Although paying for your pet’s care may not ordinarily be a problem, occasions may arise – something unexpected or an emergency situation – when you are presented with a bill that is more than you can afford to pay.
If this happens, you should know that there is financial aid available, and there are things you can do as well to help cover the bill.
Some Actions You Can Take
- Work out a payment schedule.
If the vet is someone you know well, you may be able to work out a payment plan, where you pay a certain amount on a weekly or monthly basis.
- Exchange a service for some or all of payment.
If you have professional expertise that may be of value to the vet, offer to perform a service for him instead of payment. Veterinarian offices and clinics have the same needs as most small businesses do, and the vet may be willing to accept a service in exchange for payment.
- Consult with other vets.
You will have to pay for an office visit, but other vets may have lower rates for whatever medical procedure your pet needs.
- Use the services of a veterinary school.
Many schools have low-cost clinics. For a list of schools, check out VeterinarySchools.com.
CareCredit.com is a credit card just for healthcare expenses, which can also be used for expenses for your pet. It allows you to use many different payment options to help you get through the emergency.
- RedRover Relief.
This is a program that provides financial assistance to pet owners who are dealing with economic hardship when pets are in need of urgent or emergency veterinary care. There are also links on their website to other sources of financial aid.
- Animal shelters.
Some shelters have inexpensive veterinary clinics. Some also work with local veterinarians who are amenable to lowering their costs for situations of financial hardship. And some also sponsor loan and grant programs to pay for veterinary care.
- Financial aid.
Finally, the Humane Society of the United States has a website with a list of state and national resources for pet owners who may need some assistance in paying for veterinary care. These are pet financial aid related organizations.
Exercise and fresh air will help your pet stay healthy. The next time you head out of town without your pet – whether it’s just for a few hours or a few days – give your dog the gift of lots of exercise with other dogs in our outdoor run here at Barney’s Ranch.
Give us a call at (469) 273-1661 for more information.