Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

Tip: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

Does anyone know where or how I can get help with veterinarian bills? I'm living on Social Security. My kitty has an eye infection, and I can't afford to take her to the vet. Thanks so much for any help or suggestions.

By Donna from Sacramento, CA

Feedback:

RE: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

There is a credit card that is only used for a few places, like dentist, eye doctor, and veterinarians. It has to be accepted by the doctor. Not everyone accepts it, but ask anyway. You are given a credit limit and if you are not late with the monthly payments, no interest.

http://www.carecredit.com (01/05/2011)

By Pamela21554

Request: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

A few years back a young man driving a forklift backed into a metal rack, dumping thousands of pounds of metal beams on top of me. Several of my vertebrae were crushed and I am now confined to a wheelchair and hospital bed. I have four cats/children who mean the world to me.

The neighbors brought me a sickly kitten two weeks ago who I nursed back to life but it still has a bad upper respiratory problem. It has now spread to my other babies. I am on disability and only get paid once a month. The vets want cash upfront. I love my babies. Is there someone or some organization out there who could let me pay them monthly to save my beloved pets? I am not rock bottom poor, I just can't come up with what they want all at once.

By Bear from Vancouver, WA

Feedback:

RE: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

You should just call local vet clinics and ask them, most of them are willing to work out a payment plan with you. :) (06/24/2010)

By abrupt_silence

RE: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

I would ask those inconsiderate neighbors to help with the bill. In your condition and already having four cats, a sick cat is the last thing they should have brought you. (06/25/2010)

By Lily May

RE: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

I had a stray show up that had upper resppiratory problems every couple of months. Now I'm not a vet, but I do know that colds in cats can be caused by herpes simplex. I started to crush L-Lysine into moist food starting with 2 a day then once when symptoms improved. This shortened the duration and he bounced quickly back. L-Lysine is used in cold sore ointments and lip balms and speeds in healing. My stepson used to get them and at the first sign of one I would give this to him. It can be purchased at any drugstore or Walmart for a few dollars. (06/25/2010)

By babbles5

RE: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

Normally, if I have that type of situation where more then one animal has the same thing, I take one to the vet and see what he says. See the meds he gives and tell them you can only pay whatever you can afford the first visit but that you will pay it off as time goes by.

If you find out the first one has something that is covered by fish antibiotics, which are sold on online pet stores, or other antibiotics they sell for livestock, then you could get the dosage of that same antibiotic down and give it to the others. My cat is allergic to penicillin and lots of them are, that is why I would take the first one to the vet. Respiratory is a dangerous thing altogether it could be simple or complicated. Better to have a high bill at the vet, and pay it off if you cant pay it off. why go there for anything? Robyn (06/27/2010)

By Robyn Fed

RE: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

Try the Humane Society and Vet Schools. Also, from my files: There's credit card company called Care Credit out of El Paso, TX. See if you can sign up for it over the 'net, it's medical care for your pets, your dental, chiropractic, vision, hearing, cosmetic, and veterinary. Their no. is 1-866-893-7864 and website is CareCredit.com. You can go up to $3,000. credit line and affordable payment plan. As with most credit cards these days, the interest rate is high, but if you have no other alternative for your pet; you may want to apply for Care Credit. I signed up for it at my dentist's office, but haven't used it so far. I may in the future. Good luck. (06/29/2010)

By desertgal

Request: Getting Help to Pay Vet Bills

My boyfriend and I adopted our 3 month old puppy Isabel, June 7, 2008. We were told the following Wednesday, that one of the puppies in her litter had Parvo and that she should be tested. She tested positive. Though she did recover, treatment cost over $1300. While that put a financial strain on us, that wasn't the end. After recovering from the Parvo, she came down with pneumonia and that treatment has cost us an additional $450+.

We've taken out some loans but the problem is that my boyfriend and I are both students and are only working part-time to pay for other bills (car, our medical bills, school, etc.). If we don't get help, we'll be behind on other bills. We've searched for organizations that can help but most are for future treatments. Does anyone know of any organizations or perhaps even individuals who can help us? We love our puppy and have tried to do what's best for her.

Diana from Dallas, TX

Feedback:

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

Please do what is best for the dog and find an owner that has money saved for these types of things. (08/19/2008)

By michawnpita

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

You might want to try the Web site http://www.modestneeds.org/. (08/19/2008)

By chretienne

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

You are not at a stage in life for having pets, you should be free and not tied down, but then again puppies are irresistible. The vet will help you find a home for her, and the vet's staff is probably attached to her by now. Pay the bill however you can, but let your pet-owning days come when you are sitting on a pile of cash and life is stable. (08/19/2008)

By kimhis

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

This is part of being a responsible pet owner, being able to pay for unexpected expenses. Most puppies don't survive Parvo, so in that respect you are lucky. There is veterinary pet insurance available for future issues, your vet probably has fliers about it in the clinic. (08/19/2008)

By Linda

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

Here is an idea you might want to try. Try volunteering your time at the vet's office to trade for hours for payment. I had a couple of local bills and suggested that I could volunteer as a trade to pay off my bills. Some disagreed, but several companies loved the idea. I set a plan based on the going hourly rate and signed a contract to work a certain amount of hours until the bill is paid off or at least lowered. (08/24/2008)

By Georgette Ruth

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

Geez ... what a combination of feedback. How many people expect the worse in various situations and are prepared for it? Not many, I'm sure. It seems that this is an old post so hopefully things have worked out by now. We take on things in our lives that sometimes make us struggle and have to hope for the best. Everyone experiences this. To imply that you are not responsible is unfair and a bit harsh. You may get to the point where you can't continue to keep the animal, but do the best you can and keep faith.

Things have a way of working out, usually for the best. No one can or should fault you for taking in a pet who later had major problems. Just hang in there and take it one day at a time. I see there were some very thoughtful people who offered to send your vet money. Count your blessings and consider those human beings at their finest. Hope it's all worked out. (06/10/2010)

By dusty6788

Request: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

My 5 month old puppy was recently diagnosed with Parvo. She has been in the vet for 3 days now and she has started to show signs of improvement. Is there any way to help with the bills, they are now at $1200.00 and she will still have to stay for another 3 days. Is there anybody that knows any way to help with these bills. My family and I just can't let her go. Please send responses. God Bless!

Cathy from Louisville, KY

Answers:

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

Cathy, give me the name, address and phone no. of your vet and if i have extra money this payday I will send whatever I can afford directly to them. (04/10/2008)

By Chi

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

You can also talk to the dr. and explain the situation. Sometimes they can let the dog go home a bit earlier IF they know you'll follow directions to the letter and if they know money is a problem. (04/10/2008)

By Glenn'sMom

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

If you or someone in your family has a skill you MIGHT be able to barter with your vet. I was lucky enough to barter with my dentist on 2 occasions. Of course I had to pay for the cost of my crown, but I bartered for the labor. Maybe you could do the same. Your Vet DOES have to pay his or her employees & for the cost of their overhead. My Dentist told me Strictly "Do NOT tell anybody we are bartering, I don't want others to think I'll do this for everyone!"

So I've kept my mouth shut (until now because he's retired) I'm an artist & I could paint a mural for a vet. Some are good at fixing cars & could do repairs or tune-ups on the Vets car. Some are great with wood or metal work & could build special sized cages that could be used there or sell to customers. Some can sew & could make special Velcro on cotton bandages so animals can't lick at their stitches. Maybe the Vet wants to expand in the near future, & you know someone who could help him build-on to his space, which you could then barter your services with etc, etc, etc.

Type out the list of things you'd be willing to do for labor costs (tell him you'll naturally pay the cost of meds & tests). Then show him your list & tell him you'd be willing to sign a written contract for your bartering services. That way he'll know you are truly serious about really doing your part to "pay" for services rendered.

* I've been living well below the poverty line for many years now (because I love being an artist) So I've had to come up with ways to do things like this. But I must say, that 2 weeks ago when my cat Smokey swallowed the end of a sausage wrapper (from someone's garbage) & he almost died because it got caught-up in his intestines.

I would have never been able to manage to pay for the operation to keep him alive if my mother hadn't loaned me the $800 plus, it cost! I am now looking into animal insurance because I never want to have to ask her again to help me pay for vet bills.

* One more thing I found out when Smokey almost died was that each vet charges different prices. In WA we have several places called "Vets for Less" (which is where I took Smokey) & that operation, meds, overnight stay & exam, etc. would have cost me 3 times what I paid at Vets for Less at any other Vet. I called around & did my checking on prices, & you should too. It can literally save you hundreds of dollars, just by making 5 or 6 phone calls & driving your pet to a different vet that's just as good, but charges less.

* One other thing I found out when Smokey was sick was that when pets stay overnight, unless it's a 24 hour Vet Hospital, the animals are left ALONE & are all by themselves. Smokey was left alone (with other animals) in a cage with blankets on top of him (his temp was very low) about an hour after his major surgery & he was alone all night long. He'd have been in better hands with me at home where I could have kept an eye on him!

I didn't know this until the following day when my daughter suggested I ask if anyone stayed with the animals during the night. The answer was No! Ask your vet: "Is there someone who stays with the animals at night?" & lets just hope they answer honestly! (04/10/2008)

By Cyinda

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

Read this: http://vetmedicine.about.com/library/news/bl-animalhelpfoundation.htm

Here is a quote from the above URL:

Where does a pet owner turn when their pet needs life saving medical care? A new fund has been set up to help cover the costs of emergency care and surgery. Many wonderful pet owners find themselves in desperate need of help after a tragic accident or life threatening illness leaves their pet in need of high cost veterinary care. Without pet health insurance, these bills add up quickly and soon become overwhelming. What does a pet owner do? Very often, the family faces the only choice Euthanasia.

With people though, this is never an option. Public hospitals will treat an injured person and allow them to pay later. Often providing a payment schedule which can be met over time. While hospitals are well funded organizations with the resources to incur accounts payable, veterinarians are not.

The PETS IN NEED FUND - set up by Animal Help Foundation, allows caring people to donate to these special pets. There is no limit to the amount of money which can be used to pay for emergency, life-saving veterinary bills. The only limit is what is in the fund. (04/10/2008)

By Cyinda

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

A loan, or you can put up coffe cans around you town with the dogs pic on it and it tells why you need money explain about parvo and cut a slit on tp and put them at gas stations and things! P.S. My dog died from parvo after 4 days of showing improvement, and they said she would be fine and discharged us and 25 mins aftter, we drought her home I held her in my arms and she past! (04/13/2008)

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

Do NOT let the dog go home any sooner than necessary. You CAN'T give them the same level of care, & what if their is an emergency. If the dr. won't let you pay on time then after this is over find a different vet because they don't care about the animals, only money. (04/14/2008)

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

Try modestneeds.org (04/14/2008)

By Pat

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

This may not be an option for you, but if there are any other vets in your area, call them and find out what they would charge for similar treatment. If it's a lot lower, you may be able to discuss this with your vet because they know they are in danger of losing your business if they do not lower the charge. We have a vet in our area that wanted to charge our friend more than $800 to pull her cat's tooth, saying the cat could die of infection. She was heartbroken (and broke). I had heard that the vet was very expensive overall. She brought the cat to my vet for a second opinion. They charged her $35 for the visit, determined that the cat was healing very nicely on its own, sent them home, and the cat has been healthy ever since. Now all my friends go to our vet. Also, see if your vet has a payment plan. Surely they must run across this situation all the time. Also try some local no-kill centers, not to give up your pet, but to see if they have any suggestions for you. Everyone will want to help if they can. Good luck! (04/14/2008)

By Natasha

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

Thank you for all the responses, I wish there were more people like you all in the world, We brought her home on Saturday the 12 of April and she seems to be doing great. So far, she's playing with the kids and acting like herself. The final bill was over $2300.00 and the vet said they really couldn't give me any breaks on it. Jefferson Animal Hospital in Louisville KY. Again thank you all once again. God Bless! (04/15/2008)

By Cathy

RE: Ideas To Get Help Paying Vet Bills

I agree with the last post IF (all of us on this site/on the web) help this little one with only a dollar each - this animal (her furry child) can & will be saved. Send me the name, address and phone no. of your vet and I too will send money directly to your vet for the bill you incur for your animal. I know what it is like to love a furry baby too as we have 5 of them (cats). (04/15/2008)

By Paula Jo Carr