Looking for a discount on your pet's veterinary care? The discounts are out there. You just need to find them. Here are some strategies you can employ to do just that.

1. Shop Around For A Discount

The first place to look for discount veterinary services is your computer or phone book. Contact the various clinics in your area and shop for discount prices. Ask them about all discounts they may have available to certain clients. For instance, do they offer a multi-pet discount? Senior citizen or student discount? Military (active and retired) discount? First responder (police, firefighters) discount? Many veterinarians will also offer service discounts to rescue groups, boarding facilities, and pet owners who act as foster parents to dogs and cats.

2. Ask Your Veterinarian For One

Even if your vet doesn't offer standard discounts, go ahead and ask for one. If the answer is "no", you're no worse off than when you started. However, the answer may be "okay". For instance, ask your vet is he/she will throw in a free heartworm test in return for the purchase of a 12 month supply of heartworm preventative. You'll be astounded at how many veterinarians will agree to such a discount.

Also, many vet clinics have pet charity funds that the veterinarians in the practice can tap into in order to help a struggling pet owner deal with an unexpected vet bill. Understand that veterinarians are very caring individuals and rarely want to see life-or-death decisions concerning an otherwise curable pet being dictated by money. In these instances, a veterinarian may choose to offer a discount. But you need to ask for it.

3. Work For A Veterinarian

Working for a veterinarian either part-time or full-time is a great way to land discount veterinary services.  Many hospitals and clinics offer veterinary discounts to employees who have been with the practice for a certain period of time. And those discounts can be nice.  For example, I'm aware of one clinic that gives a 50% discount to employees who have worked there for three months, and to those employees who have stayed on for at least 5 years, a 100% discount on services plus medications at cost is offered. Pretty good, huh?

Working at a veterinary clinic will also teach you knowledge and skills that can save you money later on. For example, learning how to assess a pet's health status and mastering pet care techniques and skills could prove useful if your own pet ever becomes injured or ill. Also, those same skills and knowlege could help you generate a nice secondary source of income as a pet sitter or home hospice veterinary nurse.

4. Barter Or Volunteer For A Discount

If you possess a skill that could prove useful to your veterinarian, see if you can barter for services. For instance, if you have marketing expertise and you can show your veterinarian how you can help market and promote his/ her practice, a barter arrangement is probably only a handshake away. Expertise in landscaping, carpentry, plumbing, or general handywork is a valuable asset to any business, especially a vet clinic. 

Also, consider volunteering your time. It's common for veterinarians to offer the same discounts to volunteers as they do their regular employees. Volunteer work can involve just about anything, including kennel help, technician help, accounting, or reception work.  

5. Mark Your Calendar

Various international, national, state, and local veterinary organizations and groups support pet health care initiatives throughout year, and during these initiatives, discount veterinary services are easier to come by.  For example, February is Pet Dental Health Month.  Special discounts on dental procedures are offered by veterinarians across the country during February, so it makes sense to schedule your dog or cat's annual teeth cleaning during this month. October is National Pet Wellness Month (many vets offer discounts on preventive health care during this initiative); April is Heartworm Awareness Month; March is Pet Nutrition Month; World Veterinary Day is usually falls on the final Saturday in April; National Pet Week occurs in May; World Rabies Day is held in the Fall (rabies drives are often held this day), and there are more. Just do your research.

In addition to these promotions, many counties and cities have periodic rabies drives, discount spay/neuter clinics, and discount microchip clinics. The reduced fees on these veterinary services can be substantial, so contact your county or local health departments to find out when and where these special events are being held.