We have 48 Pet Hospitals across the UK, where our wonderful vet teams treat pets and save lives, every single day.We believe that no pet should suffer because of their owner's financial situation. That's why PDSA was founded and it's the reason we've been working with the pets of people in need for over 100 years. Show
About our serviceWe offer free and low-cost veterinary care to owners in need across the UK. PDSA vets care for household pets like cats, dogs and rabbits. They can treat your pet, help prevent disease and illness, and give you advice on the best way to look after your pet. Along with our team of vets and vet nurses treating sick and injured pets, we also offer a range of preventive care and a prescription service to help with ongoing conditions. We see more than 5,300 pets every day at our Pet Hospitals. This keeps us incredibly busy and costs around £60 million every year. As we receive no government funding we rely on the support of pet owners using our services and the generosity of our amazing supporters. If you live in the catchment area of a PDSA Pet Hospital and receive certain benefits, you may qualify for free or low-cost PDSA vet treatment. Low-cost treatmentYou could receive low-cost vet treatment at your local PDSA if you:
Our low-cost services offer vet care at an affordable rate for eligible owners. Free treatmentYou could receive free treatment for one pet at your local PDSA if you receive at last one of the following:
If you are eligible for free treatment and have more than one pet, your other pets can receive our low-cost treatment. What we can and can't treatWe offer treatment for a variety of small pets. However, as a charity our funds are limited, so there are unfortunately some limits our services. We currently offer:
Unfortunately, we can’t treat:
Check with your local Pet Hospital for further information on the services we can and can’t offer. What to do if you're not eligible for PDSA vet careWe’d love to be able to care for every pet who comes our way but, sadly, demand for our services far exceeds our income. Our eligibility rules are in place to ensure our limited funding reaches the most vulnerable pets. If a pet’s life is in danger we always provide stabilising care and pain relief, regardless of eligibility. If you are not eligible for our services, there are some other charities that may be able to help you with the cost of veterinary treatment. You can contact the RSPCA or Blue Cross to see if they can offer help, or your local vet may be able to offer you an affordable payment plan. We would recommend getting insurance, as this can be a big help with unexpected veterinary bills. We offer a range of cost-effective packages to insure your pet through our PDSA Pet Insurance. Find out more about PDSAReceiving an astronomical vet bill is never a welcome surprise, but unfortunately, these pop-up expenses are a part of pet ownership. We’re all human, and sometimes the funds aren’t there, which can leave you scrambling. Caring for our fur kids can cost an arm and a leg (and sometimes a tail), but thankfully, there are kind people out there willing to lend a hand if you’re in a bind. Below, we’ll share some organizations that may help pay vet bills or offer more affordable care. If you find yourself facing sudden veterinary expenses that you can’t afford, like X-rays or ACL surgery, several groups might be able to help. Assistance ranges from offering services at reduced cost to covering actual expenses for critical coverage, like cancer treatments. 1. Petsmart CharitiesAbout: PetSmart Charities offer many low-cost spay and neuter clinics. They also administer the Improving Access to Veterinary Care grant, which owners can apply for help getting access to affordable care. They only accept applications for this grant for a limited time, however, so be sure to check their site for deadlines and details. Location / Region(s) Served: Multiple states across the U.S. at select PetSmart locations 2. RedRover ReliefAbout: RedRover Relief offers urgent care grants for pet owners facing veterinary bills. Grants are typically around $200 and require owners to fill out an application, with candidates needing to meet specific guidelines for consideration, including providing the diagnosis and treatment plan. The application must be submitted before treatment expenses are incurred, as RedRover will not pay existing veterinary bills. Location / Region(s) Served: Applicants must live in the U.S. 3. North Shore Animal League America’s SpayUSAAbout: SpayUSA is North Shore Animal League America’s network of low-cost spay and neuter clinics. This group includes vets offering special deals, like steep discounts on pit bull spay and neuter surgeries. Location / Region(s) Served: Various states across the U.S. 4. Brown Dog Foundation, IncAbout: Brown Dog Foundation, Inc is a public charity that provides funds to cover veterinary expenses. You can apply for help online, but like some other charities, they only help with pending bills, not ones you’ve already paid yourself. Location / Region(s) Served: Applicants must live in the U.S. 5. Actors and Others For AnimalsAbout: Actors and Others For Animals is a non-profit that offers spay and neuter assistance along with veterinary bill coverage. As with most charities, they don’t cover bills in their entirety, but they can offer a portion to help for some who meet certain specifications. Just apply online. Location / Region(s) Served: Available to residents of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and Ventura, CA counties only 6. The Pet FundAbout: The Pet Fund is a non-profit that can help pet parents cover the cost of non-basic, non-urgent care. This includes things like cancer treatments, heart disease, and more. As with other charities of this type, they only cover pending bills and do not offer reimbursement. You must apply for help from The Pet Fund online. Location / Region(s) Served: Not clear, but appears nationwide 7. Care CreditAbout: Care Credit won’t pay for your pet’s medical expenses, but you can apply for a line of credit through them to cover vet bills. This line of credit is interest-free as long as you pay it off within six months. Location / Region(s) Served: Accepted by many veterinary offices across the U.S. K9 of Mine Staff Experiences I use Care Credit all the time for my fur crew. Right now, I’m paying off $1100 worth of bills my little guy Taj incurred in August, which took our family by surprise. 8. Frankie’s FriendsAbout: Frankie’s Friends offers financial assistance to cover veterinary expenses for pets with a good prognosis. You can apply to receive grants administered by the charity online, and, if selected, you may receive up to $1500. An estimated bill is required, however, as the group does not reimburse pup parents for past expenses. There are also numerous other veterinary coverage grants managed by the group, including Bond’s fund for eye care and the Joshua Louis Animal Cancer Fund for cancer coverage. Location / Region(s) Served: Applicants must live in the U.S. 9. The Mosby FoundationAbout: The Mosby Foundation provides much-needed funds to applicants with sick or injured dogs in need of care. Named after a much-loved fur friend, the group requires an online application for pending expenses. Just note that they do not cover diagnostic services or procedures. Location / Region(s) Served: Virginia 10. Shakespeare Animal FundAbout: The Shakespeare Fund offers financial help to pet owners in need located within thirteen northern Nevada counties. You can reach out via email or call their hotline about assistance, making it one of the fastest options for financial aid. Location / Region(s) Served: Northern Nevada 11. Dylan’s HeartsAbout: Dylan’s Hearts provides financial aid to owners of pets diagnosed with illness or injury. They do not cover diagnostics, but they can aid in treatment costs. Your veterinarian must apply for you online for consideration. This program is, unfortunately, limited to a handful of southern states. Location / Region(s) Served: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia 12. Friends & Vets Helping PetsAbout: Friends & Vets Helping Pets assists cash-strapped pet owners facing vet bills. You can apply online for a grant as well as seek a Friends & Vets Helping Pets-partnered veterinarian in your community. Location / Region(s) Served: Across the U.S. 13. Paws 4 A CureAbout: Paws 4 A Cure is an all-volunteer charitable organization that may help with surprise veterinary bills for pet owners in need. You need to apply for assistance online using your veterinarian’s diagnosis and estimated invoice for consideration. Location / Region(s) Served: Across the U.S. 14. Veterinary Care Charitable FundAbout: Veterinary Care Charitable Fund is a donation-funded charity that covers vet costs for pet owners in need. Unlike some other programs, your vet must apply for your aid using the group’s website. Your vet must also be enrolled in the Veterinary Care Charitable Fund’s program. Location / Region(s) Served: USA 15. Bow Wow Buddies FoundationAbout: Bow Wow Buddies Foundation is a non-profit organization offering veterinary expense relief for pets in serious need. Intended for emergency situations like severe injury or illness, you can apply for this assistance online. Location / Region(s) Served: Across the U.S. 16. Help-A-PetAbout: Help-A-Pet offers financial assistance for the treatment of canine injury or illness. An income-qualified assistance program, you must have an annual household income of less than $40,000 for a family (or personally make less than $20,000 a year) to receive this help. You can apply via mail using the application form and instructions on their site. Location / Region(s) Served: Across the U.S. 17. Harley’s HopeAbout: Harley’s Hope is a team of pet lovers who offer financial aid to cover treatment costs of companion animals with a fair or better prognosis. To receive consideration for this assistance, owners must apply to Care Credit and be denied first — only then will Harley’s Hope consider assisting you. You can apply online. Location / Region(s) Served: Only open to Colorado residents 18. Kyle’s Legacy IncAbout: Kyle’s Legacy Inc is a fund aiming to help owners in need cover the cost of canine cancer care. For consideration, you must apply with proof of financial need (including wage or salary information) and your vet’s information. Location / Region(s) Served: Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents only 19. Karma SueAbout: Karma Sue helps owners with the steep veterinary expenses related to canine cancer treatment. They do not cover diagnostics, but you can apply for assistance online once your vet provides a diagnosis. Location / Region(s) Served: Available toColorado residents only 20. Emma’s Foundation for Canine Cancer, IncAbout: Emma’s Foundation for Canine Cancer, Inc assists those facing canine cancer with medical bills for treatment. Once you’ve received your dog’s diagnosis, you can apply for help online. Location / Region(s) Served: New England and Florida residents only 21. Pet LuvAbout: Pet Luv is a clinic providing affordable shots as well as spay and neuter services to help owners meet their pet’s routine medical needs for less. They have a walk-in clinic that’s open six days a week, but you have to schedule ahead for spay or neuter surgery. Location / Region(s) Served: Located in Brooksville, FL 22. Lovie’s LegacyAbout: Lovie’s Legacy provides aid to Tennessee pet owners in need of emergency veterinary funds. You can apply using their 24/7 phone line, making it one of the fastest options for assistance in covering your pet’s health costs. Location / Region(s) Served: Tennessee 23. Fetch A CureAbout: Fetch A Cure offers a Companions in Crisis grant for owners struggling to cover canine cancer treatments. All dogs must have a diagnosis of cancer from a veterinarian before being considered. You can apply online using their provided application. Location / Region(s) Served: Virginia, Maryland, DC 24. My Pet ChildAbout: My Pet Child is actually a bit of a different organization, as they seek to help pair struggling pet owners with resources that may be able to provide some financial assistance. However, they also offer $200 financial assistance grants themselves. You’ll have to apply to the program to see if you qualify, and they only offer grants for non-routine, non-emergency care. Location / Region(s) Served: Throughout the U.S. and the U.K. Other Ways to Get Help for Vet BillsYou might need to think creatively about getting your canine the care she needs, so start asking around, far and wide, if necessary. A lack of funds is nothing to be ashamed of, as we’ve all had hard times and surprises happen — usually between pay weeks. Some ideas for securing funds:
Other Money-Saving Strategies Be sure to check out our article about money-saving dog-care hacks to learn some other ways to give your dog the best life possible on a limited budget. Avoiding This Problem in the Future: Pet Health InsurancePet health insurance is an easy way to save you from surprise veterinary bills. Some plans cost as low as $10 per month, but pricing varies depending on your dog’s age, breed, and current health. You can sometimes score lower rates in special circumstances, including multi-dog discounts, military service, and your company of employment. Taking on a recurring monthly fee may sound iffy, but if your dog needs thousands of dollars in care, pet health insurance more than pays for itself. Pet insurance plans offer different levels of coverage, with most offering a claim and reimbursement structure. Accident and illness coverage are most commonly seen, though some offer preventive and routine care coverage too. Some popular pet health insurance companies are:
Don’t be afraid to shop around and ask for multiple quotes. The right pet insurance company is out there waiting for you. Another Way to Cover Your Pet’s Veterinary Expenses There’s another way dog owners can get some help paying their medical bills — it’s called Pawp. Pawp actually provides two key benefits for dog owners.
Check out Pawp and see if it’s a good fit for your and your pooch! Not sure if Pawp is right for you and your pet? Don’t worry! You can check out the program without spending a dime by claiming your FREE 7-day trail! *** Facing veterinary bills is daunting when money’s tight, but it can be made easier with a little (or a lot) of help from your friends and other dog lovers. Don’t suffer in silence or risk your pup’s well-being as you mull over choices. There are plenty of places and faces willing to help if you look hard enough. Do you know of any groups or charities that help cover veterinary costs? Low-cost shot clinics? Low-cost spay and neuter centers? Share in the comments. What do I do if I can't afford vet bills?Six places pet owners can go to get financial help with vet bills. PDSA. ... . RSPCA. ... . Blue Cross. ... . Dogs Trust. ... . Cats Protection. ... . Local charities and organisations.. Can I get help with vet bills if I'm on benefits?Several animal charities offer help with vet bills to pet owners who receive benefits. Among the best known are PDSA and Blue Cross, which both run a number of pet hospitals around the country.
What do you need to qualify for free PDSA treatment?To qualify for free treatments and medications, you must live within the postcode catchment area of one of our Pet Hospitals and be receiving at least one of the following benefits: Housing benefit (means tested) Council tax support (means tested) Universal credit with housing element.
Can I take my cat to the vet if I have no money?American Animal Hospital Association
“Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship.”
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