Evelyn Romans | 

16 Clever Ways to Save on Everyday Dog Expenses

The Krazy Coupon Lady is an independent service supported by advertising. Most of the offers appearing on our site are from companies from which we receive compensation. We may receive a small payment from an affiliate if you click a link to purchase a product. Sometimes a post is sponsored by the maker of the product, and we receive a fee for the post. Learn More.

If you’re a fur baby mama, you know how expensive owning a pet can be.

It’s a small price to pay for the unconditional love and support we get from our furry friends, but it can put stress in our lives trying to figure out how to afford and budget each month.

Soo. . . we compiled a list of ways to save on everyday dog expenses:

 

1. Shop at Target and Petco for the best dog food deals.

If you want the cheapest food options out there, coupon at Target.

If your dog has food sensitivities or special needs and you can’t find his food at Target, Petco and Petsmart offer coupons and deals (and accept competitor coupons) on food too.

Check out a couple recent deals:

Find the best Purina deals at Target.

Buy 2 Iams ProActive Minichunks Dry Dog Food, 15 lb $16.99, sale price 5/14-5/20

Buy 2, Receive $5.00 Target Gift Card 5/14-5/20

Use $5.00 Off – Iams, Cesar or Pedigree Petcare Dry and/or Wet Dog Food Purchase, $30 or more, TARGET Coupon from RP 4/30

And use two $5.00/1 – Iams Dry Dog Food 9 lb or larger, TARGET Coupon from RP 2/12

And use 20% Off – All Dry Dog and Cat Food, Target Cartwheel Offer (exp 5/14) – (cartwheel.target.com)

And use two $5.00/1 – Iams Dry Dog Food 9 lb or larger from RP 5/14

Pay $5.00, Receive $5.00 Target Gift Card

Final Price: Free, when you buy 2

Find the best Nutro deals at Petco.

Buy 1 Nutro Wild Frontier Grain Free Dog Food, 24 lb (reg. $57.99) $52.19

Or Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food, 22 lb (reg. $59.99) $56.99

Use code nutrolidwf20 to get $20.00 off a 22- to 24-pound bag of Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet or Wild Frontier dog food through 4/24

Free shipping on orders of $49.00 or more

Final Price: as low as $32.19

 

2. Use the Krazy Coupon Lady app to snag dog food and treat deals.

Here at KCL, we read all the weekly store ads, shop at your favorite pet places, and always know where to find dog coupons.

You’ve gotta download the free Krazy Coupon Lady app on Android or iOS today to start saving money.

Each week, we publish at least three dog saving deals at national retailers like Target, Walmart, Amazon, Petco, Kroger, Rite Aid, and PetSmart. Download the KCL app to see them all!

 

3. Print dog food and dog treat coupons online.

These coupons are never hard to find when you know where to look. (Hint: bookmark these pages):

Print Purina coupons

Print Pedigree coupons

Print Halo coupons

See ALL dog food and treat coupons

Make sure to stack manufacturer dog coupons with promotions, store coupons and rebate offers for the biggest savings!

 

4. Buy three months’ worth of dog food when the price is $0.60-$6.00 (depending on brand).

If you want the cheapest dog food you can find, your stock-up prices will be on the lower end. But if you want to splurge and spend more on your pup, you’ll have a slightly higher stock-up price.

A 3-month stock-up price is a great deal on dog food, but it’s not worth buying more than three months’ worth, because it’s not the lowest price we see.

Here are 3-month stock-up prices by brand:

  • Purina Beyond: $2.50
  • Purina Pro Plan: $5.00
  • Purina Beneful: $2.50
  • Hill’s Science/Avoderm/Canidae: $6.00
  • Premium dog food cans 12 oz (Nutro, Hill’s Science, etc.): $1.50
  • Dog food cans/trays (Caesar, Alpo, etc.): $0.60

 

 

5. Buy six months’ worth of dog food when the price is less than $4.00 (depending on brand).

When you find a deal for dog food under $4, definitely stock up for six months, because this is the lowest price we see!

  • Purina Beyond: FREE
  • Purina Pro Plan: $3.00
  • Purina Beneful: $1.00
  • Hill’s Science/Avoderm/Canidae: $4.00
  • Premium dog food cans 12 oz (Nutro, Hill’s Science, etc.): $1.00
  • Dog food cans/trays (Ceasar, Alpo, etc.): $0.25

TIP: Make sure to check your KCL app for moneymakers on dog food at least once a quarter. That’s right — you’ll be making money!

 

6. Buy Iams or Purina and you can return dog food if you’re unsatisfied for any reason.

Companies such as Iams, Purina, Rachel Ray Nutrish and Blue Buffalo offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

If for any reason you are unsatisfied with your dog food, you can contact the retailer to see what steps to take. In most cases, you send back the remainder of the food with a receipt and they will reimburse you.

Sometimes you can even return products up to a year after purchase!

 

7. Spay or neuter through your local Humane Society and save up to $200.

Some clinics and animal hospitals can charge anywhere from $200-$300 or more.

Contact local animal welfare organizations, rescue groups and shelters such as ASPCA or the Humane Society. They offer low-cost options or can point you in the right direction to find a more affordable option.

  • Animal hospital: $200-$300+
  • Humane Society: $45-$135*
  • Pet Haven (low-cost clinic): $25-$40*

*Price depends on the weight of the dog. Smaller dogs cost less; larger dogs cost more.

 

8. Get your dog’s prescription filled at Rite Aid or Walgreens and save 15%.

Have your vet write the prescription to fill your pet’s medicine at pharmacies like Walmart, Rite Aid, Walgreens, or Costco instead of buying from the vet’s office.

Some of these chains even allow you to enroll your pet in pharmacy savings plans (score!).

At Rite Aid, you can save up to 15% on pet medications with the Rx Savings Program.

Walgreens offers a Prescription Savings Club that includes a $20-per-year individual plan or a $35 annual plan for all members of your immediate family, including pets. You get discounts on certain pet prescriptions when you join.

 

9. Save 7-20% on all your purchases when you use gift cards from Gift Card Granny.

Before you buy a single thing, look for discounted gift cards to use and save money before you even make your purchase.

  • Petco: Save 12.57%
  • PetSmart: Save 11.05%
  • Pet Supplies Plus: Save 12.43%
  • Pet Supermarket: Save 12.1%

 

RELATED: 29 Gift Card Hacks You Should Be Using

 

10. Shop Groupon and LivingSocial pet deals, now!

Get in a habit of checking Groupon and LivingSocial before you make any purchases. Not only do they offer pet supply deals like toys, beds, or other accessories, but they even offer grooming services, depending on your location.

Some past deals we’ve seen:

  • $15 for a $30 gift card to Pooch Perks
  • $19 for a dog/cat grooming course from PetAddict ($485 value)
  • $5 for a guide to dog grooming ($175 value)

 

11. Save $540-$720/year by grooming at home.

Instead of paying $45 to $60 every 4-6 weeks, start grooming your pup at home.

All of these things can be done at home for considerably cheaper than getting it done professionally. Just invest in the tools and supplies upfront, watch some YouTube videos, and have a lot of patience! You can do it. Your at-home kit will pay for itself in no time if you compare to how much you’d spend at a groomer.

Supplies from Amazon:

  • Shampoo: $5-$15 depending on what brand (I use Burt’s Bees hypoallergenic shampoo for $10)
  • Brush: $4-$15
  • Toothbrush kit: $5-$10
  • Nail clippers: $5-$15
  • Electric clippers: $20-$30
  • Ear solution: Instead of paying $15-$30 for Otic solution, use warm water and apple cider vinegar to clean your dog’s ears

TOTAL INVESTMENT: Under $80!

TIP: If grooming at home seems too overwhelming, you can save up to 30% by letting a student groomer practice on your dog. Check around in your area to see if this is offered.

 

12. You must sign up and join loyalty programs!

Just about every store has some type of loyalty program.

Petco offers $5 reward dollars for every $100 spend online or in stores, free birthday treats, exclusive offers, coupons, discounts and specials along with free shipping on all repeat delivery orders.

Petsmart offers $10 off $30 and $5 off $15 that you can stack with manufacturer coupons for ultimate savings.

 

RELATED: 26 PetSmart Hacks You Won’t Want to Live Without!

 

13. Sign up to get emails from your favorite dog food brand for special offers and coupons.

Additionally, some specific pet brands, like Purina, Iams, Pedigree and Kong offer coupons and exclusive offers when you subscribe to their email list.

  • Purina: Training tips to special offers when you sign up for their email
  • Iams: Special offers and coupons, customized advice from pet care experts and news about events and promotions.
  • Pedigree: Latest news, special offers and helpful tips.
  • Kong: Coupons and offers, sneak peeks of new products, contests and promotions, newsletter, and fun and helpful ideas to help you strengthen the bond with your pet.

 

14. Save up to 38% on dog boarding costs by using Rover.

Obviously, if you have friends or relatives who live close by, ask them to watch your dog for the weekend you go out of town in exchange for a 6-pack or a gift card to a restaurant.

But since not everyone has that option, using Rover will be cheaper than taking your dog to a kennel, plus it will be less stressful for the dog because they get to stay in a home environment.

  • Rover: $15-$25/night
  • Local kennel: $25-$40/night

 

 

15. Repurpose plastic bags from the grocery store and use them as poop bags.

Same goes for old newspapers as well! Instead of wasting money each month by buying poop bags, reuse what you already have lying around. I use plastic bags to pick up poop, flip it inside out, and tie it up. Simple, easy, and mess free!

 

16. Find the cheapest pet insurance option for your furry friend.

In some cases, pet insurance seems like a great option, especially if the breed you own is more susceptible to health issues. On the other hand, do pets really need health insurance?

Getting pet insurance could end up saving you thousands of dollars in vet or emergency bills (trust me, I learned the hard way).

If you don’t get pet insurance, you should plan to set aside an emergency fund of at least $1,000-$2,000.

Check out some of the top-rated pet insurance companies out there and contact for a free quote:

Pets Best Insurance

  • Essential: $29.91/month
  • Plus (most popular): $36.51/month
  • Elite: $40.18/month

Trupanion

  • $700 deductible: $36.44/month
  • $200 deductible (most popular): $62.32/month
  • $0 deductible: $104.01/month
  • Customize your price

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

  • $35.27/month

Healthypaws

They offer choices of 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement option with a $100, $250, or $500 deductible option.

Most popular: 80% reimbursement with $250 deductible is $63.30/month

Petplan pet insurance

  • Basic: $28.15/month
  • Recommended: $63.79/month
  • Premier: $132.74/month

Obviously, the cheapest option is to skip pet insurance, but the choice is up to you.

 

UP NEXT: Your Complete Guide to Target Clearance

Get our best deals on the go

By entering my phone number, I want to receive promotional messages from The Krazy Coupon Lady. Message frequency varies. Text STOP to 57299 to end or text HELP for help. Msg & data rates may apply. View Terms & Privacy.