How to choose a pet shop
What to check on food and medicines before you buy, how to tell a good pet shop from a bad one, and what to look for if it sells animals.
Your pet shop becomes part of your pet's life: it's where you buy the food, the litter and the medicines your vet prescribes. Choosing well saves money and trouble.
Food first
- Check the production and expiry dates, and make sure the bag is sealed, with no holes or damp.
- Storage matters: food kept in the sun or a hot storeroom goes off faster, especially in summer.
- Be careful with loose food repacked into bags: you can't tell what it is or when it was opened.
- For imported brands, ask who imports them. A price far below everywhere else usually means something is wrong.
- Local brands are now common and cheaper than imports. Ask your vet which suits your pet before you switch.
- Once open, close the bag well or use an airtight container, and don't buy more than your pet finishes in a few weeks.
Medicines and treatments
- Buy exactly what your vet prescribed, at the same strength and for the same weight.
- Don't let shop staff choose a medicine or a dose for you.
- Flea products for dogs can be dangerous for cats. Make sure the product names your pet's species and weight.
Signs of a good shop
- Products in date and stored properly.
- Says "I don't know, ask your vet" when the question is medical.
- Delivers if you need it, and has a clear policy if a product turns out faulty.
- Prices close to the market, and clearly marked.
If the shop sells animals
Look at how they're kept: is it clean, with water, food and enough space? Do the animals look healthy and not too young? Sick animals or crowded cages tell you about the whole shop. Before buying an animal anywhere, read buying a pet safely and adopt or buy?.