Financial Assistance Options For Patients Struggling With Vet Bills
There’s no getting around it: Pets, as much as we love them, can be expensive. There’s food and toys to think about, and, of course, keeping them safe and healthy. It can all add up to a lot.
As a pet owner, you likely spend more on your pet than you think, too. Government data shows that average annual household spending on pets topped $770 in 2021, which is up from $460 a decade ago. And with price increases for just about everything over the past two years, you can be sure that those numbers are even higher today, in mid-2023, than they were two years ago.
Costs are an important thing to keep in mind when deciding to get a pet. While overall costs are going to vary depending on where you live, what type of animal you have, and the specific health concerns, dietary needs, etc., related to your pet, it’s important to consider adding your animal’s needs to your monthly budget.
It’s not uncommon, either, for a vet visit — either a planned one, or a visit due to illness, injury, or an emergency — to put many people in a tight financial spot. Vet bills can be expensive, though we, naturally, do what we can to work with all of our patients! Accordingly, there can be options out there for financial assistance for those who need it after or before an expensive vet visit.
But before going further, you may also want to consider looking into pet insurance — something we recommend — which can help cover the costs of routine care as well as unexpected injuries, accidents, and illnesses. With that in mind, too, we also recommend bringing your pet in routinely for preventative care — there’s no better way to avoid expensive vet bills than to keep an eye on things and nip problems in the bud.
If you do, however, find yourself in a tight financial spot due to an unexpected vet bill or visit, there are resources you can turn to. Here’s a list of organizations that offer financial assistance nationally. Note, too, that the levels and types of assistance may vary, and that we at Southpaw Vet don’t endorse them, or promise that we can work with them.
That said, they may be worth reaching out to in order to size up your situation.
CareCredit
Works similar to a credit card.
Can be allied to routine veterinary appointments, grooming services, emergency pet care, or a variety of surgeries and treatments.
No interest is charged if paid in full within the promotion period.
Face Foundation
Provides grant money for emergency/critical life-saving care only.
Requires a diagnosis from a veterinarian and an estimate for a treatment plan.
Applicants must first apply for CareCredit or Scratchpay.
Bow Wow Buddies
Provides grant money for emergency/critical life-saving care to dogs only.
Requires a diagnosis from a veterinarian and an estimate for a treatment plan.
Can apply up to 30 days after a procedure has occurred.
Frosted Faces Foundation
Only available for senior dogs.
Provides grant money for critical life-saving procedures, crucial monthly medications, or newly adopted senior dogs with pre-existing conditions.
Requires a diagnosis from a veterinarian and an estimate for a treatment plan.
Applicants must first apply for CareCredit and be denied.
Helping Paws Foundation
Military service members only
Provides grant money for emergencies and non-urgent illness or injury, but not routine care.
Requires a simultaneous application for CareCredit or Scratchpay.
Provides a free vet visit with participating hospitals and works with the vets to provide funding based on the visit.
Red Rover Relief
Provides grant money for emergency/critical life-saving care only.
Requires a diagnosis from a veterinarian and an estimate for a treatment plan.
The pet must be spayed or neutered.
Applicants must submit proof of income.
Grant amounts average around $250, and are intended to cover a small gap in funding.
The Pet Fund
Provides grant money for non-basic, non-urgent care (ie, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, other chronic conditions) – not emergencies/urgent care or routine wellness.
Has a waitlist for assistance, your pet must be stable enough to wait for care.
Must be contacted via email prior to submission.
The application requires recent proof of income and an estimate from the veterinarian.
Frankie’s Friends
Provides grant money for emergency/critical life-saving care only.
Requires a diagnosis from a veterinarian and an estimate for a treatment plan.
Grants do not exceed $2,000.
Applicants must first apply for CareCredit or Scratchpay.
The application requires recent proof of income and an estimate from the veterinarian.
Contact us to make an appointment today!
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