’s no way to prevent them from occurring. If you arrive home after a long day at work to the smell of poop or pee, the worst thing to do is get upset because there’s no way of changing the past. 

Clean Pet Stains With Biological Washing Detergent ©Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

Use biological washing detergents to aid in cleaning up the mess as soon as possible. Spreading the powder over the soiled area will break down the smells and prevent them from becoming your house’s signature aroma.

What You’ll Need: Cornstarch And A Brush
Est. Cost: $7*

Unlike cats, who groom themselves constantly and prefer to remain as clean as possible at all times, dogs don’t mind getting down and dirty. In fact, after extensive firsthand observation, it would be easy to conclude that they prefer it. They might not mind their fur being tangled and dirty, but their people usually do. 

Use Cornstarch On Tangled Fur @Doodle Doods/Youtube

Are you having trouble getting those last few tangles out of your dog’s fur? A sprinkle of cornstarch will loosen up those knots and make them easier to brush. Your dog doesn’t know it yet, but they are going to look and feel great by the time their impromptu cornstarch spa treatment is finished.

What You’ll Need: A Plate
Est. Cost: $15*

Cats generally eat when they’re hungry and don’t eat when they’re not — even if there is food right before them. However, some cats can’t stop themselves from indulging. When it’s time to feed the latter type of cat, the furry feline is more likely to vacuum up its meal than they are to enjoy the dish’s flavors. 

Use A Flat Plate For Feeding ©Elizabett/Shutterstock.com

If your cat is eating too quickly, put its food onto a flat dish instead of in a bowl. Perhaps a personalized dish from Etsy is something to consider for their next birthday.

What You’ll Need: String And A Bell
Est. Cost: $5*

Housebreaking a puppy involves a great deal of patience on a dog parent’s part. There will be quite a few messes to clean up and a lot of towels that don’t survive the potty training period. Help speed up the training process by giving the dog a method to inform you that it needs to “pop out to the loo.”

Tie A Bell To Your Door @epleung/Pinterest

By tying a bell to the door, your pooch will associate the sound of the bell with going outside. If they start using this for anything more than doing their business, it might lead to you taking them out for extra walks. On the positive side, the inside of your house won’t smell like a doggie toilet.

What You’ll Need: Baby Wipes
Est. Cost: $3-$5*

Having a pet as part of the family is wonderful for so many reasons. One of which is not that you’ll find their hair everywhere. If you have animals that shed at home, then you’re probably all too familiar with having to unclog a drain that has succumbed to an excess of fur or hair.

Put A Baby Wipe Over The Drain Before Bathing ©Roman Chazov/Shutterstock.com

Nothing is 100% successful every time, but by placing a baby wipe over the drain before bathing your dog, you should be able to prevent ‘Code Red’ blockages. If you have cats, it’s a good idea to also cover the drain before you bathe to collect the cat fur that has accumulated on you throughout the day.

What You’ll Need: Clothing You No Longer Use
Est. Cost: Free

As exhausting as it can be to wait all day for their person to return home, all of a pet’s pent-up energy comes pouring out when the moment arrives. Tug toys are excellent tools to help animals exert that energy —not just for dogs but cats as well. However, the cost of all these toys adds up after a while.

Make Tug Toys From Old Clothes @dalmatiandiy/Pinterest

Use old clothing that you have lying around the house instead of paying ten bucks a pop for tug toys at the store. Missing those great 2-for-1 offers? Split an old pair of Levi’s down the middle, and voila, two tug toys.