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Need Emergency Help with Vet Bills? Check These Sources

As our pets are often a life-long commitment, it is not uncommon for a cat or dog owner to face an unexpected expensive vet bill from time to time and need help with vet bills. There is no denying that before you bring an animal into your home and heart, it is crucial to be fully prepared for the various financial responsibilities, such as vet care, quality food, and treats, and preventative measures, etc. – which come along with pet ownership.

Check out Top 10 Financial Considerations for Raising a Puppy

According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association, nearly 70% of households in the country own a pet. The average cost of a vet visit ranges from $45 to $55. And other visits, such as Geriatric screening range from $85 to $110 while dental cleaning can range from $70 to almost $400, according to Pet Care Rx.

On top of routine vet care, an estimated one in three pets will need emergency vet treatment and care every year. A majority of Americans would be caught off guard by a sudden or unexpected $800 emergency vet bill, which is alarming. According to a survey done by Bankrate, just 39% percent of Americans have enough money to cover a $1,000 emergency. That means most of us will need support from others to pay for our vet bills. The AARP found that more than half of American households (53%) lacked an emergency savings account at all, including a majority of people over age 50. If you find yourself among these statistics and need help with your pet’s emergency vet costs, read on…we are here to help!

Getting Help from your Vet First 

Your first choice should be to try to negotiate a convenient payment plan with your veterinarian. If you are a long-term client in good financial standing, they might be happy to work out a monthly or weekly payment plan to reduce your vet bill. You can also use a vet in a more affordable area. Vets in small towns tend to charge considerably lower fees. Another option is to make the most of cash discounts that many vets offer.

 

Crowdfunding 

In addition to using the generous organizations listed below, crowdfunding is also a great way to raise money to help with vet bills. Crowdfunding, or online fundraising, allows hundreds of individuals to donate a to help with vet bills. This could mean the difference in your pet receiving lifesaving treatment and living a life in pain…or worse. Crowdfunding vet bills may seem uncommon, but tens of thousands of people use crowdfunding for pet to allows friends and family to help with their pet’s care.

Other Notable Organizations that Help with Vet Bills

If you cannot afford your vet’s bills with the above means, here is a list of organizations that are designed to help with vet bills, making sure your furry companion can recover quickly.

The Brown Dog Foundation

The Brown Dog Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families without full financial resources afford the care necessary to save their pet's life. This includes pet owners who are facing temporary financial crisis when their pet is facing a treatable life-threatening condition with a suitable alternative to euthanasia.

The Pet Fund

The Pet Fund is a nonprofit association that offers financial assistance to owners of domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, who need urgent vet care. The Pet Fund is a resource for pets and their families to fund critically needed veterinary care, keeping animals out of shelters, and helping pet owners to become skilled at preventative care practices. 

The Mosby Foundation

The Mosby Foundation specializes in the payment of medical expenses for abused, sick, and neglected dogs. They also help other animals whose owners don’t have the means to provide suitable medical attention to their pets.

RedRover Relief

RedRover Relief provides financial assistance grants as well as additional resources so pet parents and rescuers can easily care for animals that are in need of urgent veterinary and medical care. For urgent care grants, RedRover responds to applications in as little as just two business days.

Vetbilling.com

VetBilling.com offers custom payment plans through veterinarians to help pet owners overcome the cost barrier to care, so more pets get the care they need. They service over 1,000 veterinary offices nation-wide. Ask your vet if they offer payment plans for your pet’s vet bill. If not, have them contact VetBilling.com ASAP to get enrolled.

Care Credit

CareCredit, a subsidiary of Synchrony Bank, offers credit card financing for vet bills. CareCredit often provides no interest periods for use at select veterinary offices in their payment network. Before applying for CareCredit, check with your vet to see if they accept this form of payment or check the website to find a different vet in your area that does.

The Magic Bullet Fund

The Magic Bullet Fund offers financial assistance and help for canine cancer treatment. A majority of families contribute some percentage of the total treatment fees, and the organization contributes the remaining amount that a family cannot pay. The owners must actively participate in fundraising for their dog and help bring in donations.

Harley’s Hope Foundation

Harley’s Hope Foundation helps low-income pet owners and service animals as well as pets that live in short-term foster care. Their mission is to ensure low income pet parents and their companion or service animals remain together when issues arise. They prevent at-risk animals from being surrendered or falling victim to economic euthanasia for treatable conditions.

 

Trio Animal Foundation

Trio Animal Foundation helps shelters, rescues, and people pay medical and vet bills of homeless pets. TAF also promotes adoption and responsible pet ownership, including spay and neuter.

Frankie’s Friends

Frankie’s Friends helps fund the treatment of emergency as well as specialty medical conditions where a pet would otherwise be euthanized, suffer, or relinquished without adequate veterinary care. Grants are capped at $1,000 for each pet/household.

Fetch a Cure

Fetch a Cure is a community where no one is denied a choice for their pet’s health due to lack of options, education or funding. Whether it is through financial assistance or other resources, Fetch a Cure has a ‘Canines in Crisis’ program to offer families and pet owners a sense of hope.

Shakespeare Animal Fund

The Shakespeare Animal Fund helps elderly, disabled, and those whose total income does not exceed the current poverty guidelines to obtain emergency pet care. We pay the veterinarian directly, reducing out of pocket costs for low income pet owners who need to save their pet's life.

Get Creative!

Here are some creative tips to save on your vet bills from Your Dog Advisor:

  • Vet Colleges are always looking for pet patients to help their new veterinarians learn their craft. These college progams usually charge significantly lower fees than a more. Be sure you’re working with an accredited veterinary college.

  • Pet Health Savings Account (HSA): A pet emergency fund, or HSA, is a great way to save for emergencies. Pet HSAs are not tax-deductible like human ones, but knowing that you have the cash set aside to cover any unexpected bills will allow you to focus on your dog during an emergency.

  • Medications: Get prescriptions in writing. Filling prescriptions at your vet’s office is usually more expensive than it may be elsewhere. With a written prescription you can purchase medications at another vet, online, or even at a retail pharmacy often at a much lower cost. Be aware that some vets charge a fee to write the prescription.

List of other sites that may help

(we have not fully vetted this list, so “user beware”):

Help for Service Dogs:

DISEASE-SPECIFIC RESOURCES for Dogs:

BREED-SPECIFIC Dog ASSISTANCE:

CATS:

We will continually manage this list to add new support organizations that help with pet bills to give you the best possible place to help your pets! Check back often and don’t forget to share this on Facebook. If you have suggestions to add to our list of organizations that help pets, contact us and we will check them out.

 

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