Do you pamper your pets? No, really, we’re not talking about splurging here or there, buying an extra bone at the pet store or even shopping for an outfit. We’re talking lots of pampering when it comes to spending on pets. Heck, do you spend more on your pet’s health care than your own – and both of you are relatively healthy?
If you answered yes, you are not alone. Spending on pets is big business today in spite of the recession just a few years back and a slowly recovering economy today. According to the American Pet Products Association’s yearly checkup that tracks spending on pets, the industry grew from $45.53 billion in 2009 and is expected to grow even more in the near future – and beyond.
People spend money on all kinds of pet-related items because dog lovers and pet lovers are infatuated with making their furry little friends happy. Spending on pets for health-related items continues to rise, too. Like humans who have taken a greater interest in their own Do-It-Yourself healthcare, people like to keep their pets healthy with products like FlexPet, a dietary supplement that helps keep pet joints healthy and increases overall mobility. Pet joint pain is a serious problem with dogs and other pets, and they need a supplement to build back the lost or damaged cartilage. Vitamin supplements are commonly used as alternative therapies for dogs with Degenerative Joint Disorder. DJD is a common condition in dogs; researchers believe as many as 20 percent of all dogs will experience arthritis at some point in their lives. DJD is characterized by the loss of the smooth cartilage that covers and protects the end of the bones in the joint area. Since bones have nerves, it hurts when one bone rubs against another bone. The job of the cartilage is to protect the two bones from touching. But when the cartilage wears away and the bones are exposed, any movement can create pain and inflammation in the effected joint area as those bones rub against each other. DJD is also known to cause osteophytes to form on the bones. These are small, spurs of new bone that develop near the joint and cause additional pain for the dog.
Veterinarians especially are in to capitalize on more spending on pets, estimated at more than $14 billion in 2011. Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association, believes people are more than willing to spend on their pets even if it means they spend less on themselves.
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