Ten Money Saving Tips from Aussie Pet Mobile

We all want to save money, and when we do spend, we want to get good value for our dollar. At Aussie Pet Mobile we understand the value of a dollar. We have been putting money saving tips on our facebook page for the past 10 days, so now we wanted to put all 10 of them here for your convenience. We know pets are part of the family and we are not going to stop spending on them, so here's some ways to spend more wisely!

1. Rebook with your groomer - often you can keep getting a new customer discount if you make an appointment with your groomer within 8 weeks of your current appointment. It's a great way to get another discount.
2. Multi-pet discounts - another great discount is for multiple pets, so even if you only have one pet, get your neighbor or a friend or family member to team up with you and get multiple pets done at the same appointment. We discount $10 for every pet after the first one!
3. Refer a friend - Aussie will give you a $5 discount for every referral that makes an appointment, so just letting your friends know about your great experience with Aussie will save you money!
4. Use the coupon code AUSSIE at www.playfetchgo.com. We have set up a special 10% discount off the total order for all Aussie Pet Mobile customers and facebook fans, so make use of the code (there's no limit) and save everytime you buy pet products like beds, toys, collars, leashes, supplements, and travel items.
5. Check out VPI pet insurance. Did you know you can get your pet insurance at a discount by going to www.petinsurance.com/apm and signing up with your Aussie discount? You not only save on the insurance, but it will cover most of your vet bills in the future.
6. Get a measuring cup! Yes, it's a simple idea, but obesity is a big factor in higher costs at the vet. Measure your pets food everyday and keep their calories at the level to maintain a good body weight. Don't leave food out all the time and resist the urge to give them snacks, especially people food. You'll save money on vet bills and have a lower food bill too!
7. No bordetella shots required with Aussie Pet Mobile, so that's another expense you can do without. Since we are not a shop full of other pets, there's no need to protect against kennel cough.
8. Buy guaranteed products at www.playfetchgo.com! You know you can't resists a toy for your buddy, and of course you need collars and leashes. At PlayFetchGo you can purchase toys that are guaranteed tough, and leashes guaranteed against chewing damage. So if you have an aggressive chewer you can relax and know you are not spending money on something that's going to get destroyed.
9. Lower vet bills because your pet is at a lower risk for contracting disease from other animals. Since your pet is the only one in our van for grooming, there's less chance of illness from contact with other animals. That saves money in the long run.
10. And lastly, it's been proven that pets enrich our lives emotionally and physically. Pets can lower our blood pressure and reduce our own healthcare costs. Pets can help you live longer, healthier lives, and that's the biggest savings of all!

What to do if your dog gets skunked

We all dread the encounter between our dog and a skunk. With warmer weather here, skunks are out and about and your dog is more likely to find one. If it does, it’s likely to be the victim of the skunk’s defense mechanism, the ability to spray a foul smelling scent up to 15 feet.
You can minimize the chance of coming across a skunk by keeping your dog on a leash, never keeping food outside, keeping your property clean, and turning on an outside light when going out after dark.
Skunks are common in North America, especially in rural areas, and sometimes wander into suburban back yards. Normally peaceful and slow moving animals, skunks have developed their scent glands to provide a highly effective weapon against potential enemies.
If your dog gets skunked, he not only will carry the smell on him, but will get it on anything else he touches, like your carpet or your couch. It is important to treat the dog right away and keep it confined and out of the house.
Your first thought might be to hose off the dog, but water can actually make it worse. Call your groomer and see if you can get a quick appointment for the dog. Groomers have anti-skunk treatments that will help. This is where a mobile groomer is far better than a store; you don’t have to get the skunked dog in your car! If you are forced to treat the dog yourself, the best treatment is a homemade mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and Dawn dish soap. Don’t try tomato juice unless you want the dog turning pink. Mix 1 quart of the peroxide, ¼ cup of the baking soda, and about 2 tablespoons of the Dawn. Use the mixture right away, and pour it over a dry dog. Cover the dogs eyes and keep the mixture off his head. Let it soak in for about 10 minutes, then you can rinse with water. You’ll probably need to repeat this many times. Even after you treat the dog, it’s still a good idea to get him to the groomers as soon as you can. Their products will take out even more of the smell and replace it with a good smell and a clean coat.
Even treated, you will probably be able to detect an odor for a week or more. The goal is to minimize the problem; only time will totally get rid of it. Also it goes without saying to make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Besides being smelly, skunks can carry rabies .

Why Use a Mobile Groomer?

There are many choices for getting a professional groom for your dog or cat. In the past, the only reliable pet groomer was one in a groom shop or at your veterinarian. Today, thanks to custom made grooming vans, you have the option of having a professional groomer come to your home and groom your pet in a specially designed mobile grooming salon.
With a mobile groomer, the trips to and from the shop are eliminated. In many shops, the pets are left in cages waiting their turn for a bath, and they may wait most of the day before they are worked on. After their bath, they may wait again in cages while they are dried by forced air brought into their crate with a duct. After they are dry, they can get their hair cut, if necessary. And of course, they wait until their owners come and pick them up.
Groom shops can be busy, noisy places. While most pets do fine, some of the more nervous or shy pets may not handle the stress as well. For these pets, being groomed in a van in front of their home, just one on one with a groomer is a less stressful and more enjoyable experience. Mobile groomers may be the answer for these type of pets. Mobile grooming also works well for the large breeds that may be difficult to transport to the groom shop, or for pets that do not tolerate car trips very well. Cats especially get stressed in a grooming store. Imagine a cat waiting his turn in a store with barking dogs coming in and out all day!
Mobile groomers offer the same services as groom shops. Aussie Pet Mobile, for example, offers specialty shampoos, de-shedding treatments, flea and tick treatments, aloe re-moisturizing, nail filing, and other services. You don’t need to compromise on either quality or service by going mobile.
Of course, mobile groomers can also be a great convenience to the pet owner. If time is limited, a mobile groomer eliminates the two trips to the groom shop. The owner can be getting things done at home, playing with the kids, or just relaxing while the pet is groomed. Since their pet is the only customer the groomer has, all the time spent at the customer’s home is devoted to their pet.
A mobile groomer can definitely offer more convenience and a less stressful experience for your dog or cat. Because mobile groomers travel from customer to customer, they do fewer pets in a working day. For that reason, mobile grooming is typically more expensive than a groom shop. On average, mobile prices run about $25-$30 more than a large chain pet store’s price, depending on the pet. For that reason, mobile grooming may not be for everyone. If your pet does fine at the groom shop, enjoys the car rides, and you have the time to go back and forth, then a groom shop may be the best alternative. However, if you are looking for a premium groom experience for your pet with less stress, and more convenience, the extra charge may well be worth it. When you factor in the expense for gas and the cost of your own time, it may not really be much of a price difference.