What are the Best Financing Programs for Veterinary Services?

Today, many pet parents are looking for a vet payment plan to help offset the financial burden of caring for their pet families.

Veterinary care can be expensive, and unexpected emergencies can strain budgets, often forcing pet owners to make difficult decisions about their pets’ health. Many pet owners struggle to afford necessary treatments, especially when emergency care is required.

A reported 67% of U.S. pet parents said they were hit with emergency vet bills costing $500 or more. Considering 30% of the same surveyed owners say they prioritize their pet’s health needs over their own, this sticker shock can put them in a tough position emotionally and financially. 

You can make it easier on them and your team by providing financing options directly from your veterinary practice management software. 

Why offer veterinary financing for vet bills?

Cost-of-care discussions can be a sensitive issue for many pet owners, especially when their love for their pet exceeds their budget. Fortunately, today’s pet financing companies and other cost-based solutions improve clients’ access to care without adding extra time or frustration for your team.

When you offer clients options for vet bill financing, you make it easier for them to care for their pets. The benefits of pet financing offers include:

• A higher level of care for more pets
  Financing options, incentives, and loyalty programs increase access to veterinary care. More clients can now afford necessary pet care services without hardship or compromise.

• Better outcomes and long-term health
  Clients approved for financing won’t need to postpone their pet’s care until they can afford to cover the expense or, worse, end up with the difficult decision of euthanasia.

• Client loyalty and relationship
  Providing clients with pet-care financing options demonstrates your practice’s compassion and dedication to helping their pets. Accessible options, such as pay-over-time solutions like Sunbit, deter pet parents from price shopping and seeking care for their pet elsewhere.

• Increased revenue
  Clients are more likely to agree to the entire treatment plan and additional services because they aren’t restricted by lump-sum up-front costs.

• Team morale
  Providing necessary care is intrinsically rewarding and improves your team members’ job satisfaction. Financing integrations reduce the stress and the discomfort of having cost-based discussions and help make clients amenable to your recommendations.

• Convenience
  With veterinary financing integrations, your team members do not have to manage or track in-house financing plans or arrangements. The entire team can stay focused on what matters most: patient care.

When presented with the bill for services, remind your clients that they can ask techs about payment alternatives, such as a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to discuss budget-friendly and cost-effective options if they communicate your financial limitations.

You can present clients with an estimate for care, and if they have any concerns, you can discuss budget-friendly options or payment options to help manage bills. Some financing providers consider more than just credit score, making their solutions accessible even to those with fair or poor credit. 

This flexibility can make paying bills for veterinary services much easier and ensure every pet receives the care they need.

Shepherd makes it easy to have the financing discussion

In the past, team members had to present clients with payment financing options during veterinary appointments. Clients were then required to fill out lengthy forms, which had to be faxed and reviewed, often delaying treatment. 

If a team member was unfamiliar with the intricacies of a particular financing option, the client may have immediately declined or been reluctant to apply altogether.

Today, clinics play a crucial role in helping pet owners find resources and offering veterinary care assistance for a wide range of needs, including connecting them with other services such as emergency pet care, dental work, and support for chronic conditions. 

Clinics can guide clients to state-specific veterinary assistance resources, low-cost vet care programs, and options tailored for low-income pet owners. Nonprofit organizations like RedRover, MyBalto, and The Pet Fund provide grants for urgent or chronic veterinary care expenses, while veterinary colleges may have emergency assistance programs for pets in need of urgent care. 

Many charitable organizations, such as The Pet Fund, the Brown Dog Foundation, and Frankie’s Friends Charitable Pet Foundation, exist to help pet parents with veterinary bills. Additionally, many veterinarians have funds set aside to help people in a financial crisis or may know of local organizations that can provide support. 

If your client cannot afford treatment, they may only be able to receive limited supportive care and may decline to give non-urgent care. Pet insurance companies and pet insurance plans can also help cover veterinary expenses, often working alongside financing options to ensure pets receive the care they need.

In contrast, Shepherd Veterinary Software provides a quick, simple, and user-friendly client and team member experience. Shepherd’s robust veterinary practice management software and financial integrations eliminate the hassle, time, and uncertainty of pet-care loans and pay-over-time opportunities.

Let’s take a look at two unique Shepherd financing options for your clients. Already eager to get started? For existing Shepherd users, simply visit your settings page and toggle on the following integrations.

Sunbit integration for veterinary practices

Shepherd is the first veterinary practice management software to integrate Sunbit technology into its workflow to help pet owners finance vet bills. 

Thousands of merchants nationwide have exhibited their trust in Sunbit’s user-friendly, 30-second application process, 90% approval rate, and quick, in-full merchant payments, and clinics using Shepherd benefit from client communication and reminder tools that make it easier to promote these financing options.

If your clients finds themselves in a bind over veterinary bills, another option is CareCredit, which is a healthcare financing credit card that can be used for veterinary payments. CareCredit usually offers interest-free promotions (a promotional period) if they qualify, but it may charge late fees or an annual fee. 

When you enable the Sunbit integration in your Shepherd settings, information about Sunbit and a prequalification link are automatically added to pet owners’ email and text appointment reminders. Clients interested in a vet payment plan can now arrive at their pet’s appointment already prepared. Information about Sunbit’s Care Now, Pay-Over-Time solution is also added to in-clinic estimates, which automatically allows clients to review financing options to pay for their pet’s care.

In addition to the hassle-free application process, Sunbit’s high consumer-approval rating can be attributed to the simplicity and transparency of personalized offers, no hard credit checks to apply, or late or penalty fees.

Veterinary practices enjoy immediate and full payment and the opportunity to provide enhanced quality of care to more pets. For more details about Sunbit, including one veterinarian’s video testimonial, check out our previous article.

Greenline integration for veterinary practices

Shepherd and Greenline have partnered in a different way to improve access to veterinary care. With Greenline, your clients benefit from cost-saving offers and opportunities such as coupons, rebates, and loyalty or wellness programs, and recent new Shepherd software features further streamline how these savings are presented and tracked. 

Greenline leads the industry in digital processing support for product offers, manufacturer incentives, and loyalty programs, so your team can focus on providing exceptional care, not searching for coupons.

Greenline integrates with your Shepherd cloud-based practice management system to identify and track eligible items, providing instant access to corresponding rebates, discounts, and incentives. 

When clients discover how much they can save or be reimbursed by acting on a limited-time offer, they’re more likely to approve recommended services, additional items, or pet-care products. Greenline access drives compliance and confidence as pet owners come to associate your practice with compassionate customer service and pet-centered (not cost-centered) veterinary care.

Providing your clients with user-friendly financial options demonstrates that the human-animal bond can’t be measured in dollars and cents and shouldn’t be restricted by finances, either. 

Increasing access to vet care through integrations such as Sunbit and Greenline, which are part of Shepherd’s continuously evolving software, helps clients to give their pets the best life possible—with no guilt, worry, or compromise. Your team will feel the joy and satisfaction of providing higher-quality care for an ever-increasing number of pets.

Pet-care budgeting: Helping your clients plan ahead

Helping your clients prepare for pet care expenses is one of the most valuable services your veterinary practice can provide. Many pet owners are surprised by the cost of veterinary services, and unexpected vet bills can quickly become a source of financial strain. 

By proactively discussing pet care budgeting, you can empower pet parents to make informed decisions and ensure their pets receive the care they need without delay or compromise.

Pet Insurance

Start by highlighting the importance of pet insurance and pet health insurance plans. 

These insurance plans can be a lifeline for pet owners, covering a wide range of veterinary expenses from emergency vet bills to routine care like annual exams and preventive care. Encourage your clients to research reputable pet insurance companies and compare coverage options, so they can find a plan that fits their needs and budget. 

Having pet insurance in place can provide peace of mind and financial assistance when unexpected veterinary expenses arise.

Budgeting

Beyond insurance, guide your clients in creating a realistic budget for all pet-related expenses. This includes not only veterinary care, but also pet food, pet supplies, and preventive treatments. 

Share resources to help them find free pet food or low-cost options, such as local food pantries, community organizations, or discount retailers. Many communities offer programs to help pet owners find free or low-cost pet food, making it easier to manage ongoing pet expenses.

When it comes to paying for veterinary care, make sure your clients are aware of the various financing options available. Payment plans, personal loans, and veterinary financing programs like Scratchpay or CareCredit can help spread out out-of-pocket expenses into manageable monthly payments. 

Remind clients to review the terms carefully, looking out for deferred interest charges, hidden fees, or prepayment penalties that could increase their costs over time. For those facing financial hardship, point them toward state programs, breed-specific rescue groups, or low-cost clinics that offer additional financial assistance for veterinary care.

Flexible financing options

Offering flexible repayment terms and personalized offers can make a significant difference for more pet parents. Consider tailoring payment plans to fit individual needs, with options that vary based on the client’s financial situation. This approach not only helps clients manage their veterinary expenses but also builds trust and loyalty with your practice.

By supporting your clients in budgeting for pet care, you help reduce the risk of delayed treatment and ensure pets receive timely, high-quality veterinary medical care. Empowering pet owners with knowledge about insurance, financing, and community resources strengthens your relationship with clients and supports the health and well-being of their pets, creating a more humane world for all.

Financial assistance lifts a heavy burden (for clients and staff)

Ultimately, the best financing programs for veterinary services are the ones that make care more accessible while keeping your clinic’s workflow simple. When payment options and flexible solutions are integrated directly into your practice management software, conversations about cost become easier for your team and less stressful for clients. 

Pet owners gain the confidence to move forward with recommended care, your staff can focus on patients instead of paperwork, and more pets receive the treatment they need when they need it. 

By combining thoughtful financial options with connected tools inside Shepherd, your practice can remove barriers to care and support healthier, happier lives for the pets and families who rely on you.