Should you use a credit card for vet bills?

Your dog, your cat, your pet turtle – if you have an animal in your household, it’s family, unless we’re talking about a field mouse that snuck into your pantry, or some unwanted ants on your kitchen counter. So if your pet is facing some expensive vet bills, you may wonder if you should use your credit card to pay for them.

In some cases, it may almost be a no-brainer, and in other situations, you may want to hold off. Before you hand over your credit card to your vet, we’ll walk you through what to consider. Before using a credit card, it’s important to consider the annual percentage rates (APRs) associated with the card, as these can significantly affect the total cost if the balance isn’t paid off quickly.

If you’re considering applying for a new credit card to cover vet bills, be aware that the application process may involve a credit check, which can impact your credit score.

The rising cost of vet care and why it matters

First of all, it isn’t your imagination: pet care and veterinary medicine are wildly more expensive than it used to be. From 2014 to 2024, veterinary care outpaced inflation, climbing 60%. From July 2024 to July 2025, according to the Consumer Price Index, veterinary care rose 6.4%.

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s website cites three main factors influencing pricing:

• Inflation. It isn’t just the price of eggs and beef. Inflation affects your vet visit, too, raising everything from the cost of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to the expenses associated with operating a business, like paying for utilities and rent and making payroll.
• Advanced treatments. Veterinarians are constantly investing in new equipment, so they can offer pets treatments such as cold laser therapy and MRIs. That’s terrific for your pet, but it makes pet care more expensive.
• Pets are living longer. This is also wonderful, but a longer lifespan for a pet means more trips to the vet and potentially more expensive treatments to keep them around as long as possible.

Routine services like annual exams, exam fees, and teeth cleaning can also add up, contributing to the overall rise in veterinary costs.

And what’s really driving up costs is that there is no Health Insurance Marketplace for pets. While pet insurance is available to consumers, only 4% of American pets are covered by insurance.

When using a credit card for vet bills makes sense

As with any purchase, when to use a credit card is one of those decisions that only you can make.

If you have a sick pet, and a credit card is your way of paying for their care, then, whether it makes financial sense or not, you’re probably going to do it.

Still, if you’re looking for some guidance, you could argue that in these particular situations, using a credit card for vet bills makes good sense:

• You have a 0% introductory APR credit card. If you have a 0% APR credit card where you’re in the midst of a promotional period without paying interest for 12 or 24 months or whatever the timeline is, then you have some time to get the vet bill paid off without interest.
• Spending your credit card at the vet will lower your bill. Maybe you’ll be earning a significant amount of cash back, and you’re confident you can pay off the bill quickly. For example, if you get 3% cash back on your vet bill, that effectively reduces the cost by 3%. Using a credit card for vet bills and other pet expenses can also help you earn rewards, especially if your card offers bonus points or cash back for pet supplies or purchases at pet stores.
• It’s an emergency. Yes, you’d prefer to help your pet without accumulating a lot of revolving debt. But if you’re stressed out because your dog, cat, rabbit, reptile, or any other pet is ill, you don’t need to be told: credit cards are often there for emergencies like this. Your pet needs your help, and your credit card can come to the rescue.

When you should think twice before swiping a credit card for vet bills

Some guidelines to help you decide when it’s better to keep your credit card in your wallet:

• Your pet is suffering. Now, if your vet believes that an expensive surgery could truly ease your pet’s suffering and provide them with meaningful additional time, it may be worth considering using your credit card. This decision is deeply personal and often heart-wrenching. However, if your vet feels it might be time to gently accept the inevitable—understanding that even this path involves costs—you may face one of the most difficult choices of your life. No one wants to say goodbye to a beloved pet, but it’s important to also consider your own well-being and financial situation. Extending your pet’s life by a few months at the expense of significant veterinary bills can be emotionally and financially overwhelming, and it’s okay to seek support and take the time you need to make the best decision for both you and your cherished companion.
• It isn’t an emergency. A lot of vets offer treatments for pets that will make them healthier, such as dental checkups for dogs. If you’re considering some preventative medical expenses, you may want to save up for the cost or look into pet health insurance, rather than pull out your credit card. (It always depends on your individual financial situation, of course.)
• You have a lot of credit card debt. If you’re maxed out or on your way there, you may feel like you have little choice but to use your credit cards to pay a vet, if you are dealing with an emergency. But if you have some time to explore other alternatives to credit cards for vet bills, you should. For example, balance transfers to a card with a lower APR could help manage existing debt, but be mindful of fees and terms. Also, relying too much on credit cards for vet bills can make it harder to cover other expenses in your budget. Finding yourself utterly broke won’t help you or your pet, especially if later you run into even more vet bills that you can’t pay.
• Explore alternatives. If you have time, consider a personal loan or a structured payment plan with your vet, which may offer lower interest rates or more manageable monthly payments than a credit card.
• Your dog ate your credit card. Hey, that’s happened, and if your dog has eaten your credit card… Well, you could eventually probably figure out some way to use that credit card to pay for the vet bill…

Alternatives to credit cards for vet bills

There are certainly ways to pay for vet bills without resorting to credit cards. A few ideas:

• A debit card. Yeah, painfully obvious, but it would be stupid to not mention it.
• Vet office financing. Some veterinarians may allow you to pay their office in installments. Many veterinary offices and vet clinics offer payment plans or wellness plans to help manage costs for routine care like vaccines, teeth cleanings, and flea medications, but it’s important to ask about any hidden fees before signing up. Some vet offices will steer their patients to deferred-interest credit cards that are designed to work with medical expenses. Be sure to read the fine print; some of these cards have a 0% APR period to pay off the full balance, which is great, but if you don’t pay it off, you may be saddled with interest retroactively for the entire amount. Some wellness plans or financial assistance programs may have eligibility requirements, so check if your pet qualifies before applying.
• Comparison shop. Maybe your vet is super expensive, and there are other cheaper but just as reputable vets out there.

Look, on that last point, nobody wants to ditch their vet, especially if you’ve built up a good relationship with one. But if you’re broke, and this isn’t an emergency where your pet’s life hangs in the balance, you may want to check out PetHelpFinder.org, a nonprofit website that has resources for pet owners who are financially struggling. You may be able to find low-cost veterinary services through the site.

Smart credit card strategies for pet expenses

Fortunately, pet expenses aren’t always about taking your dog into the vet and learning that he ate a sock and a shoe, and now you have to surgically remove them. You have other pet expenses, like food and toys, grooming services, boarding, or maybe monthly medicine, and if you use your credit card strategically, you could bring down your expenses considerably. Many of the best credit cards offer rewards for pet-related purchases at pet stores, grocery stores and even wholesale clubs, which could help you save on some other expenses related to your pet.

For instance, if you get your pet food at the grocery store, you may want to use a credit card that gives you as much cash back as possible at the supermarket so you can save money on your food, along with your pet food. The Blue Cash Preferred(R) Card from American Express, discontinued_disclaimer for example, offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year in eligible purchases (and then 1%). Purchasing your pet food from a U.S. supermarket using this card would essentially save you 6% on that purchase (until you meet the spend threshold). American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.

You could also apply for a pet credit card that caters to pet parents. The Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card is designed for pet-related purchases and can be used at any licensed vet or pet shop, and for grooming services, pet boarding, and supply store purchases. It rewards cardholders with 1X point per dollar for every purchase (basically 1% cash back), and for vet or pet purchases (like dog food or a new collar), you’ll earn 3X points (3% cash back) per dollar spent. It also has built-in pet insurance for eligible pets, for accidental injury and illness, and can be used at any licensed veterinarian’s office in the United States who accepts credit cards.

Some cards offer financial flexibility, allowing for monthly payment plans, which can help manage larger pet expenses. The best credit cards for pet owners may also support animal charities like Best Friends Animal Society, with a portion of proceeds going to help best friends in need and supporting an animal society.

If you apply for a credit card with a welcome bonus, you could use the cash back to pay for a vet bill – or to splurge on your pet.

Also, if you apply for a credit card that has a 0% intro APR offer, you could leverage that to help your pet. You could pay for a vet bill over time, without collecting interest, or make a pet-related purchase that you’ve been wanting to, for some time, like getting a bigger terrarium for a leopard gecko.

The point is, while credit cards can be used for vet bills and can be a lifesaver in an emergency, they can also help save money and reduce the cost of owning a pet – if you’re thoughtful and strategic about how you use your cards.

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for pet expenses

Can I use my credit card at the vet?

Absolutely. Maybe there’s some veterinarian out there who won’t allow credit cards, but generally, in our digital money society, veterinary practices accept credit cards and debit cards as payment. Some credit cards, such as the Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card, are even designed to work at veterinary practices and offer cash back when you pay for services at the vet.

How can I avoid high-interest charges on vet expenses?

The best way to avoid high-interest charges on vet expenses is to pay your bill in full every month. You also may want to look into applying for a credit card with a 0% APR introductory period. You could then take on a hefty vet bill and pay it off in full during that intro period and avoid high-interest charges.

How much does a vet visit cost?

A typical vet visit usually costs between $100 and $200, with additional charges for labs or X-rays. To reduce costs, you can call ahead to get price estimates, compare prices at different vets, use credit cards that offer cash back on vet visits, or consider pet insurance.

The bottom line

Keeping your pet healthy is important – but keeping your pet healthy for a low cost can be challenging. Of course, it depends on your pet. Some dogs and cats get into more trouble than others, and some types of animals have health issues that others don’t.

When it comes to credit cards and vet bills, there’s really no way to predict what might happen. You could end up deep in debt if you use your credit card to cover thousands of dollars in medical expenses. But with some planning and a bit of luck, your credit card could also help lower your vet bills significantly.