Providing the best possible health care for your beloved companion can sometimes feel like a financial challenge. From routine veterinary visits to unexpected medical emergencies, the costs associated with pet care can add up quickly. However, there are various strategies and resources available that can help ease the financial burden and ensure that your furry friend receives the care they deserve.
Pet insurance can be a valuable tool for managing unexpected veterinary expenses. The team at Preventive Vet has had pet insurance for their pets, some for over 20 years. We can't be bigger believers in having this kind of coverage.
While pet insurance requires you to pay a monthly premium, having coverage can save you from substantial out-of-pocket expenses in case of accidents or illnesses. If you’re of modest means, look for insurance plans that offer more affordable rates. Getting pet insurance with a low deductible is enticing, but it often means you pay more for your monthly premium. So, what are your options?
Cheap pet insurance isn't a "thing" – as you do get what you pay for. However, in our research, the pet insurance company called Lemonade offers affordable coverage. Companies, like Trupanion, that offer robust coverage with unlimited claims must recoup their costs through higher premiums. If you're on a tight budget, getting a less expensive policy with an annual limit of $5,000 or $10,000 can reduce monthly premiums and is still better than having no insurance at all!
The Nibbles pet credit card offers rewards for all your pet and veterinary purchases. You’re going to spend money on your pet anyway; might as well get 3x the rewards right!?!
And, that’s not all! It also provides up to $10k per year in free pet insurance for qualified applicants. Check out Nibbles. If you're looking for a "pet insurance credit card," Nibbles launched this year and is already helping many pet owners.
Additional Bonus: When you make a veterinary purchase, Nibbles will automatically submit your claim. So, while they won't pay your veterinarian directly, you'll avoid the paperwork of submitting an insurance claim after your vet visit.
If you’ve decided that pet insurance is not for you, we strongly suggest saving a bit of money each and every month.
We recommend putting away at least $200 per month in a savings account that is reserved just for your pet. Either have it taken directly off your paycheck or set up an auto transfer every month, so you can set it and forget it.
Years from now, if the balance is in the $thousands of dollars – it’s NOT there for a vacation! It’s there when you need it most to help your pet. As pets age, it's even more likely they'll need urgent care, especially for illnesses.
If you’re unable to put away $200 per month, we understand. But do try to put away as much as you can afford because bad things can happen, and you want to be able to do as much as possible for your beloved family member.
Note that if an emergency arises that requires medical care – it can happen days or weeks after you bring your new pet home – you may not have sufficient funds to cover the associated expenses.
Pro Tip: Choose a high-yield savings account to maximize growth, but make sure that it offers a debit card (to use to pay when you actually need it!). Some high-yield accounts don’t offer a card and also restrict the number of withdraws every year (so read the restrictions!).
Many communities have low-cost veterinary clinics that offer services at a fraction of the cost of traditional clinics. These clinics often just provide basic services, including vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and wellness check-ups. Some may also offer sliding-scale fees based on your income level.
Search for a low-cost clinic near you.
Many veterinary schools offer low-cost or free medical services to pet owners in need. These services not only support the veterinary school's local community but also provide opportunities for veterinary students to gain hands-on experience and learn from experienced professionals.
Check with a veterinary school in your state to learn more about their community services.
Find your nearest accredited veterinary school here.
If you’re not dealing with an emergency, and you just need to talk to a veterinary professional to ask them questions, telehealth services could save you money and could provide you with access to a professional faster than trying to get an appointment with your regular veterinarian.
If you are dealing with an emergency situation, then this is not your best option (you need to go to urgent care).
This Ask a Vet service offers our readers access to chat with a veterinarian for $5 for seven days.
Many states require that an in-person veterinary-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) be established before a virtual visit can occur. This means that you must go into a veterinary clinic to have your pet examined and have a medical history taken first; then, follow-up visits for that medical condition with that clinic can be done online.
Any new medical issues require the establishment of a new VCPR before treatment can be continued virtually.
Some states don't require this or don't have any indication of the need for an in-person VCPR in their Veterinary Practice Act, and they are Alaska, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
The TeleVet website has a good resource that lists the requirements by state.
The Veterinary Virtual Care Association is another great resource.
If you are facing expensive veterinary bills or cannot afford the level of care your pet needs, below are some options for you to explore to get the help you need.
We recommend connecting with multiple assistance partners, as you may need more than one grant or program to cover your pet's veterinary expenses.
This Pet Finder resource is excellent. Search by city, state/province, and zipcode. You'll see a list of lower-cost veterinary services and financial assistance programs in your area.
Some veterinary clinics offer payment plans that allow you to spread out the cost of treatment over a period of time. These plans can be especially helpful for managing larger bills, such as surgeries or treatments for chronic conditions. Most payment plans are offered by third parties.
Requires your vet to participate:
Programs that don't require your veterinarian to participate, as they are essentially credit cards:
Don't be afraid to have an open conversation with your veterinarian about your financial situation. Some veterinarians may be willing to work with you to find cost-effective solutions or offer discounts on services.
Please know that veterinarians are running a business (often a small business) and just because they care deeply about you and your pet, it doesn’t mean that they able to offer their services, their staff’s services, or the use of their facility and equipment, for free or even discounted. If they did that, they’d go out of business.
There are many national non-profit organizations and funds created to support pet owners struggling to pay for veterinary care. Below is a list to get you started in your search.
There are breed-specific rescues all over the United States that may be able to offer you financial support. If you have a purebred dog, it's worthwhile to contact the national breed club to find out if they have a grant program.
Visit the AKC Rescue Network List here.
There are local organizations and non-profits that can provide assistance in helping with the costs of veterinary care.
They alleviate the financial strain of veterinary care by offering low-cost or free medical services or by providing financial assistance to cover the cost of veterinary care at other providers.
We've compiled some state and regional organizations below to help you get started in your search for assistance.
Since we’re talking about financial planning, there are actually a few ways in which you can deduct pet expenses from your income taxes. Keep reading to see if you qualify.
People who rely on an animal trained to assist a person with a disability may be able to claim costs associated with buying, maintaining, and training them — it would be considered a medical expense. To qualify, your medical expenses paid during the year must exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You may be able to get a tax deduction for pet expenses if your pet helps you in a medical capacity or performs certain services.
Veterans and others who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be able to claim a tax deduction for a dog who performs specific services for them. If you have an emotional support animal, you may be able to deduct expenses associated with caring for the animal – although not every pet qualifies.
Business owners may be able to get a tax deduction if their pet provides a service for the company, and they can prove that the cost of keeping their pet is a necessary part of operating their business. A few examples would be a pet that appears in commercials or print advertisements, or you if have built a business around the pet, on Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, or Facebook.
Fostering pets might get you a tax deduction. Every expense you pay out of pocket caring for foster animals could be deducted as charitable donations if the animals are from a qualified nonprofit.
Volunteers at animal shelters or rescue organizations may be able to deduct fuel costs associated with driving done in service to the organization's mission (not to your commute), so keep track of your mileage.
Caring for your dog or cat on a limited budget is possible with careful planning and the help of various resources. From exploring pet insurance options, credit cards that offer free pet insurance, pet health savings accounts, to leveraging community assistance programs, there are numerous avenues to subsidize your pet care costs. Remember that your dog's well-being is worth the effort, and by utilizing these strategies, you can provide your furry companion with the love and care they deserve without compromising your financial stability.
Please reach out and let us know about your program.
