help with vet bill

[helenma]

i found my dog in a field next to my house last night he had escaped from the garden and had minor cuts on him but wouldn't get up we managed to carry him to his bed and then to the vets where they have discovered he has a shattered pelvis, (sounds like maybe someone knocked him over and left him) although my local vet is doing surgery at the moment he may need a 'speciaist' which i'm told will cost approx �1000 on top of this treatment, is there anyway i can get help with the cost, i am not on benefits only child tax credit but this is a lot of money for a single parent

[bednobs]

don't the pdsa help people who have problems with vet bills? I guess the only other thing is to have him put down - that will be cheaper.
Or you could ask the vet if you could pay in installments

[terambulan]

Surely the RSPCA would help......isn't that what donations are for?

[lankeela]

No terambulan, your hard earned donations are to fund political campaigns and posh offices, company cars and inspectors who won't come out to an animal in distress unless the BBC cameras are present but will visit a careful responsible dog owner if a neighbour complains that it barks.

The PDSA do have a scheme to help in cases like this, but they don't pay all the bill. I think you have to be on some sort of benefit, but you will need to find out.

Ask the vet if you can pay in instalments, and explain your circumstances as they might be able to do a deal for you with the specialist, particularly if it is a teaching practice.

[lankeela]

You have to be on Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

http://www.pdsa.org.uk/eligibility.html

[terambulan]

Thanx Lankeela (my feelings as well!)

Pets are covered on some home insurances.

[Ethel]

I would to see which house insurance policy covers pets' vets bills.

[LoftyLottie]

Just a thought, but it might be worth contacting The Dogs Trust to see if they have any ideas. I know the Cats Protection League often help in the case of cats.

Failing any financial help, I would ask your vet if he would consider payments in manageable instalments.

I do hope your dog makes a good recovery.

Best wishes.

[LoftyLottie]

Lankeela, I so agree with you about the RSPCA. When they do come out to an emergency they often are worse than useless. It took a local inspector two days to try and catch an injured duck on the river local to us. In the end a resident waded out and just picked the duck up!!

[helenma]

thank you for that, he has just had initial surgery and the vet is going to wait 3 weeks to see if anything more needs to be done - the worry at the moment is nerve damage

[Rosetta]

helenma, the only other thought is if there re any local charities you could tap into, your local CAB or rescue centre might be the best place to start.
I wish lots of luck to you and your pooch.

[divegirl]

The RSPCA can and will help. When facing bills of hundreds [sp] for surgery on my Dane in desperation I rang them. I spoke to my local charity co-ordinator and they offered me �200 towards the total cost, her surgery was eventually covered by insurance [long story] and I kindly refused their offer....even though it left me with a personal bill of over �700 [total cost of surgery �2700]. I also recently found a cat in distress and phoned the RSPCA, I was advised to take it to my local vet where all expenses were covered [by them].
As for the PDSA, you only have to be in receipt of �1 council tax benefit to qualify for their help.
Good luck with your dog....and give the RSPCA a try!

Lisa x

[tamirra]

http://www.petloversonline.co.uk/financial.htm