Paying Rabbit Veterinary Medical Bills
Pet emergencies strike when you least expect. When it comes to rabbit health emergencies in particular, it can often mean making hard decisions. We never want to have to make decisions on care based on finances but for most pet owners, veterinary fees can fall outside of the family budget. To help ease financial burden before (and when) emergency arises, there are a number of resources and strategies available. Every pet owner experiences a medical financial crunch at one time or another and knowing your options for how to pay medical bills is essential.
Before An Emergency Strikes - Planning Ahead
When you first bring home your new rabbit, consider purchasing pet insurance. The earlier you apply the better as preexisting health conditions noted in previous veterinary records could increase your monthly payment quote and affect your eligibility for coverage. Pet insurance can help pay for routine medical care or unexpected medical emergencies. The way it works is you pay for a monthly plan and when a medical need arises, you submit your medical record from the appointment as well as the receipt and, depending on your coverage plan, the insurance company reimburses the cost up to a certain amount. Currently, the only pet insurance available for rabbits is through Nationwide.
For some, the monthly insurance payments may be better suited to be put towards an “emergency vet fund” that you set up yourself as part of your monthly budget. Plan to set aside $20-50 each month to put towards your rabbit’s emergency fund. This may not seem like much, but by the end of the year, you will have accrued between $260 to $600 earmarked for emergencies, and having this on hand helps elevate some of the cost and interest that would be accrued if the full amount of the expense was put on a credit card.
Another strategy to consider is preventative care. Preventative care is always cheaper than addressing care needs last minute. We recommend having your rabbit see a rabbit-savvy veterinarian for annual exams to help address changes in care before specialty care is needed and medical intervention escalates. During your rabbit’s annual exam, inquire with your veterinarian about setting up an emergency kit with fluids, pain management medication, thermometer, and Critical Care for when an emergency arises.
During An Emergency - In The Veterinary Office
Once an emergency has occurred and it is time to pay the bill, ask your veterinarian about payment options. Some clinics can work with you to set up a payment plan to help break up a larger bill into smaller, manageable payments.
Many veterinary clinics accept CareCredit. CareCredit is a credit card specific for health and wellness care for both humans and pets. This credit card offers different rates of repayment and/or modified interest rates to help keep your monthly payment low while trying to pay off the large veterinary expense. If your veterinarian accepts CareCredit, you can apply and be approved for the credit before leaving the veterinary appointment. Not all clinics partner with CareCredit so be sure to inquire as soon as you think the credit will be needed.
After The Emergency - Paying Off The Bill
Sometimes, an emergency catches you so off guard that you have accrued the expense but don’t have the necessary emergency funds and support to pull from. This common obstacle can be made surpassable by the help of your community. The most effective way to pay off a large veterinary expense is through crowdfunding through social media. Creating funding campaigns through sites like GoFundMe and Waggle.org make it easy to let your friends, family, and immediate community know that your rabbit is in crisis and that their support in helping cover the cost will go a long way.
There are a few effective strategies for a successful crowdfunding campaign. Keep the following in mind:
Craft a compelling story with use of clear and high resolution videos and photos
Prioritize the use of video content over the uses of graphics as video is more likely to boost the visibility of your post (depending on the social media site used)
Share on multiple platforms such as Instagram, Facebook (your individual profile and in specific Facebook groups), TikTok, Nextdoor, Tumblr, Twitter, Bluesky, and Reddit
Send updates on your funding process and your rabbit’s medical journey
Engage with comments and questions posted as active engagement helps bump your social media algorithm
Keep in mind that you are more likely to get support from your immediate family and friends as opposed to the general public through social media.
Send thank you cards to those who contribute to be sure their support is acknowledged
There are also 501c3 organizations whose mission it is to help support animals in need of medical funds. These organizations will require an application and funding is not guaranteed as funding is limited. A few of these organizations include:
Red Rover The Bobo Fund The Pet Fund Frankie’s Friends
We also recommend browsing Best Friends’ financial support page for organizations listed by state.
Money Saving Tips
While making payments, implementing good budgeting and money saving strategies will help you free up the funds to pay off the veterinary debt entirely. Some of these strategies include:
Attending a local pet food pantry to help alleviate some of the rabbit care cost.
Buy hay locally. Rabbits need to have unlimited access to good quality hay. Feed stores typically sell hay at a great price.
Get creative with veggies. Check out your local farmers market to find fresh, local veggies on the cheap. Ask vendors for carrot tops and other scraps—often they will give these at no charge!
Buy secondhand. You can often find used items like exercise pens and carriers on Nextdoor or in a “buy nothing” Facebook group.
For a full list of money saving tips, check out our Caring For a Rabbit On A Budget article.
With good financial strategy and support from your community, veterinary emergencies can be tackled head on in a way that will feel less overwhelming.