You may think that this is the worst thing that could possibly happen.
Your dog, your beloved dog, has suffered a broken leg, he’s in pain and you simply cannot afford vet fees.
What can you do, aside from watching him suffer? Gather your wits, and your courage, and carry on, that’s what.
Possible Solutions
You must consider taking your dog to a vet, even if you know that you can’t afford it. Odds are, the poor animal will be treated before payment is demanded.
It may sound a bit dishonest, accepting a service you know you won’t be able to pay for, but if the alternative is having your beloved dog suffer, it may be worth the discomfort and embarrassment, and even the eventual sacrifice you may have to make when your financial situation is discovered.
If you have a credit card, even if it is maxed out, present it for payment. It will appear as if you intended to pay all along, and maybe less embarrassing than admitting that you knew all along that this was impossible.
Even if the card is maxed out, it may be possible to negotiate an increase in your credit limit to cover the current emergency. Or your bank may be able to provide a loan to cover the situation.
Once the card has been declined, it is now up to you to attempt to come to financial terms with the vet’s office.
What have you got to lose, anyway. You may feel a bit humiliated, but your dog is no longer suffering. And the vet, after all, is not going to repossess your dog, is he? although he may try to withhold medications pending payment.
In some states, he may be able to place a lien on the poor animal until you have met your financial obligations.
Try to impress him with your sincere affection for your dog , and concern for his welfare. Vets are in the business because they, too, love animals. Be honest and try to work out an arrangement to meet your financial obligations. Odds are that the vet will be sympathetic to your predicament, and that of your dog.
If you intend to rely on the kindness of the vet, it will be better to be honest with them about your financial situation from the beginning.
The office may be able to provide you with a payment plan . Or they could offer several alternatives; they could decide to wrap the break, using a splint or a cast, rather than perform a more expensive procedure or an operation to correct the fracture.
You could be referred to a less expensive colleague, as it is often the case that vet services in large cities are more expensive than those in small towns or rural environs.
The office could have you apply for a Care Credit card, designed specifically to assist you in making payments for medical care, including that of your pet.
It offers a variety of options. You can apply for this card on their website, without going to a vet’s office.
As a more dire alternative, they could ask you to sign ownership of your dog over to them, allowing them to treat the animal and then place it with new owners. This should be a last resort, but one you may be faced with if you are truly unable to afford his care.
Where To Get Financial Aid For Your Dog’s Surgery
There are also several other alternatives to secure aid in paying your vet bill.
Check with your local humane society or other animal advocacy group. While they may not offer financial support themselves, they will be able to point you in a proper direction to apply for such support.
Some organizations offer breed-specific support, such as CorgiAid, Labrador Life line, or Westie Med, but such organizations may not be able to help your average mutt.
Other insurance organizations offer disease-specific aid for dogs suffering from cancer, or other chronic conditions.
Also, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers on it website advice about financial steps to help you afford vet bill, under the Pet Care tab.
IMOM is also a charity that offers financial rescue to afford and cover veterinarian bills for your dog. And the Handicapped Pet Foundation will offer assistance to elderly, disabled, or injured animals.
You could also consider raising the needed funds through a group funding website. Sometimes, you simply have to rely on the kindness of strangers.
YouCaring is a fundraising platform that will enable you to build your own fundraising page to assist you in this time of need. GoFundMe offers similar type of services.
WAGGLE is a similar service, but it deals only with funding for pet, with the money going directly to providers to prevent fraud.
And groups such as RedRiver allow you to apply for grants to provide treatment for your pet.
If you’re really broke, you could also attempt to find low-cost treatment through a local medicine school. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers a listing of schools and their locations, as does VeterinarySchools.com.
Such schools often offer good low-cost clinics and emergency treatment.
If you have truly exhausted all avenues of securing help for your puppy , you might want to consider rehoming him especially if you’re really broke and don ‘t have any money.
This is, of course, a major sacrifice on your part as a pets parent , but maybe your final alternative in securing your canine the attention he needs in a loving new home ready, willing, and financially able to provide for him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can A Dog Broken Leg Heal Without Surgery ?
If your dog’s leg is broken or has just broke, it will not heal on its own without some sort of medical intervention. Some breaks of the front leg in dogs require only a use of a splint or cast, while others will require surgical intervention. The problem is knowing which is which.
What may appear as a simple broken bone may, in fact, cause internal bleeding or organ damage, Both could prove fatal for dogs.
While in theory, if a fracture is simple, you could attempt to set the limb and splint it yourself. But this would require long term attention to keep the cast or splint clean and dry, and maybe ignoring more dangerous possibilities.
Simply put If you suspect a broken bone, get your canine the help he needs immediately in order to fix your dog broken legs .
Can They Keep My Dog?
If you must take your dog to a vet, and cannot can’t afford vet prices or can’t meet the expense of an associated bill of fixing his broken front leg, you may be concerned that your vet’s office can take possession of your canine.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation laws vary from state to state concerning liens placed on animals. Generally speaking, a veterinarian, or any other caregiver, can place a lien on your animal if a contracted debt or bill has not been paid within ten to twenty days. At that instance your pup may be euthanize, turned over to or put in the custody of Humane Society, or sold.
If your pup has been sold, proceeds are used to cover your veterinarian’s expenses regarding the handling and sale of your animal. Any excess is turned over to you as owner. Small comfort for the pain of the loss of your family member with paws. If you find yourself in this situation, check your local laws.
How Much Does It Cost to fix my Dog Leg?
Correcting fractures in dogs or cats is an efficacious way of dealing with a problem of broken bones. In most cases, a bar is placed and put outside of your hound’s leg or paw be it the front leg or the other, and repair or secures bones in a proper alignment with screws through skin.
In different cases, screws are applies inside the body, secured directly to bones. Because of equipment, and aftercare needed, this type of operation or procedure can be about 1000 to $2,000, answers varying according to the day, age and how urgent is the condition or symptoms of your animal and his fractured leg.
How Much Does It Cost To Xray A pup’s Leg?
A dog with a broken limb or paw will most likely need an xray. It’s usually the same for a cat.
X-rays may be surprisingly expensive and the bill may take some money, depending on exactly what is needed. A simple x-ray will be anywhere from $75.00 to $150.00, with additional view from $20.00 to $75.00. Prices tend to be lower at a vet’s office as opposed to an emergency animal hospital, where veterinarians can be twice as high.
If your hound needs to be sedated or anesthetized, this could be an additional $50.00 to $220.00 for a large animal. On top of this, you must from $45.00 to $100.00 for an office visit. Most vet offices will have no problem quoting you a price before you arrive.
Can A Dog Die From A Broken Leg ?
Simply put, some fractures are more serious than others up front. Your vet should be able to give you a prognosis depending on your hound and his health situation or injury.
References
https://wagwalking.com/condition/broken-leg
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care
https://wagwalking.com/treatment/surgical-fracture-repair
https://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-veterinary-liens.aspx
https://pethelpful.com/dogs/-Dog-X-rays-What-to-Expect-and-Associated-Costs
