Q:Do you have any tips on saving money on my vet bills? My cat Sassy has diabetes and lately I seem to spend all my not-so-disposable income at the animal hospital.

A: Seeing as I just upped my level of indebtedness due to my own dog's cancer care I can relate to your recent experience. In fact, considering the wily turns our economy keeps taking I think most of us can benefit from some smart thinking when it comes to keeping our pets healthy. Here's a list:

1. Ask your vet for a written prescription so you can compare drug prices online and at your own pharmacy. Sure, it won't help if you need an animal drug immediately, but it can be a boon to find that a large pharmacy chain will fill your pet's common antibiotic scrip for just $4.

2. Compare prices for flea and tick products at online pharmacies. Beware, though; counterfeit, diverted and out-of-date products are often sold by less scrupulous sellers (sometimes even the big-box pet stores do this, so check dates and labeling and don't buy them if there's any doubt as to their origin).

3. Vaccinate your pets every three years instead of annually. Although pets should receive yearly checkups along with routine blood and stool checks, yearly shots are falling out of favor.

4. Keep up regular visits to the vet -- it's cheaper and safer to prevent disease or catch it early.

5. Brush your pet's teeth every day or two -- at least twice a week. Professional dental care doesn't come cheap and brushing can be amazingly effective.

6. Consider pet insurance. While it won't help you save money in the traditional sense, it will pay for the peace of mind that comes when $2,500 worth of orthopedic surgery is advised.

7. Pet-proof your homes carefully -- and not just because you'll save money on those new pairs of shoes you'll have to buy after your puppy chewed through your old ones. It's also because you're likely to save on treatment for intestinal ailments and poisoning.

8. Slim him down. Almost nothing says big money like orthopedic surgery and a lifetime of arthritis medication. Keeping your pets trim saves money on food, too.

9. Adopt healthy, mixed breed adult pets from well-managed shelters and rescues. Statistically, mixed breeds suffer fewer health problems.

10. Keep your pets indoors. I promise you'll save big bucks by avoiding parasites, communicable diseases and bite wounds, not to mention major accidents.

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