Vet Bills Too High? Financial Help for Your Sick Pet

Pets make us happy! A study in the USA shows that pets reduce stress and strengthen memory. The type of animal doesn't matter. And one thing is certain: pets are real family members for many of us.

When an animal becomes sick, however, owners often face not only worries and fears but also financial burdens. Veterinary practices are also increasing their prices. About one-tenth of dog owners spend between 100 and 500 euros monthly on their four-legged friends at the vet. In emergencies, operations, and for large animals like horses, costs can quickly add up to several thousand euros. We love our pets and want to give them the best life possible. But what if you can't afford the vet visit?

Not only living costs but also the costs for treating a sick animal continue to rise. Veterinary practices calculate their fees according to the Fee Schedule for Veterinarians (GOT), a nationwide legal regulation. A new fee schedule has been in effect since November 22, 2022. It was comprehensively amended since 1999 to include new medical procedures such as computed tomography. For veterinarians, this adjustment is very important to run their practices economically and ensure nationwide animal care throughout Germany. This is also in the interest of all pet owners. But the new fee schedule also means higher costs in case of illness. If you can't afford the treatment for your beloved pet, there are several ways to get quick help. For example, you can ask for a payment plan, start a fundraising campaign, or take out insurance for your pet.

We'll explain all the possibilities to help your pet quickly in a financial emergency:

Have an open conversation with the veterinarians and disclose your financial situation, preferably before treatment. There might be ways to reduce your veterinary bill. Many veterinarians also offer the possibility of installment payments over several months.

Another address you can turn to is your local animal shelter or an animal protection association in your area. Animal shelters want to prevent animals from being placed with them due to major financial burdens. Animal shelters and protection associations are usually very well connected and might be able to help you with a contact or sponsorship.

There are also organizations like Sozialfelle e.V. that work to ensure people with fewer financial means can afford veterinary costs and pet care. It's worth asking here if they can help you.

In many cities, there are veterinarians affiliated with animal food banks or veterinary practices who treat animals voluntarily. Then you don't have to pay for treatment and medication. The costs are financed through donations. You can check this list to see if there's an offer near you.

There are numerous insurance policies that protect your pet in case of illness. You pay a monthly contribution to the insurance and simply submit the vet bill there. Check carefully which offer is best for you. Also note that there's a difference between complete protection, basic protection, and pure surgery insurance. While the first also pays for routine examinations and vaccinations, surgery insurance, for example, only applies to operations.

Another way to finance veterinary costs is to start crowdfunding for your pet. It's important to describe in as much detail as possible what's wrong with your beloved pet and how the costs break down. You can find more tips for writing a good crowdfunding text in our blog. Also, remember to include a photo of your pet for the fundraising campaign. To raise money for veterinary costs through a fundraising campaign, it's important to share the campaign with many people. Post it on social media and send it to your friends, family, and other animal enthusiasts and associations in your area.

Here you can find three examples of successful fundraising campaigns for pets on GoodCrowd.org:

Even in financially difficult times, there are ways to help your pet quickly in case of illness. This can be through friends and family, an animal shelter with volunteer veterinarians, or a fundraising campaign. Regardless of which option you choose: It's important to deal with the situation openly and transparently so that others can support you in the best possible way. Even if you don't have enough money for veterinary costs right now, you shouldn't be ashamed. You and your pet deserve to be helped!