One of the biggest costs involved in having a pet is veterinary care. Seeing a vet is the best way to keep your pet healthy and to avoid even more expensive emergency care. If you need help finding affordable vet care, try these suggestions.
Ask other pet owners about their vet
Other pet owners in your area may have suggestions for a good, affordable vet with an office nearby. Word of mouth is often the best way to find a vet who is kind and knowledgeable and charges reasonable prices. For example, when you see people at the dog park or walking their dogs, politely ask them who their vet is and whether they would recommend them.
Call vet clinics and compare costs
If you don’t get any recommendations you’re happy with, try calling a few different vet clinics near you and asking specific questions about their prices. There may be affordable vet care in your area.
They should be able to tell you how much a standard health check costs and how much they charge for common services like vaccinations and spay or neuter surgeries.
If you are a senior or have a disability, ask the clinic whether they offer discounts that apply to you.
If you live near a non-profit clinic like East Village Animal Hospital (EVAH), you may qualify as a client there. These clinics serve low-income pet owners only.
Different clinics may have very different prices. For comparison, you can see the prices charged at the non-profit EVAH clinics. You can expect the prices at for-profit clinics to be higher.
Use subsidized veterinary services
Some animal charities and animal welfare organizations offer certain services at more affordable prices than vet clinics. To see what is available in your area, check with these organizations:
SPCA
Nova Scotia: veterinary hospitals in Dartmouth and Cape Breton, spay/neuter in Yarmouth
Quebec: Montreal spay/neuter; Quebec City spay/neuter (cats), microchips
Ontario: spay/neuter in Barrie and Stouffville; Hamilton/Burlington spay/neuter for cats only
Alberta: assistance for families in crisis
British Columbia: spay/neuter, mainly for cats
Humane Society
Toronto Humane Society spay/neuter services, vaccinations and dental care
Kitchener Humane Society spay/neuter services, rabies vaccinations, and microchip services
Cambridge & District Humane Society assistance to some residents for emergency vet care and end-of-life care
Windsor & Essex Humane Society vet clinic open to the public
Humane Society of Greater Niagara spay/neuter services at reduced rates
(Check with your local Humane Society to see whether similar services are available near you.)
Municipal government (Animal Services department) in your town or city. eg Spay/Neuter programs – City of London
Contact local pet charities
Pet charities in your area may offer support for vet services. Here are some of the charities we know of that help low-income pet owners access services for their pets:
In Ontario: PAWS, Farley Foundation, Hearts to Homes (Brant County, cats only)
In British Columbia: Paws for Hope
In Alberta: Tails of Help and Parachutes for Pets
Use a payment plan
Some vet clinics offer their clients a payment plan for large bills. Ask your clinic whether you can pay off your bill gradually instead of all at once.
Some clinics might work with an outside lender like Scratchpay to offer loans to clients, but check the interest rates and any penalties for late payments before you agree to use these. You can apply directly to Scratchpay for their “Take 5” interest-free payment plan, but you must be able to make a payment every 2 weeks for 20% of the amount you borrowed.
There are also specialized lenders, such as Petcard, that let you pay off your vet bills in multiple payments. These lenders will charge interest on your balance, so you will end up paying more for your pet’s care in the long run. Be sure to check their interest rates and any penalties for late payments before you use their services. If you can’t afford the whole bill when your pet needs medical help, these loans can make necessary treatments possible.
Get pet insurance
Pet insurance can be a true lifesaver if your pet needs emergency surgery or expensive treatments for an illness. However, it can be a significant ongoing expense. See our blog post about pet insurance to find out more about this option.
Finding affordable vet care is a process
You might need to use several of the suggestions above to help you find affordable vet care in your area throughout your pet’s life. Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions. Keep searching online for local charities and organizations that can help. Keep talking to your pet’s veterinarian about payment options and lower-cost medications and treatments. Try to set aside an emergency fund that you can use when unexpected vet expenses (or other expenses) come up.
Of course, the easiest way to keep your veterinary costs down is to keep your pet healthy and safe. You can do this by getting them vaccinated, keeping them warm and well fed, and keeping potentially dangerous items (including medications, cleaning supplies, toxic plants, and human foods) out of reach.
