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How to Get Help Paying for a Dog's Surgery

| Updated September 26, 2017

Veterinary care is expensive. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, pet owners in the United States and Canada spent 11 billion dollars on veterinary care in 2002. It is a scary situation when your dog needs surgery, and you do not have the money. There are several options you can try to raise funds for your dog's surgery.

Ask your veterinarian office if they will allow you to trade work at their office in exchange for your dog's surgery.

Apply to see if you qualify for financing with a company like CareCredit. CareCredit provides loans for veterinarian bills and provides customers with an affordable repayment plan (see Resources).

Contact nonprofit animal medical fund organizations to see if they can assist you (see Resources).

Conduct a fundraiser for your dog's surgery. Some fundraiser ideas include a bake sale or a yard sale. When doing a fundraiser, it is helpful to print fliers with your dog's picture and surgery needs on it. Hang the fliers at local dog parks and at pet stores.

Tips

  • Consider setting aside money every month in a savings account to go towards future veterinary care.

    Check into getting a pet health insurance policy for future veterinary care.

Warnings

  • Because there are so many people looking for help to pay for veterinary care, some organizations may not have available funds to help you. If one source of help is not available, call another. Be persistent; try different options until you find a solution for your dog's surgery.