What Can I Do If I Can’t Afford A Vet? (Help Is Available)

We all want our pets to live a long, happy, healthy life.

Regular vet visits help ensure that.

They also help you avoid huge medical bills down the road.

But seeing a veterinarian costs money.

What can you do if you just can’t afford a vet visit?

What if you are on a strict budget and just can’t afford to pay for regular visits to the vet, not to mention possible health emergencies with your pet.

The good news is that you do have options.

Keep reading to learn what you can do, if you can’t afford to take your pet to the vet.

 

What Can I Do If I Can’t Afford A Vet?

You have a few options, if you can’t afford a vet. You could look for low-cost clinics offering affordable veterinary treatment and diagnostic options.

You might also try working the bill off. This is something you would have to discuss with your vet. Options like crowdfunding, investing in affordable pet insurance, and comparing prescription medicine prices could also help.

Here are 9 options available to you, if you can’t afford a veterinarian.

 

Buy Affordable Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is one of the smartest ways of planning for unexpected or emergency pet care costs. It can also cover routine veterinary treatments, especially when on a budget.

If you choose to buy pet insurance, don’t grab the first policy you’re offered. Shop around, because premiums and benefits vary tremendously.

Talk to 2 to 3 different agents and only then buy a plan. You can also research specific health issues in your breed of pet. Then check with the insurance company whether they have coverage for that.

There are several top-rated pet insurance companies that offer affordable plans starting at as low as $8 a month.

These days, online pet insurance providers tend to offer the best deals, at least in the USA. The good ones not only covers your pet’s routine and emergency costs, but also grooming, a variety of surgeries, and teeth cleaning.

 

Discuss Options Honestly With Your Vet

Many vets are willing to discuss affordable plans and even offer discounts to their steady clients. Some even have packages for puppies and kittens for regular clients.

A good example comes from Tom, the owner of a 14-year-old cat, Jackie. Jackie had developed a lump on her back. Unfortunately, Tom had been out of work for over a year and was on Social Security benefits.

The vet prescribed a $450 removal procedure followed by $100 of testing. Tom was worried that if the result was cancer, he would not be able to afford the treatment.

Tom honestly discussed the situation with his sympathetic vet, who kindly offered a significant discount on part of the bill. He even suggested Tom wash kennels or work part-time at his office answering phones to work off some of the bills.

If you have a good relationship with your vet, something similar may be possible in your case, too.

 

Shop Around For Low-Cost Vet Clinics

Vet clinic prices vary tremendously. That means you should shop around. The prices vary based on the location, the equipment offered, and even the number of staff and their specializations.

For example, when Jill started looking for a vet in the New Orleans area, she made calls to 6 different clinics. She discovered that the base cost per visit ranged from $40 to $80.

Some pet hospitals even cover medical and behavioral care for a fixed monthly fee. Here are some tips to find low-cost vets.

• Look for a vet in a smaller town.
• Consider treating your pet at veterinary school. Many schools run affordable vet clinics for low-income patients.
• Always consider a second opinion; you could end up paying a second consultation fee but might save on future costs.

 

Look For Charitable Vet Clinics

The Humane Society has enlisted several affordable veterinary care options for pets. Many shelters and animal rescue organizations are available to help out pet owners in need. Some even offer breed-specific services.

You can also get nationwide financial assistance from many places such as AVMF (American Veterinary Charity Fund), Help-a-Pet, or Joshua Lewis Animal Cancer Foundation.

 

Consider Crowdfunding

GoFundMe is a great crowdfunding site that can help pet parents in distress. They also have pet-specific options. Other sites for crowdsourcing especially for pets include PlumFund, Waggle, and FundRazr.

Moses, an 8-year-old Maltipoo received life-saving treatment thanks to crowdfunding through Waggle.

 

Compare Pet Prescription Medicine Costs

Vets often charge more for prescription medicines. The prices of pet medicines are also not regulated, so there could be a difference of almost $100 between pharmacies!

You can honestly discuss this with your vet or ask for a discount on the medicine’s price. Some generic medicines are also a lot cheaper at sites like Walmart and Target.

You can also use GoodRx to buy affordable medication for your pet. The site is free to use and does not need registration. It will help you compare prices from local pharmacies, online shops, and other sources and give you the cheapest prices available.

 

Look For Coupons And Discounts

Many vet clinics come up with specials and discounts on services like teeth cleaning or grooming from time to time. This can make a huge difference in the bill.

Keep an eye out on your vet clinic’s Facebook page and website.

Alice always uses her local vet’s in-office clinic which takes place twice a year. This helps her save on dental care, vaccinations, and several other procedures for her dogs. Perhaps your vet has a similar offer.

 

Be Proactive

Prevention is always better than cure. If you are proactive with your pet’s regular health checkups, then you could prevent many complications down the line.

For example, the simple act of brushing you dog’s teeth daily, in addition to routine dental exams, can help you prolong your pup’s life by several years, and avoid expensive dental procedures.

 

Consider Selling Unwanted Items To Raise Funds

If you have some items you don’t need anymore, you could sell them to raise funds. You can set up a yard sale, or sell them online, and fund some of your dog’s vet treatment.

 

How Much Does A Vet Visit Cost?

Here are some approximate vet visit costs for various different services.

• Grooming: $45 to $75.
• Tick and Flea Prevention: $140 to $185 on average for 6 months of protection
• Neuter/Spay: $100 to $500
• Dental Cleaning: $60 to $500
• Routine Vet Checkup: $40 to $100 per visit
• Allergy Test: $200 to $400
• Heartworm Test: $40 to $80
• Ear Infection Treatment: $150
• Vaccinations: $20 to $55 per shot, annually around $200
• Blood Test: $80 to $200
• Diarrhea: $100 to $200

 

Complex or Critical Care

• Cancer: $4000
• Diabetes: $2000
• Fracture: $400 to $2000
• Dental Disease: $500
• Eye Issues: $300

Most experts recommend setting aside a budget of $1300 to $1500 per year for a dog’s vet bills. Please note that the above costs will vary based on your location.

 

What To Do If You Can’t Afford A Vet: Related Questions

Below, we will answer some common questions related to vet visits for your dog. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to ask them in the comments below.

 

Do you have to take your dog to the vet?

Regular vet exams, vaccinations, and preventive treatments can help prolong your dog’s life by several years and also protect you from huge medical bills down the road. Therefore, it is important to take your dog to the vet for routine checks.

Is it illegal to not take your dog to the vet? In some jurisdictions, it is illegal and in others it is not. Most have some type of law against animal neglect.

 

Where can I get free health care for my pet?

You could check with low-cost veterinary clinics and veterinary colleges in your city. The Humane Society helpline can also provide you with information regarding free health care for pets.

 

What if nothing works for me and I just can’t find a way to pay for a vet?

If nothing else works, there is a last resort option. If your budget simply can not accommodate for the expenses of your pet, then consider surrendering it to a pet rescue home instead.

The sad part about this option is that you’ll no longer be the owner, but if you can’t provide the care your pet needs, this is the better option for it.

 

What are some foundations that can help me?

As mentioned above, many compassionate people can help you with your financial troubles with your pet. Some popular pet organizations provide financial and emotional relief to pet rescuers and owners.

 

RedRover.org

This organization is gives aid for life-threatening situations and is dedicated to showing compassion and love for pets. The RedRover Relief program is also a great advocate for pets who experienced domestic violence. They offer a new and peaceful home for the pet.

 

Brown Dog Foundation

Another great foundation is the Brown Dog Foundation, which aims to help pet owners recover from a financial crisis. They also dedicate themselves to offering life-sustaining medication for pets, or relief from threatening situations.

 

Shakespeare Animal Fund

What’s unique about the Shakespeare Animal Fund is that they specifically extend help to the elderly and to disabled pet owners who lack the means of supporting their pets. They also extend help to those earning less than the current federal poverty guideline.

 

Handicapped Pet Foundation

There are many handicapped pets out there, and the Handicapped Pet Foundation is a good-hearted foundation that helps pet owners shoulder the medical expenses.\

They also donate mobility equipment for disabled and injured pets, so that they have the chance to walk again and get their normal lives back.

 

The Importance Of An Emergency Pet Fund (Or Good Insurance)

Many pet owners do not seem to understand (or care) that pets also feel terrible when they’re sick. These pet owners are simply insensitive to the needs of their pets. As a result, many pets suffer and die prematurely, because their owner neglect their responsibilities.

One of those responsibilities is to provide your pet with everything it needs to live a happy and healthy life. This means you should always make sure you have sufficient funds available, or have pet insurance, to be able to cover an emergency.

 

Emergencies Happen

Even if you do your best in taking care of your pet, the unexpected can always happen. A personal pet savings fund, or a good insurance policy, can help you pay for your pet’s medical needs if an emergency does happen.

 

Your Responsibility As The Owner

Before you consider getting a pet, you have to consider the responsibility of being a pet owner. Consider the kind of pet you want carefully, because some pets are much more high-maintenance, meaning they also require a larger budget.

Make sure you can afford to take care of whatever pet you get, now and into the future. If you are not sure you can swing it, please reconsider getting a pet, or get one that does not require as much of you financially.

 

What To Do If You Can’t Afford Emergency Vet: Conclusion

If you can not afford to take your pet to the vet, there are options available. Hopefully one of the 9 options we presented above has helped you out.

If you do not have a pet yet and are considering getting one, but you already know you will have trouble affording regular vet visits, please reconsider getting a pet until your financial situation in more stable.

If you already have a pet and are simply struggling with a medical emergency, or just with regular vet visits, we understand that in these difficult times, it can be hard to pay for all of our, our families’ and our pets’ needs.

And others understand as well. That is why there are numerous organizations out there that can help. Contact some of them and see what they can do for you.