Financial assistance for your dog's surgery may be available.
Even the most routine veterinary care for dogs can put a big dent in your wallet. So if Fido suddenly needs surgery, you may be looking at a bill of thousands of dollars. If you don't have the cash on hand, you may feel that your only option is to watch your beloved companion suffer and deteriorate in health. However, you can get financial assistance for your dog's surgery, if you know where to look.
Nonprofits
A variety of nonprofit organizations offer some form of financial assistance that may help with Fido's surgery. The Humane Society of the United States has a listing of such organizations, which can be browsed by state (see Resources). The list includes rescue organizations, low-cost clinics and charitable foundations. These organizations offer aid in the way of grants, loans and discounted veterinary services. Different organizations have different eligibility rules. For instance, the Helping Pets Fund is administered by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). If your veterinarian is accredited by the AAHA, she can submit a request of assistance on your behalf. You may have to ask your vet to do this for you though, as requests must come from veterinarians, not pet owners.
Veterinarian
Your own veterinarian may offer some financial assistance if you just ask, particularly if you're a long-time or regular client. For instance, he may provide the surgery at a discount or forgo charging your for post-surgical care, bringing your overall veterinary bill down. You can also try bargaining a service in exchange for the surgery, or for doing the surgery at a discount. For instance, if you notice that the office is short-staffed and you have experience cleaning kennels or answering phones, you could offer to do that. Another way to make the surgery more affordable is to ask your vet to allow you to make payments rather than paying for the procedure entirely up front.
Breeder
Some breeders offer financial assistance to animals purchased from them. Check your purchase documents to see if there's a health guarantee and whether the reason Fido needs surgery is among those covered by the guarantee. Ask whether financial assistance is available, even if the surgery doesn't fall under the conditions listed in the health guarantee. Breeders may be willing to help if the condition requiring surgery is due to poor breeding. If you're unsure if the condition is the result of poor breeding, ask your vet before approaching your breeder for help.
Care Credit
You can always get a personal loan or credit card to pay for Fido's surgery, but these options come with hefty interest rates, so you end up paying more in the long run. Care Credit is a credit card designed specifically for medical expenses, for both humans and pets. It offers no-interest or low-interest plans and is accepted at many veterinary clinics.
Considerations
While the prospect of free money to help offset the costs of expensive surgery for your dog may be appealing, remember that there are many more people needing such assistance than there are dollars. Thus, unless you've got the time on your side needed to apply for assistance through more than one organization and then wait to hear back, asking your vet or breeder for assistance or using Care Credit to finance the surgery may be your best option.
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