If you are like most Americans you are living paycheck to paycheck each week. You know how this affects you, but what about how it affects your pets? All too regularly I see people cutting back or bypassing needed veterinary care for their pets simply because they cannot afford to pay the bills. Any pet owner knows the bills I am talking about. Making the decisions to bypass needed pet health care such as rabies vaccinations, parvo vaccines, booster shots, checkups, specialty dog foods, and a host of other expenses for our pets, could cost us our pets in the long run.

Why is it that we think we can skip needed medical treatments for our pets and hope everything will turn out ok? Perhaps it is because as a society we tend to do this to ourselves. I know I hate going to the doctors on a regular basics. It costs money, never makes me feel any better, and never seems to do anything for me. I am stubborn too, so I am sure that does not help.

But I am not a dog or a cat, and they have things a little differently then we do. First off, we do not sniff each others butts all the time. While pets do this as a manner of socialization, we must understand that there is potential for bacteria transfer. Same goes with the area where pets relieve themselves outside. Sure we can scoop the poop, but unless you are washing the grass, there are still bacteria present. Your pets are walking through this area daily, and they are barefoot. If they get a cut on their foot this could lead to a high chance of infection.

What about running through the woods all day? Your pets are prone to parasites like fleas and ticks simply by running through some bushes. Sure these same ticks could land on you, but they do seem to like animals better. And any potential pest carries along a number of problems. Fleas can carry worms which pets can get by ingesting (eating) the flea when they chew on them. Sounds disgusting, but that's how they get them.

These are just two of the common problems you might not even think about when you own a pet. Worst of all, there are a lot of other hazards out there for your pets to encounter, such as broken glass, rabid animals, stagnant water sources, rusty nails and who knows what else.

Do your pet a favor. Spend less money on tennis balls and chew toys and get them all of the required shots, medications and vaccinations they need. These are more important to your pets overall health and could end up saving your pets life. They will be much happier to spend more time with you with only one chew toy then the alternative.