Owners must take their pet to a vet as soon as possible if it becomes ill or is injured. It is a criminal offence to knowingly deny an animal veterinary treatment and cause it to suffer unnecessarily.
If they have a problem with paying for treatment, some vets may allow them to pay in installments to spread the cost. Furthermore, the RSPCA, PDSA and the Blue Cross provide veterinary treatment at reduced costs.
Local RSPCA branches are run independently by locally elected committees of trustees. They can sometimes help with vets’ bills if people are receiving certain state benefits. However, this will depend on their current financial position. For more information, contact your local RSPCA branch.
We also advise people to consider taking out a pet insurance policy for a few pounds a month. This will cover unexpected vets’ bills in the future.