Need Help Paying Vet Bills?
There are a number of different ways to afford veterinary care for your pet, including: payment plans; reduced-fee care; online consultations; crowd funding; and organizations that cover or subsidize medical expenses. We list all of these below.
Start by working with your veterinarian. Ask your primary vet whether any less expensive treatment option is available. Compare medical costs. Try to arrange a payment plan or see if your vet is associated with CareCredit, VetBilling, or the AAHA Helping Pets Fund. Ask whether the practice would accept services in place of cash. Perhaps an extra hand at the reception desk or in the kennel is needed at times.
Consider going to a vet in a less expensive area or locate a veterinary school with a clinic or subsidies for low-income clients. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a list of schools by state here.
Explore animal welfare organizations that offer help to pets needing medical care. These funding programs typically have specific application procedures, eligibility requirements and may be limited to certain breeds, species, diseases, etc. We list a number of these below.
You may also want to check https://www.findhelp.org/ to search for financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help by zip code.
If you want to check if your pet needs emergency care, know more about at-home care for less serious medical issues or have other questions, you can try online veterinarians, such as JustAnswer or Vetster. While these aren’t substitutes for in-person care, they may save you an unnecessary and expensive emergency vet visit.
Wondering about pet insurance? First, if you don’t already have insurance, it won’t help with your immediate expenses, but also there are a few things you should check out in any insurance policy. Most have higher premiums and shrinking coverage as your pet ages, a limited amount of coverage each year, and no coverage for pre-existing conditions. A few do, but only after a year.
Finally, if you need to raise funds fast, there are options – not great ones, but still options. You could sell items on Ebay or Letgo or other selling apps. Ask your employer if they have any assistance for situations like yours. Talk to your bank or credit union about a loan. Or as a very last resort, see if you can get additional credit on a credit card.
Helpful links to various types of financial resources follow, starting with payment plans and crowd sourcing sites.
PAYMENT PLANS AND FUNDRAISING:
- CareCredit
Short-term, interest-free payment plans. Check with your veterinarian for availability. - VetBilling.com
Interest-free payment plans through veterinary practices participating with VetBilling.com. - Pawp/Charity Paws
A pet insurance alternative that allows you to pay a small monthly fee for unlimited virtual calls with a veterinarian. Includes an emergency fund up to $3,000 for emergency vet visits that they approve. - Waggle
A pet-dedicated crowdfunding platform to pay for medical costs of pets in crisis. Your veterinarian needs to be a vet member, so he or she can reach out to Waggle to create a fundraising page. Through the Waggle Foundation, your pet may also be chosen for a grant or sponsorship. - CoFund My Pet
A crowdfunding service with funds raised put into a CoFund My Pet veterinary debit card. - Free Animal Doctor
Another crowdsourcing fund to help pay vet bills.
NATIONAL RESOURCES:
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Helping Pets Fund
AAHA-accredited veterinary practices identify and apply for clients facing financial hardship who need help affording their pet’s medical care. - Veterinary Care Charitable Fund
Funds through eligible veterinary practices to help with medical care for disaster relief, veterans’ dogs and service dogs, low-income elderly, or domestic abuse victims. - Dylan’s Hearts
Assists with veterinary bills for urgent medical care that offers a good prognosis for the pet. Applicant must have a diagnosis and treatment plan from their vet before applying. - For The Love of Alex
Funding for emergency and life-threatening situations. - Hearts United for Animals
Help with emergency medical cases; also a sanctuary and no-kill shelter. - Help-A-Pet
Financial assistance to pet owners who are unable to pay for veterinary services, medicine, or medical supplies for their sick or injured pet. Particular interest in pets of the physically and mentally challenged, the elderly on fixed incomes, and children of the working poor. - Brown Dog Foundation
Funds for pet guardians in temporary financial crisis whose pet faces a treatable, life-threatening condition. - The Onyx & Breezy Foundation
Supports a number of programs, which includes help for pets with cancer, geriatric care, or other medical hardships. - Hope Fund of Frankie’s Friend
Supports pets that would have a good prognosis from a single intervention for long-term recovery to a normal quality of life. Must be recommended by attending veterinarian. - Paws 4 A Cure
Financial assistance for any injury or illness to pet parents who can’t afford veterinary care. - Mosby Foundation (based in Virginia)
Assists in the care of critically sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs. - Bowwow Buddies
Funds to individuals struggling to cover their veterinary bills for serious ailments and to rescues and shelters needing assistance to cover medical treatment for dogs awaiting adoption. - Pet Assistance, Inc.
Subsidizes medical expenses for emergency or life-threatening care for pets of people who have always cared for their pets but can’t afford an emergency problem. Works only with independent, private hospitals and doesn’t offer help for recently adopted pets. - Pets of the Homeless
Emergency care, wellness clinics, pet food, shelters allowing pets, and other resources for pets and their homeless people. - The Pet Fund
Financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need non-basic, non-urgent veterinary care, such as cancer treatment, heart disease, chronic conditions, endocrine diseases, eye diseases, etc. - Red Rover Relief Grants
Helps fund specific and immediate emergency vet care for destitute animals suffering from acute, life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Red Rover also offers assistance to victims of domestic abuse and their pets. - SPAY/USA
Makes spay/neuter services affordable to those who might not otherwise spay/neuter their pets. - Friends of Animals https://friendsofanimals.org/get-a-certificate/
Provides certificates for low-cost spay/neuter services at a veterinarian’s office near you. - Best Friends
A great source for finding financial assistance organizations and online advice.
BREED-SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE:
Breed-specific rescue groups may have information about additional help for particular breeds. You can find these groups by visiting The Shelter Pet Project and choosing “shelter” in the search field.
- CorgiAid: Corgies
- Doberman 911: Doberman Pinschers
- Labrador Life Line: Labrador Retrievers
- Pyramedic Trust: Great Pyrenees
- WestieMed: West Highland White Terriers
- Pit Bull Rescue Central: Pit Bulls
DISEASE-SPECIFIC RESOURCES:
- Canine Cancer Awareness
Helps sponsor the veterinary costs of dogs diagnosed with cancer for families in financial need who would not otherwise be able to afford treatment. - Riedel & Cody Fund
Funding for pet parents who have a dog diagnosed with cancer but can’t afford to pay for the treatment. - JLAFC/Frankie’s Friends
The Joshua Louis Animal Cancer Fund partnered with Frankie’s Friends to help fund cancer research and also to help pay for cancer treatment that the pet parent couldn’t otherwise afford. - Magic Bullet Fund
Funds for cancer surgery or chemotherapy that the pet guardian can’t afford. - Land of Pure Gold Foundation
$1,000 grants for working dogs with a cancer diagnosis - Fetch a Cure Canines in Crisis program
Veterinary care assistance for cancer treatment. - Helping Harley Cancer Treatment Grant (for working dogs)
Grants of $500 per working dog for oncology-related medical expenses. - Diabetic Pets Fund
Grants for diabetes medication and follow-up testing and helps pet parents navigate diabetes management. - Tipper and Squirt Care for Cushing’s Fund
- Funding to low-income pet parents for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of Cushing’s Disease.
- Handicapped Pets Foundation
Donates wheelchairs to elderly, disabled or injured pets in need.
SERVICE DOGS:
- The Assistance Dog United Campaign
Funding in order to purchase service dogs for people with disabilities. - Assistance Dogs Special Allowance Program
a monthly allowance to help pay for food, grooming, and health care for assistance dogs – California residents only. - Helping Harley Cancer Treatment Grant (for working dogs)
Grants of $500 per working dog for oncology-related medical expenses. - International Association of Assistance Dog Partners
Help for assistance dogs if a sudden illness or injury requires high cost veterinary intervention. - Veterinary Care Charitable Fund
Listed above under National Resources, this fund lists service dogs as one of the groups eligible for medical funding assistance.
CATS:
- Cats in Crisis
Grants for cats with kidney disease, thyroid disease or cardiac conditions, or neurological conditions or mobility impairments such as Cerebellar hypoplasia, paraplegia, and limb malformations. - Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program
Medical costs for life-threatening illness or injury. Limited to recipients of State Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security only income; a public assistance program; or unemployment benefits. - Kobi’s Fund
Funding for cats that are diagnosed with Vaccine Associated Sarcoma (VAS). Part of the nonprofit Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance. - SPAY/USA
Affordable spay/neuter services.
Washington, DC Metro Area Resources
Pet pantries in the DC, Northern VA, and MD suburbs are listed on the Humane Rescue Alliance website at https://www.humanerescuealliance.org/petpantry.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:
- PETS-DC
Veterinary care assistance programs for senior, disabled or ill pet owners. - Humane Rescue Alliance
Vaccination clinics (with reduced cost shots; microchips; dewormers; flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives) and pet pantry for DC residents.
- Animal Advocates of Howard County: Ellicott City
Spay/neuter assistance. - Animal Welfare Society of Howard County: Columbia
Low-cost spay/neuter, vaccines, exams and consultations. - Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County
Spay/neuter assistance. - Caroline County Humane Society: Ridgely
Pet food, spay/neuter assistance. - Frederick County Humane Society: Frederick
Pet food, spay/neuter assistance, assistance for necessary veterinary medical care. - Humane Society of Charles County: Waldorf
Spay/neuter assistance. - Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center: Derwood
Rabies clinics. - McPaw: Veterinary Care Grants up to $700 and Food Pantry available to eligible Montgomery County residents
- Spay Now Inc.: Graysonville
Spay/neuter and vaccination assistance. - Talbot Humane Society: Easton
Pet food, spay/neuter assistance. - Spay Spa & Neuter Nook: Davidsonville
Low-cost spay and neutering services.
- Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
Spay/neuter assistance. - Animal Welfare League of Arlington
Spay/neuter, vaccination and microchip assistance, assistance for emergency veterinary care.Pet food, supplies and spay/neuter assistance. - Fauquier SPCA: Warrenton
Spay/neuter assistance. - Humane Society of Culpeper
Spay/neuter assistance. - Humane Society of Loudoun County: Purcellville
Spay/neuter assistance. - Humane Society of Fairfax County
Pet food. - Spay Inc.: Northern Virginia
Spay/neuter assistance.