Where pet owners can get help with vet bills

According to the RSPCA, seven in ten pet owners worry about the cost of caring for their animals, and 20% worry about how they’ll afford to feed them. If you’re a pet owner, you’ll know just how quickly animals can become a much-loved member of the family, and may have your own worries about how you’re going to afford the ever-increasing costs of pet food, vet bills, pet insurance and more.

Even if you plan and budget for every eventuality, it’s likely you’ll face some extra costs at some point. So how do you make sure it stays affordable? And where can you get help with things like vet bills if you’re struggling to afford the cost, or find free vet care if you’re on benefits?

If you’re struggling with the cost of vet bills, there will be different low-cost options available to you depending on your circumstances. Here are some organisations that offer low or no-cost options to help with vet bills.

PDSA offers help with vet care for people on benefits and within a PDSA catchment area. The options available include vet treatments and medications for cats, dogs, rabbits and other small pets, and whether you can access the free or low-cost options depends on the benefits you receive. The low-cost treatments and medications are typically about 20–30% lower than private vet bills, but will vary depending on the treatment.

For those who don’t live in a PDSA catchment area but live within the catchment area of a participating vet practice and are receiving certain benefits, the PSDA also offers a Pet Care Scheme, which allows people to pay a small monthly payment to access low-cost treatments for cats and dogs.

Find out if you’re entitled to free or low-cost vet care through the PDSA using their eligibility checker.

The Blue Cross offers financial help with vet bills for those receiving certain benefits and within the catchment area of a Blue Cross hospital or clinic. There are two bands of support, offering either free or low cost vet treatments, and both covering a whole range of services.

If you’re not eligible for discounted or free vet care, Blue Cross also operates a Veterinary Care Fund, which offers up to £300 towards costs at a private vets. Your local vet can apply for this on your behalf.

If you do not qualify for the above benefits, the Blue Cross also offer a Veterinary Care Fund of up to £300 for those struggling to afford care for their pets. This can only be applied for by a veterinary practice that is part of the scheme, so if you’re struggling to afford your vet bills, it could be worth mentioning this scheme to your local vet, seeing if they’re already part of the scheme or would like to join.

Your vet will assess your pet against the eligibility criteria for the funding, and once they’ve applied, Blue Cross will be in touch within two working days confirming if the funding application has been successful. Any award given will then go directly to your vet, who will take it off the total bill.

The RSPCA helps pet owners who are struggling to afford care for their pet, including vouchers that you can use towards treatments or medications at your local vets. They also offer services like microchipping or neutering at a reduced price. To find out if you’re eligible, find your local RSPCA and get in touch.

Dogs Trust can offer support with your dogs’ vet costs if you’re experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, as part of the Together Through Homelessness scheme. They’ll completely fund the cost of any vet treatments, including emergency or preventative treatments such as neutering, flea treatments and vaccinations.

Get in touch with Dogs Trust to register your dog to the vet scheme.

While Cats Protection are unable to help with everyday vet costs, they offer financial help towards the cost of neutering your cat. To be eligible you have to be getting certain benefits and live within range of a local centre. For more information, find your local Cats Protection.

Other local animal charities and groups might be able to offer similar free vet care if you’re on benefits or struggling to cover the costs of vet bills. Some will offer low-cost treatments or be able to help with things like toys, beds and treats for your pet.

Get in touch with local animal charities and groups – check local information boards, directories or social media to see what’s in your area.

If you’re finding it difficult to afford what you need to look after your pet, especially emergency or preventative veterinary care, speaking to your vet is a good place to start. They might be able to offer cheaper treatment or medication options for your animal depending on your budget, or payment plans where you can spread out the cost of treatment. Remember, vets are as passionate about getting your pet the care they need as you are – so be open and honest about your situation, and they’ll do their best to help.

If your vet suggests a medication, you don’t have to buy it directly from them – it might be cheaper to get it elsewhere (just make sure you buy the right medication!). Check with your vet to see how it works at their practice, as you might need to buy the paper prescription itself from them, but be able to use this to get the medication cheaper online.

Alongside vet bills, paying for food for your pet can also come at a great expense. If you’re struggling to afford food for your animal, here are some options to explore that might be able to help.

The RSPCA has a Pet Food Bank project, where they collect pet food donations at food banks across England and Wales. Find your nearest RSPCA pet food bank today.

The Blue Cross also run pet food banks at some of their sites, as well as working in partnership with independent food organisations such as food banks, community fridges and pantries across the UK. Each of these works differently, so it’s best to find your local pet food bank and contact them directly to see if you meet their eligibility criteria. Some will require a voucher or proof of need, while others may charge a small fee for their services.

You can also contact your local food bank (through places like Salvation Army or Trussell, or others in your area) to find out if they’ve got any pet food available, or speak to your local council or community groups to find out if they can help.

The cost of pet food can add up really quickly. A few ways to potentially save a few pounds is to buy in bulk, if you can afford to – especially when the food is on offer. You can also explore different brands of food, to see if an equivalent to your current pet food is available cheaper by a different brand. However, some brands will have higher nutritional value so it’s worth noting that your pet will likely need less of this as it’s better quality – not all pet foods are created equal.

Also, it’s worth checking the recommended portion sizes you should be feeding your pet, as you might find that even by going slightly over each day, you’re getting through a lot more food than you otherwise would.

Pet insurance can save you money long-term, even though it means a money payment. It can help cover the costs of sudden, unexpected vet bills. Some pet insurance plans include other benefits such as free vet advice too, which could help you avoid costs on unnecessary appointments.

To make the most of pet insurance:

• Compare options: have a look at a range of different pet insurance providers, how much they cost and what’s included in each policy. You’ll want to find a policy that’s affordable for you, while sufficiently covering the needs of your pet.
• Avoid extra costs: Not all pet insurance policies cover everything. Some may cover emergency care but not routine things like routine vaccinations, for example. Some policies will only cover vet care up to a certain amount, or may require excess or premiums (both of which mean paying extra) for older pets or those with certain medical conditions. You can compare different options using a comparison site, to find the pet insurance that’s right for you.
• Look for discounts: some pet insurance providers offer a discount if you’re insuring several pets with them.

Shopping around regularly and taking advantage of good deals can save you some money in the long term. But taking out pet insurance itself can also put a strain on your budget, as you’re committed to a monthly payment, so it’s important to consider if this is something you can actually afford.

Another way to plan for extra expenses for your pet could be to set aside a certain amount each month in savings, which you can dip into as animal-related costs arise.

If you’re on a low wage or benefits and are finding you need help with vet bills and other costs associated with having a pet, check if you’re entitled to any extra income by using our benefits calculator in partnership with Turn2us. You can also see if any grants are available to you by using the Turn2us grants search – these could be grants that help towards the cost of vet bills, or you might be able to apply for grants that would help in other areas of your life, which will then free up some of your existing budget for your pet care.