Taking on a pet comes with financial implications. That’s why we always recommend pet insurance for unforeseen illnesses, injuries, and accidents that our furry friends can suffer. There is no NHS for pets, so veterinary treatment can be expensive. Dogs and cats can live well into their teenage years, so they bring with them a long-term financial commitment to their care.

It can be stressful when your pet is unwell and if you’re also worried about money, this can make the situation feel worse. The longer your pet is unwell, the worse their illness can become. Seeking advice quickly may reduce costs overall and be best for your pet’s health.

Vet costs

Some Vet practices offer schemes where owners can pay a monthly subscription to help cover consultation fees and certain treatments.  If your pet needs urgent and expensive treatment, you may also be able to arrange a payment plan with your vets to pay in instalments. Please speak to your vet immediately if you are struggling to pay.

We also advise you to check the cost with other vets as prices can vary.  You are not tied to a particular practice to treat your animal, so shop around or get a second opinion if possible.

We receive calls daily from owners who are struggling to pay for veterinary care for their pets, so we have put together some information and advice below on various ways to reduce or spread the cost. 

Advice about Vet costs

• Get advice from your vet first

The first step towards helping your pet is contacting your local vet.  Although it may feel awkward to talk about money, it’s best to speak honestly with your vet about what you can afford as they may be able to offer alternative options.

Your vet will give advice on how best to help your pet, but there may be other options depending on your circumstances and location. Different but equally effective treatments can sometimes reduce costs.

• Avoid DIY remedies to cut costs

Be cautious about seeking pet health advice from non-professionals or using home remedies, as only a trained vet can provide safe and suitable recommendations based on a thorough examination of your pet.

Be aware that common household products and medications can be harmful to pets. For example, paracetamol is toxic to cats, and ibuprofen is toxic to both cats and dogs. Even external products like creams and sprays may contain harmful ingredients for your pet. Complications can be serious, leading to higher vet costs and even fatal effects, as symptoms may not be visible until serious damage has occurred. Get advice from the RSPCA website about what medications are poisonous to cats and dogs.

Using medication prescribed for another animal can cause complications for your pet due to allergies or underlying health issues. Therefore, never borrow or share medication from others, as it may not be effective once opened due to its shelf-life.

Contact your vet if you notice any changes in your pet’s health or behaviour. Prompt treatment can lower long-term vet bills by preventing conditions from worsening.

• Check if your pet is unwell

If you’re uncertain when to contact a vet, use Vet Help Direct’s online symptom checker or book an online or virtual consultation. Vets can offer advice but not prescribe medications through virtual consults. 

• Find out about getting medication at a cheaper cost

Medication costs can vary, so it’s worth asking your vet if they can give you a prescription that you can use to buy the medicine online or at a pharmacy where the price might be lower. The vet will charge for the prescription service, but pet pharmacies buy medications in bulk, allowing them to offer lower prices. Many vet clinics are small businesses and cannot buy large amounts of medication, leading to higher costs.

• Find out about alternative treatments

There are other treatment options your vet can offer. Lower cost treatments may give good results but could come with more risks or less certainty than pricier alternatives. Your vet can explain.

• Credit-based payment plans

Some vets offer payment plans through a credit company if you need help spreading the cost. Not every vet can offer this, but it’s worth asking if this is possible.  There are a few different companies that offer payment plan schemes.

The Money Advice Service
Citizens Advice
Step Change
National Debtline

In addition, you can use BUY NOW PAY LATER services provided by companies like Klarna Finance, where their clients can obtain credit from Klarna to pay their vet bills in three interest-free instalments, helping to spread the cost. 

https://www.klarna.com/uk/

• Change your vet

Vet fees vary based on location, which equipment and tests are available, the vet’s experience and speciality.  You may want to get a second opinion from a different vet clinic or hospital. Some vets also provide low-cost services and in certain areas, you may find a not-for-profit clinic through companies like the Animal Trust.  You can also find a list of vets in your area.

End of life decisions

At times, very sadly the only way to help your pet is for you to make the final decision about their life. If you would like to talk to someone about this, please know that free help is available through:#

Cats Protection Paws to Listen
Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service

Other charities that can help

Some animal charities help owners with vet bills, either by covering some of the payment or offering reduced costs through their own clinics. In most cases, you will need to fit specific criteria to use them so please check first.

To see if the charities below offer services that are available in your area please visit their websites.

Cat’s Protection offers free and low-cost neutering schemes throughout the UK.

Dogs Trust offers free and reduced-cost vet assistance for people who are in housing crises or are homeless. Visit Dogs Trust to find out more.

Carefree Credit service

Care Free Credit offer a service that provides low interest loans specifically to help with veterinary treatment and allow you to make monthly repayments. 

The Care Free Credit service is not affiliated to the RSPCA or Cornwall Branch therefore we cannot assist with queries about their loan schemes.