Pets fed on leftovers as owners seek to cut costs

A staggering 994,000 UK pet owners are feeding their animals on leftovers as they try to cut costs in the face of the economic downturn, according to new research conducted for Petmeds, the leading online pet medication and product store.

The study reveals the extent to which UK pet owners are cutting back on pet care costs in efforts to make ends meet, with a further 17% of UK pet owners saying they will not be renewing pet insurance policies, 14% buying cheaper pet food and 14% buying less treats for their pets.

But its not just food costs and insurance that are affected, with 10% of UK pet owners saying they are avoiding buying medication for their animals and 6% saying they have stopped taking their pets to the vet.

In addition, 3% are looking at ways they can generate money from their pets, such as breeding their animals or showing them.

“It is shocking to see how UK pets are bearing the brunt of economic pressures and we strongly encourage people not to cut back on medical care and food for pets as they can clearly cause their animals lasting harm by doing so,” states Ricky Thomas, managing director of Petmeds.

“There are many other ways in which people can make economies, for example by looking to purchase good quality pet food and medication from online and other lower-cost sources and by looking to see what financial help might be out there for them and their animals.

“There are a number of charities that provide help with veterinary treatment and care for animals whose owners are struggling financially and at Petmeds we have recently launched an online and telephone help service, staffed by trained animal experts and vets, who can help those in need identify where they can get help with pet care and reduce the cost of looking after their animals.”

Petmeds is a leading and trusted UK pet health store supplying the public with genuine veterinary items, pet foods and accessories at discounted prices. The company offers over 2,000 items for all animal health needs including prescriptions. Most items are sent within 24 hours and Petmeds guarantees to beat any price.

For further information or to place an order, visit petmeds.co.uk