Americans have a lot of love for their fur babies. A YouGov survey found that 88 percent of pet owners in the U.S. view their pets as part of the family. So when health issues threaten our pets’ well-being, it can be devastating, especially if the veterinary bills are unaffordable. Most people want to do everything they can to get their pet the care they need, even if it means borrowing money. And since a visit to the emergency vet can be a costly surprise expense, that’s often what’s required.
How Much Do Emergency Veterinary Bills Cost?
Typically, an emergency vet visit ranges from $800 to $1,500, but it can cost more depending on what your pet needs. For example, a 3-5 day hospitalization can cost up to $3,500. And if your pet needs emergency surgery, it can cost up to $5,000.
But fewer than 2 percent of pet owners have pet insurance for their pet. That’s because these premiums can be costly as well. The average annual accident and illness premium in 2019 was $585 for a dog and $350 for a cat. Without pet insurance, Americans rely on their emergency funds for visits to the emergency veterinary clinic, but they often lack sufficient funds. The Federal Reserve found that 30 percent of Americans wouldn’t be able to cover a $400 surprise expense without borrowing money or selling belongings.
How to Pay for Emergency Veterinary Bills
If you’re faced with an expensive veterinary bill and you don’t have enough stashed away in an emergency fund, you may want to ask friends or family for help. If that’s not an option, consider the following funding sources:
0% APR Credit Card
If you have good or excellent credit, you may qualify for a credit card with a zero percent introductory period. Typically, you get 12 to 18 months of use before you start accruing interest when you’re approved for one of these cards. You can put a large balance on one of these cards, which may even help you earn a bonus, and then pay off the amount over time. You may be able to prequalify for one of these cards without hurting your credit.
It’s important that you build repayment into your budget each month and plan to pay off the card before the introductory period comes to an end. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay interest on the entire remaining balance. The average APR on a credit card is about 15 percent.
Personal Loan
Personal loans have an average APR of about 10 percent, and you can get an even lower rate if you have excellent credit. Rates are fixed so you’ll know what to expect every month. You can borrow for almost any purpose, including veterinary bills, and personal loans come in amounts up to $35,000 or more. You can also typically select a term between two and five years, although it’s best to keep the term as short as possible while still keeping the monthly payments affordable.
Some lenders are able to offer fee-free personal loans to creditworthy borrowers, but if you have fair credit, expect a higher interest rate and an origination fee. The origination fee is taken from the principal, so if you apply for a $5,000 personal loan with a 5 percent origination fee, you’ll get $4,750 in cash from the lender. If you can, you should avoid lenders that charge prepayment penalties, which are fees for paying off the loan early. If you come into more money, you want to be able to pay off your loan earlier so you can pay less interest overall.
With any personal loan, making payments on time will help you build credit, but missing a payment will hurt your credit. That’s why it’s important to choose a loan with a manageable monthly payment. Some lenders offer discounts for autopay, which can also help ensure you don’t forget about your payment.
Medical Credit Card
There are some credit cards that are designed specifically for healthcare costs, and some can be used for veterinary expenses as well. While there are limits to how these cards can be used, they often come with perks such as a zero percent APR financing period for large purchases, which can be helpful if you need to pay a veterinary bill. However, most medical credit cards charge deferred interest. That means if you can’t pay off the entire balance during the zero percent APR term, you’ll be charged interest on the entire amount borrowed, not just the remaining balance. For this reason, if you can get approved for a zero percent introductory APR card, that’s often a better choice.
Veterinary Office Payment Plan
Some veterinary offices offer payment plans to assist people with covering a large expense. Typically, you’ll pay the amount in installments over time, with a low or zero percent interest rate. Even if your vet doesn’t regularly offer financing options, if you have a relationship with them, you may be able to negotiate paying some of the amount in monthly installments.
Crowdfunding
If you can’t ask friends or family for help directly, you may be able to rely on the kindness of strangers or people in your social network. A crowdfunding campaign is a way to ask for small contributions from many people. You should include plenty of photos of your pet and explain their health predicament in the description. You can use a crowdfunding platform like GoFundMe or check out a pet-specific fundraising website like Waggle.
Nonprofit Assistance Programs
Several nonprofit organizations are dedicated to keeping pets healthy and in the care of their owners when their owners are having financial difficulty. Many of these organizations offer grants to pay for pets’ medical care. There’s usually a lot of competition for the funds, and you’ll need to fill out an application explaining your situation. It’s possible you’ll get a grant but it won’t be enough to fully pay for your pet’s care. Still, it’s definitely worth applying for programs you are eligible for. Some examples include:
- RedRover
- Best Friends Animal Society
- The Pet Fund
- The Banfield Foundation
The Human Society also has state-by-state listings of local organizations that may be able to help.
How to Prepare for Future Veterinary Expenses
Owning a dog isn’t cheap. Estimates put the total lifetime cost at anywhere from $15,000 to $94,000, depending on the size and breed of the dog and what’s required to keep them healthy. And caring for a cat can cost between $690 and $1,485 per year. Now, that many doesn’t go down the drain; there are numerous physical and mental health benefits to owning a pet. And you can’t put a price on coming home to an animal that loves you unconditionally.
But you do need to budget for the expense. Add up the cost of your pet’s food, medicine, toys, and any other expenses, plus the typical cost of an annual exam and vaccinations. You should also save extra for potential emergencies. About one in three pets need emergency veterinary treatment in any given year, and their owners will spend about $800 to $1,500 for the visit. That means you should save at least an extra $800 every three years specifically for veterinary emergencies. But because your pet could need surgery or more frequent visits, you’ll probably want an even bigger cushion.
Build an Emergency Fund
You may want to have a separate emergency fund specifically for pet expenses. Aim to deposit at least $500 per year, or about $42 per month, into the emergency fund for your pet. That’s in addition to the amount you budget each month for their preventative care, food, and other expected costs.
Consider Pet Insurance
If a surprise expense would devastate you financially and you’re more likely to pay a monthly insurance bill than keep up with deposits to your emergency fund, consider purchasing pet insurance. You’ll pay several hundred dollars annually for coverage, and you may have a deductible as well, but you’ll be protected from unaffordable bills for things like surgeries and cancer treatment. If you want to be able to provide for your pet’s care no matter how serious the issue is, pet insurance is necessary.
Keep Your Pet Healthy
Taking care of your pet’s health on a regular basis will help prevent costly veterinary bills later on. For example, you should:
- Provide the right amount of healthy food
- Make sure your pet is spayed/neutered
- Give your pet plenty of exercise
- Provide opportunities for socialization
- Get regular (annual) checkups and necessary vaccinations
- Keep up with preventative and therapeutic medications
- Brush your pet’s teeth daily
- Keep up with nail trimming and regular grooming
Does My Pet Need Emergency Vet Care?
It’s usually cheaper to take your pet to your regular veterinarian, and if they’re exhibiting mild symptoms like diarrhea or itching, you can probably wait until your vet’s next available appointment. But the following symptoms indicate an urgent health issue that should prompt you to take your pet to the emergency vet:
- Breathing problems or constant coughing
- A distended abdomen
- Pale or yellow gums
- Elevated heart rate or severe restlessness
- Crying out in pain
- Difficulty walking
- Severe lethargy
- Bleeding from trauma
- Vomiting repeatedly
- Fever
- Abnormal odor
- Ingested something toxic
- Difficulty urinating
- Tremors, seizures, or fainting
If you’re not sure whether your pet’s symptoms qualify as an emergency, you can describe your pet’s symptoms to an emergency vet by phone. They should be able to tell you whether your pet needs to be seen right away. You can also get advice from a vet through JustAnswer, but a response could take time, so if you’re concerned about your pet suffering, you may want to proceed with caution and visit an emergency vet right away.
If you know your pet has ingested something that is toxic to them, like xylitol in toothpaste, you should call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. And if your pet is having difficulty breathing, you should get them to the emergency veterinary clinic promptly, but also know how to give them CPR on the way.
If your pet isn’t breathing, give them about 30 chest compressions in 15-20 seconds. Next, close your pet’s mouth, cover your pet’s nose with your mouth, and give two exhales. Repeat the process until your pet starts breathing again.
The Bottom Line
Your pet is precious to you, so you should be financially prepared to take care of them when an emergency arises. That means setting aside money every month for potential health issues that could arise for your pet. But even if you plan ahead, you could still face unaffordable veterinary bills. Maybe you recently dealt with another financial emergency, or maybe you don’t have enough stashed away to cover a particularly pricey procedure. If you need to borrow money, consider the following options.
| Borrowing Method | Typical APR | Typical Credit Score Needed | Things to Keep in Mind |
| 0% APR Credit Card | 0% for a limited time | Good to Excellent | Interest free period only lasts 12-18 months |
| Personal Loan | About 3% to 199% | Any | Origination fee may apply |
| Medical Credit Card | 0% for a limited time | Fair to Excellent | Interest is deferred |
| Veterinary Office Payment Plan | Low to no interest | Varies | May not be available |
| Crowdfunding | None | Any | Funds could take a while to access |
| Nonprofit Assistance | None | Any | Highly competitive |
The information contained herein is provided for free and is to be used for educational and informational purposes only. Consult a financial professional for specific help with your situation.