Slash Pet-Care Costs

If you want to save money without shortchanging your critter, try these smart tactics.
If you're like most pet owners, you treat your furry friend as well as -- if not better than -- you do yourself. A recent poll of female shoppers found that while about 68 percent of women were willing to switch brands of their OTC medications and certain staples to save cash, only 29 percent would change their brand of pet food. And the American Pet Products Association forecasts that total pet spending in 2009 will reach $45.4 billion, up from $43.2 billion in 2008. Given the state of the economy, that tells you a lot about how Fido and Fluffums get treated. But just because you want to give your pets the best doesn't mean you have to sit back and watch your bills escalate. Instead, try these smart tips for spending less -- while still showering them with love.

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