Dreams More Real Than Reality: Saving Money and Having Fun With Your Dog

I love my dog and want her to live a long and healthy life, that will keep her active. Going natural and doing the extra little steps to insure your pet gets the best quality care is what matters to me. I'm not saying sacrifice all your money for it, not all things healthy have to be expensive. Just like these "pup" cakes, much more reasonable to make them than buy at a specialty shop.

I do not consider my dog a pet. She is Family #dreamsmorerealthanreality

Food Recommendations:
Blue Buffalo has been phenomenal for my dog's digestion and coat.
It is pricy, so an alternative is Diamond Naturals, just as healthy and high in protein, but $20 less per 30lb bag.
I also do greek or probiotic yogurt. 2 Tablespoons each day in my dogs food.
Another thing for bigger dogs is adding glucosamine to their food (buy any tablet and crush one up in their food). This will really help them stay active down the road, which will also save you on vet bills for hip problems.

Bathing:
Use hot water (not too hot, but where your dog can still stand it). Why? Hot water will kill any fleas, but will dry out the skin quicker so make sure to use a dog conditioner. I add a few drops of tea tree oil in the conditioner, this keeps fleas away and aids with continued moisture....

Winter time dogs with longer hair tend to shed more and have drier skin. The greatest solution for this is to use almond oil and a couple of drops of lavender oil directly after the bath so it absorbs into the skin and fur (natural remedy for rashes on your pup as well). Both items are fairly reasonable and will last for a long time. I promise no more itchy winter skin.
One thing you must keep around is Apple Cider Vinegar! From getting rid of fleas to disinfecting toys and cleaning their ears, its a staple item to keep your pet at their best! Check out the link for a lot of the tips I found.

Toys and Supplies:
Sign up for Petsmart email alerts.
They will let you know when certain brands are on sale and send you coupons periodically (you get great coupons on your pet's birthday).
Bowls- go to Ross or Marshalls, they have phenomenal prices for the same bowls Petsmart and Petco sells for 4 times as much.
Pet Costumes- Goodwill usually has a bunch, or buy a year in advance when Petsmart clears theirs out.
Waste Bags, Toys, food mats, pet beds, etc- Marshalls has good stock along with Burlington Coat Factory
Shopping at stores like Burlington, Marshalls and Ross for your pet can save you a ton of money!

Vet Recommendation:
Arbor Animal Clinic:
This vet has been outstanding, from puppy series to adult. They always offer savings (20% off shots 2 days out of the week and other different savings each month). The vets here get to know you and your pet and make you feel welcome without pushing a bunch of expensive stuff on you. They don't charge office visits for the puppy series and you can bring them in any time if you have questions. It is very rare to find a vet like that. If you're in the area, definitely check them out. I have sent multiple friends to this vet clinic and they are very satisfied as well.

Take them out:
Just like you probably don't like to stay in all the time, take your pets out and socialize them with other pets. It keeps them happy and less aggressive.
Here's a few of the places I love to take Kona in Austin, TX :