Emergency Pet Care Loan

What is an Emergency Pet Care Loan?

An emergency pet care loan can help you pay for your animal's treatment without breaking the bank. Many pet owners would do anything to protect their dogs, cats, and other animals from illnesses or injuries. That's why whenever someone sees their pet struggling, they rush to a 24/7 veterinarian clinic to do what it takes to keep them stable and healthy. However, vet bills can be pretty expensive, with the average cost of an emergency care visit ranging from $200 to thousands of dollars, depending on the services provided by the clinic. Visiting an emergency clinic to resolve any issue with your pet’s health will often be more expensive than a trip to a regular veterinarian.

When reading about an emergency loan for vet bills, you may think it is a specific loan offered by a veterinarian to help you pay for the applicable fees and services. While some veterinarians provide payment plans to help you pay for expenses in installments, they don't typically offer personal loans. An emergency pet care loan is a personal loan offered by financial institutions, credit unions, or online lenders, and is designed to help you manage costs associated with your pet’s well-being, including:

Dental Surgeries
Prescription Medication
Orthopedic Surgeries
Extractions if a Pet Swallowed Something
Bloat Surgeries
Other Urgent Operations and Specialized Procedures

If you’re facing an emergency and you need to act fast, a pet care loan can help you take care of the bill. Even something as simple as a vaccine for Bordetella or rabies can easily cost $100 or more, depending on your location and the vet clinic you visit, so getting extra cash from a loan can help you pay the invoice and still make ends meet.

Make sure to carefully review and compare all your options before you submit an application. Continue reading to learn more about getting emergency vet assistance and discover solutions to pay for a large invoice at the vet.

How Can I Prepare Myself for a Pet Emergency?

You can potentially save a lot of money by preventing medical emergencies and having cash set aside for potential veterinary bills. Although it's hard to predict what your pet's health will look like in the future, you can prepare for the worst by following the recommended advice and being a responsible and proactive pet owner.

Get the Right Medication

One of the easiest ways to avoid going to an emergency veterinarian is by investing in preventative medication for your pet, such as heartworm meds, flea and tick treatments, and vaccinations. The average cost to treat heartworm ranges from $600 to $3,000, but a simple monthly pill that costs around $50 can prevent heartworm infections. You can also invest in pet food with good ingredients to help your pet maintain a balanced diet and support their overall health while preventing weight-related issues. An overweight pet can easily develop arthritis earlier than expected, which can be expensive to treat over time.

Be a Responsible Pet Owner

If your pet is unvaccinated because they are too young to receive certain vaccines, don't let them go places outside of your home, as they're more likely to contract illnesses from other animals or the environment. Additionally, make sure your dogs don't chew on bones unsupervised, and never let them ingest objects that can harm their stomachs, like tennis balls or cotton pads.

Schedule Regular Check-ups

Whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit, or lizard, it is recommended to schedule regular veterinary check-ups to monitor their health. Visiting the vet semi-frequently can help you stay on top of the required vaccines and catch any unexpected illnesses that could worsen over time if left untreated, such as osteosarcoma or gill rot.

Have an Emergency Fund

While a routine visit to a veterinarian can easily cost you anywhere from $25 to $186 on average, you can prepare yourself for the required check-ups by having enough room in your budget for them. Since accidents can happen and pets may get sick unexpectedly, it's essential to be prepared by having an emergency fund or pet insurance coverage. As mentioned previously, you can also try working with a veterinary clinic that offers payment plans if needed.

To avoid or lessen the impact of a pet emergency, consider the tips mentioned above, and remember that there are numerous ways to handle a veterinary expense if you can't afford it, like getting emergency cash through a pet care loan.

What Other Financing Options Can I Use to Pay for Vet Bills?

There are several methods for handling pet care costs that don't require you to apply for an emergency loan online or in person. When searching for emergency vet bill help online, you'll typically find the following options during your research:

Pet Insurance

Your car, home, and health aren't the only things that can be protected by coverage through an insurance company. If you receive insurance through popular companies like Geico and Nationwide, you can bundle your coverage and include pet insurance! Depending on the insurance coverage you choose, your provider can help you pay for different veterinary services, like dental care, vaccines, behavioral therapy, and prescriptions. The costs for insuring a pet can vary by species, and typically, younger and senior animals are more expensive to insure because they often require more care than adult animals. Additionally, some breeds, like French Bulldogs and Dobermans, are more expensive to insure because they are predisposed to certain health conditions.

Payment Plans with a Veterinarian

As mentioned previously, some veterinarians can provide pet owners with the opportunity to pay their bills in monthly installments. Instead of paying a hefty expense all at once, you can pay for the invoice over time by making smaller, more manageable monthly or weekly payments. Depending on the veterinarian you work with, you can have a payment plan directly through them or with a third-party service, like Scratchpay. If you want to learn how to cover your vet bills without relying on a loan, you can try negotiating with your veterinarian to see if they can accommodate your needs through a payment plan.

Credit Cards

If you have enough available credit, simply swipe your credit card at the vet or ask your credit card provider for a cash advance to get the funds you need while avoiding a surcharge for paying with a credit card.

Some veterinary clinics will accept CareCredit cards, which are a type of credit card specifically designed for medical and veterinary expenses. You can use the card to cover the cost of your pet's care and then pay it off over time.

Be mindful of the fact that credit card cash advances tend to come with higher interest rates than regular purchases made with your card. Additionally, while CareCredit offers deferred interest programs, if you cannot pay off the purchase before the promotional period ends, you’ll be charged the total accrued interest, even if you have substantially paid down the balance already.

Charities for Pets

Various organizations can help pet owners pay their veterinary bills when they lack sufficient funds. Some popular options include the Pet Fund, Frankie's Friends, RedRover, and the Mosby Foundation. There are also charity organizations that work with specific breeds of dogs who need medical treatments, like Special Needs Dobermans and CorgiAid.

Other Resources to Consider

Crowdfunding is another popular option for individuals who need money to cover a large veterinary bill. Through fundraising platforms like GoFundMe, you can set a goal for how much cash you need to handle an unexpected surgery for your pet or another related health issue.

Additionally, if you bought a pet from a reputable breeder, ensure you review your purchase agreement for a health contract clause. There may be an opportunity for the breeder to step in and help pay your vet bills if you're unable to afford the costs.

You can visit local animal welfare organizations to treat your pet instead of visiting a veterinarian's office. With this alternative solution, you can access pet care at a lower cost than you would through a more traditional clinic. Research some of these preventative care organizations nearby and see if you can find one that fits your needs. You may be able to take care of your beloved pet without getting an emergency pet care loan or maxing out your credit card.

Can You Use a Title Loan to Pay for Emergency Pet Care?

You can use an auto title loan to deal with a veterinary bill that you can’t afford to pay for upfront. To get this type of emergency pet care loan, you must pledge your vehicle's title as collateral to borrow money against your car or truck's equity. Depending on your vehicle's value and your ability to make loan payments, you can potentially access up to half or more of your car's equity through a vehicle-secured personal loan, even if you have bad credit.¹

When using your vehicle to apply for an emergency vet loan with bad credit, you are required to meet a few requirements to receive approval, including submitting documents to verify your information. The necessary paperwork can vary from state to state, but you can generally expect to provide proof of your address and income, pictures of your car, and a valid, government-issued photo identification card. If you receive full approval for an emergency vet loan, you can choose from a few convenient methods to get your funding, like getting a direct deposit to your bank account or having a check sent in the mail. Applicants can expect to receive their money as soon as the next business day if they're eligible!³

What are the Benefits of Getting a Car Title Loan for Emergency Pet Care Costs?

Does a car title loan sound like the right option to manage pet care costs? If so, you may be curious to know what kind of perks this loan option can offer besides fast cash and the ability to get money with a poor credit score. While the benefits you can receive as a borrower will often vary by lender and loan servicer, you can expect to access the following advantages through an auto title loan serviced by LoanMart:¹

Keeping Access to Your Vehicle: If your application is fully approved and the loan is funded, a lien will typically be placed on your vehicle’s title until you've completed your title loan payments. However, having a lien on the title to your car won't prevent you from driving the car wherever you need to go! You can unlock funds with your car's title to pay for unexpected surgeries and bills without losing access to your main source of transportation. Just make sure to keep up with your loan payments!
Transparent Loan Terms and Conditions: Getting an online title loan serviced by LoanMart means you can expect transparency throughout your entire loan experience. There are zero prepayment penalties for paying your loan in full before the end of the loan term.⁵ With this secured loan, you can work alongside a loan officer to understand your loan terms, loan amount, and anything else you need to make an informed decision.
A Quick and Simple Application Process: You can access a convenient and smooth application process if you choose to apply for an auto title loan serviced by LoanMart. Complete a brief questionnaire online, and if you qualify, you can get your money in as little as 24 hours.^{1 3}

Discover if you are eligible for the emergency vet bill assistance you need through a title loan serviced by LoanMart! Apply online or dial 855-422-7412 for more information about getting an auto title loan for urgent pet care costs.