Give Veterinary Clients Financing Options to Help Support Pet Care Decision-Making

Many pet owners pay out of pocket for care, and veterinary costs such as X-rays and prescription diets can be hard to predict. Presenting your clients with financing and payment options can help prepare them for veterinary expenses, ease cost concerns, support cost conversations and create a positive pet owner financial journey.

What Are Four Types of Financing Options for Veterinary Clients?

Financing allows pet owners to pay for care over time. Below are four types of payment options for veterinary clients that can also benefit your practice.

1. Installment loans

With this type of financing, veterinary clients make fixed payments over time and must pay the loan off by a specified date. Installment loans can help pet owners manage unexpected pet care costs like emergency or urgent care, surgery or hospitalization.

2. Recurring payment plans

With a recurring veterinary payment plan, pet owners make fixed payments at predictable intervals. These payments continue as needed until the veterinary client or provider terminates the plan. This type of payment option can help veterinary clients manage chronic pet illnesses that require ongoing treatments such as periodontal disease, thyroid disorders or diabetes. Recurring payment plans are generally managed by the veterinary practice.

3. General-purpose credit cards

Revolving credit extends a limited line of credit to clients, allowing them to borrow as needed and pay over time. In contrast to a fixed loan, the line of credit remains open as long as the account is in good standing.

Clients can use revolving credit when they need it without having to reapply for a new loan each time. Pet owners can use this option to pay for care such as diagnostics (e.g., bloodwork and X-rays), wellness exams, and dental cleanings and extractions.

4. Third-party financing options for veterinary clients

Clients may also be able to access financing through a bank or financing company that partners with your veterinary practice. This option can help practices reduce collection risk while still receiving payment promptly.

Third-party financing may be offered as a loan or through a credit card program, such as the CareCredit credit card, which provides promotional financing on purchases of $200 or more.^* For pet owners, this can be a helpful way to manage costs for procedures such as spay/neuter surgery or ongoing expenses like prescription diets.

What Else Can Pet Owners Use To Pay for Veterinary Care?

When discussing financing and payment with clients, veterinary practice staff members can also mention other options such as pet insurance and any employer benefits or savings clients may have set aside for pet expenses.

How Can Veterinary Client Financing Help Clients and Practices?

Providing veterinary client financing options can help your pet owners focus on getting recommended care for their pets during potentially stressful situations. Breaking down larger veterinary bills into manageable payments can enable them to fit pet care into their budgets.

For providers and their teams, offering third-party financing for veterinary care can generate a consistent flow of payments while reducing administrative time spent on billing and collections. It can also make cost conversations with pet owners easier.

Ultimately, third-party financing can help lead to care decisions, adherence to treatment plans and long-term client relationships. Partnering with CareCredit as a third-party option for veterinary financing offers benefits to clients and practices:

5 Best Practices For Offering Veterinary Financing Options

The financing options you offer can make a big difference from consultation to booking services. Best practices such as discussing financing early, explaining eligibility clearly, offering multiple options, choosing a trusted third-party partner and training your team to communicate consistently may help support a client-friendly approach to financing that encourages care and smooth collections.

1. Discuss flexible financing options for vet care in advance

From routine wellness visits to emergency care, introduce payment options before proceeding with treatment or services. Providing pet owners with a clear understanding of their payment options upfront can help build trust and improve their financial experience.

2. Be clear about veterinary client financing eligibility

Clients may be hesitant to ask about payment solutions or may assume they're not eligible for financing. Communicate their options clearly and visibly, and reassure clients that financing options may be available for qualified applicants.^*

Place signage in prominent locations, e.g., at check-in, check-out, in exam rooms and in digital communications to continually reinforce the availability of financing options. Whether their pets are in for preventative care such as parasite prevention or an unexpected procedure like an ultrasound, your clients will know that financing solutions are available.

3. Offer options for veterinary financing

Just as your clients come to you for a range of care, from pet dentistry to vaccinations, it's likely that your clients have a wide range of financial circumstances. Providing options helps more pet owners get their pets the care you recommend, especially if they are continually reassured of potential financing solutions.

In addition to posting signage around your office and messages in one-on-one digital communications, consider creating "take-one" flyers or brochures that clearly explain each financing option and its obligations. Your clients can take them, read them carefully on their own time and make their best care decisions. You can also create digital versions for emailing or texting.

4. Find the right third-party financing company

Choose a financing partner that has integrity and experience working with veterinary practices. Consider asking colleagues about their financing providers so you can evaluate potential partner companies and choose the right solution for your clients and your practice.

5. Develop clear, consistent communications

Proactive, standardized communications are key to offering successful client financing options. Set expectations early by explaining your payment policies, deposit requirements and payment timelines for all services. Equip every team member, from reception and vet techs to check-out, with simple scripts to confidently discuss financing options for routine vet visits and preventive care, as well as emergencies, surgery deposits, diagnostics and follow-up treatment plans.

Sample Team Talking Points

• "We offer financing options to help make veterinary care more manageable."
• "We can review payment options before moving forward with treatment."
• "For qualifying purchases, CareCredit offers promotional financing on purchases of $200 or more."
• "You can apply quickly and see whether you prequalify with no impact to your credit score."
• "We can also discuss other sources of funds such as pet insurance."

The Value of Flexible Payment Solutions

When veterinary clients understand costs and are provided with clear options to pay over time, they can feel more confident moving forward with recommended care. For practices, offering varied payment solutions can support a steadier flow of payments, reduce administrative burden, strengthen client relationships and help grow your practice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Offering Different Payment Options for Vet Care

Here are some FAQs about the options veterinary practices can offer to support pet care decision-making.

What types of veterinary financing options are available?

Veterinary practices can offer installment loans, recurring payment plans and third-party financing options such as revolving credit products through providers like CareCredit. Practices may also accept general-purpose credit cards as a payment method.

Why should veterinary practices offer financing?

Offering financing can reduce payment friction, support faster care decisions, improve treatment acceptance and help clients manage unexpected or ongoing pet care costs.

Can financing help with both urgent and routine care?

Yes. Financing can support urgent needs like surgery or hospitalization as well as routine or recurring care such as diagnostics, dental work and chronic condition management.

What else can clients use to pay for pet care?

In addition to financing, clients may also use pet insurance, employer benefits or personal savings set aside for pet expenses.

A Veterinary Financing Solution for Your Clinic

Looking for a way to help your clients prepare for the cost of their pets' care? Consider accepting the CareCredit health and pet care credit card. CareCredit is a financing solution that allows cardholders to pay for services over time, while you get paid within two business days.

When you accept CareCredit, you receive a custom link that allows clients to see if they prequalify with no impact to their credit score. Those who apply, if approved, can take advantage of financing on qualifying purchases.^* The entire process is fast and friendly, leaving you free to focus on providing the care pets need.

Learn how the CareCredit credit card can help your clients finance veterinary care, or start the provider enrollment process by filling out this form.

Author Bio

Gina LaGuardia is the Managing Editor of Provider Insights, where she helps shape and deliver content strategy that highlights the benefits of being a CareCredit provider. Her work focuses on creating educational, engaging content that helps health and wellness providers grow their practices and strengthen their patient financing efforts. She brings extensive experience in content marketing and social media across health and wellness, personal finance, banking, education and careers, and small business sectors.

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