As economic hard times hit and prices climb, Fluffy and Whiskers may feel the pain, too.

Pet owners may tend to cut back in several areas during an economic slowdown, and this may even include the healthcare of pets. But even during times of economic strain, the cost of medical maintenance is much less expensive than being faced with an expensive health crisis, experts say.

“As of now we have not seen a drastic change in pet healthcare,” said Dr. Bonnie Beaver, professor and animal behavior expert at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University.

“But there is no doubt we will see the effects in time, especially if economic hard times continue for another six to twelve months.”

One of the most immediate impacts of pet care costs has been in the food aisle. The cost of pet food has increased and is forcing some Americans to make tough decisions. When penny pinching occurs, priorities must be established and that sometimes means pets have less nutritious meals or smaller portions.

Stories of people forced to choose between paying for their own living expenses and their pet’s living expenses are not uncommon, animal experts note. But there is a “buyer beware” clause — cutting corners in nutrition can lead to other, more dangerous and expensive health problems, Beaver says.

By providing a less nutritious diet, pets can be more susceptible to stress (such as heat stress and many other variables) and this can lead to bigger health problems. Such cutbacks can lead to a harmful cycle.

“We will see increases in health problems because of this lack of nutrition,” Beaver explains.

Other routine pet care costs are also getting more expensive. Vaccines and immunizations, which are imperative healthcare constants, may not seem as enticing as prices go up.

In addition, the cost of transportation of goods has increased, the cost of petroleum-based products such as plastics has gone up and the cost of simply driving to the vet has increased — but that does not lessen the importance of preventative maintenance, Beaver adds, noting that the concern for an increase in preventative diseases is on the minds of many veterinarians.

Beyond general care and preventative medical maintenance, pet owners facing major medical issues will be considering the cost of care as they choose treatment plans. While this does not differ from times of economic prosperity, it can make the decision making process a bit more strained.

Beaver suggests setting up a savings account anytime a new pet is brought home. A pet savings account can help by allowing you to have a greater amount of funding for treatment, should the need arise.

“Setting up an account can come in extremely helpful when it comes time to make difficult decisions,” Beaver said. “It can allow you to effectively treat your pet through a designated budget.”

She says another concern is that pet owners will abandon pets as the economic recession wears on. Animal abandonment is always an issue with animal welfare, but economic strains can exacerbate the problem.

Having a pet is a financial responsibility and that responsibility does not dissipate during difficult economic times,” Beaver adds. “Proper care and maintenance remains the least costly approach to healthcare.”

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Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. For more news about Texas A&M University, go to http://tamunews.tamu.edu/.

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