Photo courtesy: Flickr

If you are thinking of welcoming a guinea pig into your family, first consider this:

The cost to have your guinea pig just seen by the veterinarian at our family office (Southwest Animal Hospital in Portland, Oregon) is $55*. While that number alone may not give you sticker-shock, fifty-five dollars isn’t anything to wheek at – especially when you take into account that, when tallied, prescribed therapies and medications can be much more expensive, generally in the hundreds of dollars.

To put it simply: Whether you currently own guinea pig, or you’re thinking of welcome one (preferably two!) into your home, you need to have a plan for how you’re going to pay for every day ordinary and, eventually, extraordinary expenses – from hay and water bottles to blood tests and surgeries.

But, what happens when your cavy develops a skin condition, or – worse yet – is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease like cancer, and your wallet comes up short?

What if you don’t have the money to pay for the treatment you so desperately want to provide?

*Cost is accurate at the time this article was written. Please contact us if you are aware of changes to the costs in this article.

How to Get Help with Vet Bills

First, you need to understand this: Finding help – not hand-outs (which, if you can find any, let us know where you got ‘em!) – can be an art form. You’ll need to think creatively, act thoughtfully, and understand that securing assistance may come with stipulations.

That said, if you’re willing to step outside of your comfort zone, there may be resources available to you to help pay for your guinea pig’s veterinary care.

Negotiate a Payment Plan with Your Vet

Vet bills can pile up quickly. A payment plan can help ease the burden.

Guinea pigs need exotic vets, not just any vet. Because of this, many exotic veterinarians may be willing to help you pay for necessary care by structuring a payment plan – especially if you’re a loyal client.

Be bold, but humble. Call your family vet and explain your situation. If you’re reasonable in your request, you may be able to get your guinea pig the care it needs in smaller payments rather than one large lump sum. It never hurts to ask!

If your vet doesn’t offer payment plans, consider setting up an account with CareCredit before your guinea pig gets sick. And, it’s always a good idea to start a savings account when your guinea pig is healthy, so funds will be available when treatment is needed.

Apply for an Assistance Grant

There are a large number of local, state, and national organizations that provide financial assistance for preventative, therapeutic, and emergency care of animals. Unfortunately, many of these programs cater specifically to more popular pets, such as dogs and cats. On the flip-side, the Internet exists; there’s nothing stopping you from searching until you find something that meets your needs.

Here are a few resources to get you started:

• Financial Assistance for Pets
• US Humane Society: Are You Having Trouble Affording Your Pet?
• The Pet Fund

Contact a Veterinary School

Sometimes, veterinarian schools can offer discounted rates for animal care. Some even operate in-house clinics to serve low-income clients or those with no money to pay. In the USA, you can find a list of veterinary schools at The American Veterinary Medical Association. If a website doesn’t have the info you hope to see, give them a call. You never know what other resources they may have to share.

Help for Low- to Moderate-Income Individuals

In addition to humane societies, there are a plethora of non-profit organizations in nearly every US state that may be able to help with low- to no-cost care, anything from providing pet food to spay and neuter services. You’ll have to be tenacious – rules and requirements will vary from one organization to another – but, with determination and perseverance, you may be able to find your cavy the help it needs. Use the Humane Society’s online list of financial-aid related organizations to start searching.

Charities for UK Residents

If you have exhausted all routes of trying to negotiate a payment plan with your vet, and offering to barter your time or services for a reduced bill, there are charitable options in the United Kingdom that may be able to help, depending on your financial situation.

The three charities below survive on public funding. Their services should NOT be abused. Remember, owning a pet is a luxury, not a right. In certain cases, you may have to surrender your animal to get it the help it needs.

• People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). PDSA provides help to those in financial need. Those helped must be receiving housing and/or council tax benefits and live within their “catchment area.”
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
• Blue Cross

Raise Your Own Funds

Still not finding what you need? Perhaps you should think about raising your own funds. Time for some clever action!

There are a lot of ways you can raise money, without burning bridges with family or friends. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Yard sale. Have a few items hanging around the house that you can sell? Go for it! You can even go the extra step and ask friends if they would let you sell their items, to either keep the money for yourself or keep a portion of the sale cost as a seller’s fee.
• Online sale. Use free online garage sale websites to sell your unwanted items online. Craigslist or Kijiji (if you’re Canadian) are great places to start.
• Do you have an upcoming birthday or special holiday where gifts are given? Ask for money instead of material gifts. You may even end up getting more money than you anticipate!




• Increase your work hours or find part-time work. This one goes without saying. Sit down with your employer and ask them if there’s a way to pick up more hours to help pay for vet bills. If not, stop by a few local businesses to see if they can use a helping hand. Even if it may not be the most glamorous work, cooking hamburgers or cleaning bathrooms is well worth the peace of mind knowing that it’s being done to help your fuzzy friend.
• Start a Kickstarter Campaign. If you’re skilled at writing a good story to pull at those heartstrings, start a crowd-funding page to pull in a few extra bucks. Just be careful: Over-sharing your fundraising page with friends and family can turn some people off, which is the last thing you want to do. Share wisely, and the response may surprise you. For more fundraising website ideas, see 24 Organizations That Help Pay Vet Bills.
• Get creative! Yard sales and part-time jobs are just the beginning. Do you have a hobby that others can benefit from? Offer your services in exchange for cash, whether it’s photography, writing, pet sitting, gardening, or many other in-demand services. You can advertise on websites like Craigslist or NextDoor and post flyers at your local library and community center.

Conclusion

Guinea pig ownership is expensive — there’s no way around it. The most important thing you can do before welcoming a guinea pig into your home is to set up a savings account that you deposit into regularly to set aside money for future medical expenses. With proper financial planning and the foresight to stash away money for when things get tight, you can help ensure that your guinea pig always has the care it needs.

And, if something comes up and you’re short on cash? Hopefully, a few of these tips can help you out.

Share Your Story

Is there a time you were facing a huge vet bill and couldn’t afford it? What did you do? How did you come up with the money to pay for vet care?

Share your story in the comments section below! You never know whom it may help.

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About HappyCavy

HappyCavy is your go-to source for tips and recommendations on guinea pig care and entertainment.