A friend of mine just wrote me telling of her dog who has a abscessed tooth and that she could not afford to pay the dental bill. She was wondering if there is any way to get help for her dog. She has no job and not likely that she will be having the type of money needed to pay for the vet. Do you have any answers for her. I did not. 
Disclaimer: The information in this website should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of your personal dentist or another physician.
#1 by Lady D on February 11, 2010 - 10:07 am
That actually varies from vet to vet. Try calling around for prices. If you have low income try a few of these resources for help.
http://www.aahahelpingpets.org
http://www.thepetfund.com
http://www.carecredit.com
http://www.help-a-pet.org
http://www.imom.org
http://www.fveap.org (for cats)
http://www.handicappedpets.com
http://www.uan.org
http://www.nysave.orghttp://www.angels4animals.org/http://www.shakespeareanimalfund.com/……http://countryroadsca.tripod.com/lovedon…
#2 by catherine k on February 11, 2010 - 4:21 pm
Go to the rspca if she is on benefits she will get medical help for free, in the interim use bongela to help the pain…
#3 by Anonymous on February 11, 2010 - 9:21 pm
Your best option is to take her to the vet for treatment. Call around to your local vets for pricing information and explain to them the situation as some vet will treat her on a payment plan.
#4 by oldone on February 11, 2010 - 10:59 pm
This is the day of credit. Tell her to call the vet and explain that she has no money, but loves her pet and wants the best care for him. Ask them if she can make some type of arrangements with them. A payment plan of sorts. What ever arrangements she makes she should try her best to keep her word on the agreement. Also she might be able to make arrangements to go to the vets office and work her bill off by helping at the vets office.
#5 by Hard Hearted Hanna on February 11, 2010 - 11:54 pm
This is a very sad situation for your friend. I’m sure she loves her dog or she wouldn’t bother to ask around to find help for it. A lot of locations to find help have already been listed.
How old is the dog?
Has the dog had all of it’s shots? I once owned dogs without vet care and because I was poor and unaware (plus we’re talking 40-50 years ago) the animals only got my love and human scraps (if there were any). I know how hard it can be.
We are much more aware now and pets are as children, don’t have them unless you can take care of them. This can’t always be foretold though. She will need to at least try to contact some of the places listed. It can be frustrating, especially if she has taken on a life to care for and has no way to do it.
In the meantime, an aspirin may help the pain but should not be continued for a long time as it can cause the animal stomach problems. Without its shots though, the animal is already in for a lot of problems.
I wish her and especially her pet all the luck in the world. I taught my own daughters to never rely on someone else to take care of you. It’s for their own good if they take care of themselves and then take on others.
#6 by crysly1 on February 12, 2010 - 3:40 am
if this is the uk
theres the pdsa
they care for animals as long as you are housing benefits or council tax
hope your friends dog get the help it needs
#7 by str8putt on February 12, 2010 - 8:41 am
check with the ASPCA they usually will help people that can not pay for treatment. Might have to make a dog food donation or something but they might help.. Its worth a call
#8 by Silver Moon on February 12, 2010 - 2:27 pm
She can apply for care credit.
Either way she needs to get the dogs teeth taken care of or it can cause organ damage if an infection spreads.
Can someone in her family or a frieend lend her the money?
#9 by Shadow's Melon on February 12, 2010 - 4:10 pm
If she is unable to spend under $100 for removal of a tooth, then the dog clearly isn’t going to get any other needs addressed, such as vaccinations. She should turn this dog over to a rescue where they will place him with a family that can financially care for his needs.
#10 by Anne on February 12, 2010 - 10:30 pm
She needs to contact her local animal shelter for any type of help they can offer
Here is my question to her?? If she has no Job how is she able to care for the dog as in feeding it shots Vet care ETC ? Now she has this issue and I am sorry but she needs to put herself in the pups paws that is so unbearably painful and she as a person could not live with it so how does she expect the pup to deal with it?? The dog may turn mean as it is in so much pain it may lash out she really needs to contact her local shelter and find out what can be done and if it means giving up her pup just to get it help she really needs to bite her lip and do it for the sake of the pup
Good Luck
#11 by DP on February 13, 2010 - 3:26 am
She should find the money.. Tooth decay is very hard on their system.. Can cause other problems rather than just having a bad tooth.. Heart problems for example..
#12 by mspeep_1 on February 13, 2010 - 5:54 am
If you try to contact your local humane society they may be able to set something up… even if your friend can do monthly payments to a vet, people shouldn’t have a dog if they can’t afford one. How does she pay her own bills if she doesn’t have a job?
#13 by *Golden Retriever Crazy* on February 13, 2010 - 10:57 am
get a lone from a bank
#14 by Anonymous on February 13, 2010 - 4:45 pm
Care Credit, beg, borrow, then beg and borrow some more. The dog will not get better without treatment. The longer she waits, the worse the infection will get and start spreading to other organs.