Need Help Paying a Vet Bill? Here Are Your Pet Financing Options
- Pet financing can help you manage large, unexpected expenses as well as ongoing costs related to caring for your pets.
- Pet financing options include loans, credit cards and promotional financing.
- Choosing the best pet financing option comes down to your credit score, the amount you need to borrow and how the payments fit your budget.
Facing a large or unexpected vet bill can be daunting, but pet financing can help you cover expenses like procedures, medications or training. This guide will break down how pet financing works and help you choose the best option for your needs.
See lenders compete for your pet loan — you pick the best
You’d shop around for flights. Why not your loan? LendingTree makes it easy. Instead of applying to just one lender and hoping for a good rate, see multiple lenders compete for your business — so you can choose the best offer.
Tell us what you need
Take two minutes to share a few details about yourself and how much you want to borrow. It’s free, simple and secure.
Shop your offers
LendingTree users receive 11 personal loan offers on average. Compare yours side by side to find the one that works best for you.
Get your money
Users save an average of $1,659 by choosing the offer with the lowest rate. Once you pick a lender and sign your paperwork, you could see money in your account in as little as 24 hours.
Pet loans: Pros and cons
As with any form of debt, it’s important to weigh both the benefits and the drawbacks before signing on the dotted line.
Pros
- You’ll have the money needed to cover immediate emergency expenses, like an emergency vet bill.
- You may qualify for special financing, which allows you to finance the purchase at reduced interest — or even no interest (if you complete payment by a set date).
- You can break up expensive vet bills and other pet expenses into manageable monthly payments.
Cons
- You may have to pay interest, particularly with a traditional personal loan or credit card.
- Depending on the form of financing you choose, your payments may not be reported to the credit bureaus and won’t help your credit score.
- Special financing may come with deferred interest, meaning you’ll be charged for interest dating back to the purchase date if you haven’t paid the full balance by the end of the promotional period.
What’s the best way to pay for your pet’s care?
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Emergency vet bill | Personal loan, CareCredit or 0% intro APR credit card |
| Ongoing costs | Pet insurance or 0% intro APR credit card |
| Bad credit | Payment plan with vet office or bad credit loan |
When you’re dealing with a pet emergency, you’ll want the best care possible without having to stress over costs. Lines of credit (like CareCredit or a 0% APR credit card offer) could allow you to break up your payments over time and potentially avoid paying interest.
To help manage ongoing costs, pet insurance can be worth exploring. There are policy options that can cover ongoing costs like preventative well care vet visits, vaccinations, and medication your pet may need, as well as policies for emergency care.
If your credit isn’t strong enough to qualify for a 0% intro APR credit card or a specialized credit card like CareCredit, you can speak to your vet about a payment plan or seek a bad credit loan.
When Sarah’s puppy needed emergency surgery that cost $3,200, she didn’t hesitate to cover. She did have a few financial details to think through, including:
- Credit score: Sarah knew that her credit score was above average and that she’d be able to qualify for a new credit card or loan fairly easily.
- Options: Sarah had a credit card she could use, but the charge would get her almost up to her credit limit on the card and she’d have to pay 21.99% APR. She was confident that she’d be able to pay the bill off if she broke it up into 12 months of payments, and she’d prefer an option that didn’t require her to pay interest.
- What financing option she chose: Sarah decided to apply for a 0% introductory APR credit card.
- Why she chose it: She found a card that offered an introductory 0% APR for 18 months, so she could avoid interest by paying $178 per month. She also liked that there was some flexibility if she wanted to pay more or less some months, and that this credit card could be used to cover any follow-up costs.
How much do pets cost?
The cost of owning a pet varies widely depending on the type of pet you have, but you can expect costs to range from around $150 to $8,000 per year or more. Keep in mind that these figures don’t account for significant or urgent medical issues. In general, the larger the pet, the more it will cost, and exotic pets or certain breeds can up the expenses as well.
How much does a dog cost?
The average cost to own a dog is $1,390 to $5,295 a year, according to Rover’s Cost of Dog Parenthood in 2025 report. This total includes food, vet visits, toys and grooming supplies. Costs increase as the dog gets larger, and some breeds prone to certain health conditions can cost more than others.
Aside from annual care, there are also one-time fees to consider, including the $1,150 to $4,420 average upfront cost of bringing home a dog, per Rover. This figure includes:
- Spaying/neutering: $125 to $600
- Initial medical costs: $90 to $170
- Essential supplies (crate, carrier, pet gates, etc.): $220 to $1,160
- Grooming tools: $300 to $645
- Microchipping: $15 to $65
How much does a cat cost?
To take care of an adult cat, it costs about $760 to $3,495 annually, according to Rover’s Cost of Cat Parenthood in 2025 report. While cats can cost a bit less than dogs, you’ll also need to account for supplies like litter boxes and scratching posts.
Here are a few one-time costs you may need to invest in when adopting a cat:
- Spaying/neutering: $310 to $560
- Initial medical costs: $200 to $390
- Gear (carrier, etc.): $20 to $170
- Grooming tools and supplies: $10 to $100
- Microchipping: $10 to $35
- Litter box: $10 to $475515
- Scratching post: $10 to $560
How much does a bird cost?
The cost to adopt a bird can vary widely from $20 to more than $8,000, depending on the type of bird you want, according to Petco. On average, however, it costs around $295 to adopt a bird and $185 per year to care for one, according to Geico. The annual estimate includes expenses such as:
- Cages: $70
- Food: $75
- Toys and treats: $25
- Medications and vet bills: $85
How much do reptiles cost?
Owning a reptile can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,300, depending on the type of scaly critter.
Common costs that come with reptiles include vet visits, terrariums, lights and food. Terrariums can be especially expensive, with gecko enclosures costing between $149 to $565. Depending on the type of reptile you get, you may also have to consider exotic pet insurance ($10 to $100).
How much do fish cost?
Buying a fish can cost an average of about $160, with an average annual cost of about $520.
While the initial cost to purchase a fish isn’t too pricey, equipment like aquariums, filtration systems, heaters, test kits, decor and lighting can add up quickly. Food can also be expensive, with costs running an average of $520 a year.
Common reasons for pet financing
Over 85% of pet owners say inflation is making ownership more expensive and 37% have gone into debt for their pet, according to LendingTree research.
A pet loan may help you pay these bills if you’re struggling financially. Common reasons pet owners take out a pet loan include:
- Adoption
- Veterinary appointments and treatments
- Medications
- Surgery
- Training
- Service or emotional support training
Pet loans for bad credit
If you have a low credit score, it may be challenging to find a trustworthy lender with affordable annual percentage rates (APRs).
However, if you’re in an emergency situation and don’t have time to work on your credit, consider bad credit loans as opposed to predatory debt options, like payday loans.
Payday loans have APRs that can get as high as 900%, as opposed to the maximum 36% most financial experts consider to be affordable. These types of loans also come with sky-high fees, short repayment terms (two to four weeks) and a borrowing amount typically capped at $500.
If you’re thinking about pet financing and can afford to wait, take the time to improve your credit score to access better interest rates, terms and perks.
Alternatives to pet loans
A pet loan can help you bridge the cost of care for your pet, but it may not be an option if you have a low credit score or little credit history.
Here are other affordable options to consider:
- Payment plan: Some veterinary offices offer payment plans for customers who aren’t able to pay their balance upfront. You may be able to pay off your vet bill in installments, rather than all at once.
- Nonprofit support: Nonprofit clinics and veterinarians may offer services at a lower cost. You can check the Humane Society of the United States database for organizations in your state.
- Low-cost clinics: Vet schools may provide services at a much lower cost, since they offer students the opportunity to test their skills.
- Pet insurance: Purchasing pet insurance can help with covering the cost of care, especially with expensive bills. Pet insurance for cats and dogs can cost anywhere from $10–$53 per month, depending on the plan.
- Credit card: Check if you prequalify for a credit card with low interest or a 0% intro APR. With 0% APR credit card, you won’t have to pay interest on your credit card purchases during the promotional period — though if you don’t pay off your balance before the intro period ends, interest will accrue.
Frequently asked questions
If you want to qualify for favorable rates, you’ll need at least a 700 credit score for a personal loan, but you can qualify with a score below 580. Each lender will have different personal loan credit requirements, and you can find out if you meet those criteria by checking if you prequalify for a loan.
Pet financing works similarly to other types of personal loans. You’ll need to fill out a form to find out whether you prequalify (which may not be offered with all lenders). Lenders will assess factors like your credit score, income and debt-to-income ratio to judge your creditworthiness and how likely you are to repay the loan.
Some veterinarians may let you pay off your balance in installments, though this isn’t an option at every office. If a vet clinic offers payment plans, be sure to ask whether they charge interest, since that will impact how much you pay overall.
Get personal loan offers from up to 5 lenders in minutes