Help with Emergency Vet Bills – Exclusive Tips to Get

If you’ve visited a veterinarian recently, you know that veterinary care can be expensive.

Dental care for pets is costly; dental treatment can easily exceed a thousand dollars. Another area where veterinary care costs can be prohibitive is long-term medications for chronic conditions such as Cushing’s disease or arthritis.

It’s difficult to provide the best care for your pet, but decisions should be made based on your budget.

Pets significantly contribute to our lives, but owning them comes with responsibilities. One of these is the obligation to care for their health, a responsibility that comes at a price. While veterinarians are compassionate and dedicated to protecting your pets’ health, they charge fees to provide the best care for all their patients, ensure the continued operation of their clinics, and safeguard their livelihoods.

How to Get Help with Emergency Vet Bills?

Let’s look at several ways to get help with veterinary bills so your pet gets the care they need.

Ask your veterinarian about payment plans

Your veterinarian understands the high cost of veterinary care and will work with you to provide the best possible care for your pet, within your financial means.

When presenting the bill for your services, don’t hesitate to ask for payment alternatives, such as a payment plan.

Payment plans are a good option if your veterinarian offers them. Although they are not as common as other financing options, some clinics still offer these services.

Get a Loan

If you qualify for a personal loan, it may be cheaper than paying expenses with a credit card and paying them in installments.

You can apply for personal loans online, and your application could be approved the same day, which is very useful for emergency medical needs.

The funds can be used to pay for your pet’s veterinary bills and any other needs (such as an orthopedic bed, prescription medications, or rehabilitation treatment at another hospital).

Contact local credit unions to learn their criteria for a personal loan.

Try crowdfunding

While everyone knows GoFundMe, it has a 2.9% transaction fee, and $0.30 is automatically deducted from each donation. For pets, there is an alternative called Waggle.org.

Waggle works with veterinarians, foster families, donors, and pet owners to fund donations for specific pets, but its primary goal is to crowdfund pets with medical needs.

All funds raised (100%) go directly to the veterinarian to cover the pet’s medical bills.

Get pet insurance soon

Pet insurance is similar to human health insurance.

The most common types of insurance are accident and sickness insurance. If you don’t have emergency savings to cover vet bills, pet insurance may be a good option. It’s recommended to purchase pet insurance in advance, as puppies and kittens are prone to accidents and will need coverage in case of an accident or serious illness.

Also read: Churches That Help With Vet Bills

Charities and Nonprofits Offer Financial Assistance for Vet Care

The Richmond Animal League is not affiliated with these sites. They are sites we have found and compiled over the years. We do not guarantee they will be useful; this list will only help you get started faster.

• Animal Care Assistance Program: Provides funding to low-income and underserved communities in Central Virginia.

• Best Friends Access to Veterinary Services: Telemedicine for pet owners, mobile app (additional fees apply).

• Brody Fund: Provides assistance for pets with cancer; the pet must be a patient at a participating veterinary clinic (currently one of four).

• Brown Dog Foundation: Prioritizes life-threatening pets. Partners with veterinarians to offer discounted rates.

• Care Loan: Apply for a loan for 6, 12, 18, or 24 months; payable monthly; interest-free if repaid before the end of the loan term. Minimum $200. Instant approval. 1-800-677-0718

• Dylan’s Hearts: Provides financial assistance to families to cover the costs of necessary veterinary care. We offer financial assistance to cover the costs of emergency or critical veterinary care.

• Fetch-A-Cure: Provides financial assistance to families to cover the costs of life-saving treatments for their pets diagnosed with cancer.

• Frankie’s Friends: Provides financial scholarships for family pets in need of emergency or specialized veterinary care, and whose caregivers cannot fully cover the cost of treatment.

Also read: Charities That Help Pay Vet Bills

Other Vet Bill Assistance Resources

ScratchPay is an electronic payment plan for veterinary care expenses that can be used for any type of pet. It’s not a credit card or line of credit, so it doesn’t depend on or affect your credit score, and more and more pet owners are getting approved.

ScratchPay has a higher approval rate, with no hidden fees or deferred interest.

However, the veterinary clinic must be registered with ScratchPay. Like CareCredit, ScratchPay pays the veterinarian upfront, and you then pay through ScratchPay.

You have several payment options. If you pay 20% immediately and the remainder in full within 60 days, you won’t pay interest.

Or you can choose to pay monthly for 12 or 24 months, with interest calculated upfront.

Veterinary assistance resources are also available, depending on the state. Some work in partnership with humanitarian organizations or have nonprofit organizations that serve low-income people (including emergency services), or provide free services to homeless people or those living in certain circumstances.

Final Thoughts

Veterinary bills can be expensive. In most cases, pet insurance is the safest and most convenient way to care for your pet’s health. However, if your pet develops an illness that isn’t covered, or if they experience a health crisis and aren’t covered, there are options available. We hope you find these resources helpful.