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4 on your side4 On Your Side: Protect PetsBy Courtny GerrishThe family dog is sick but you don't have money for the vet. It's a scenario playing out all too often in this economy. Kathy Partak calls her dog Riley the heart of her family. "Riley's just always there to greet you with a smile, tail wag," she showed us. But Riley's not doing that well these days. "Riley has an incessant itch, and so he just scratches and scratches, he basically needs to get his ears irrigated." Kathy's out of work, so Riley's care may have to wait. She's not alone. A recent survey found nearly half of pet owners are skipping regular vet checkups because of money. We asked pet expert Charlotte Reed for other options that are affordable. "They can go to a veterinary school and seek treatment. They can also go to a local animal shelter that has a veterinary practice…in those cases vet care tends to be a little bit lower cost than the average veterinarian," she suggested. Vets call routine care critical for pets-- especially older animals. There are also things you can do at home to keep pets healthy, Reed said. "You want to make sure that your pet has a healthy diet, your pet's getting exercise. You also might want to do things like brush your pet's teeth on a regular basis." If your pet is injured or harmed, Reed says you should definitely head to the vet. If it's less serious, but you're worried, ask your pet doc about the possibility of cutting prices. "Ask him if there's a payment plan you can work out or some type of adjustment he can make," she recommended. Some vets will do consultation over the phone. Kathy plans to work with her vet and see if there's a way to make Riley's care more affordable. Another option-- credit. Some vets will offer payment plans, interest free, to good customers.
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