What happens if you can't afford to treat your pet?

Veterinary care in Australia is privately funded — there's no Medicare for pets — which means costs are due at the time of your appointment. If paying upfront isn't possible, here are some options:

Payment plans & buy now, pay later

VetPay — a payment solution built specifically for veterinary expenses

Afterpay — split the cost into four fortnightly payments

Zip Pay — another buy now, pay later option

Charities & assistance programs

The Sunset Benevolence Fund — designed to help families in difficult financial circumstances whose pets need end of life or palliative care (note: this fund covers Sunset Vets' own services only, not general vet bills) 

Other options

Crowdfunding — platforms like GoFundMe let you share your story and raise money from friends, family, and the broader community

Friends and family — worth a conversation, especially in an emergency

Pet insurance — won't help in an immediate crisis if you're not already covered, but worth considering going forward

A note on why we can't run accounts

As a small mobile business, we aren't able to offer payment terms or run accounts. It's not a decision we take lightly — but chasing unpaid invoices is a cost and a risk that small veterinary businesses simply can't absorb. We'd rather be upfront about that than make promises we can't keep.If you're unsure whether you can cover the cost of a visit, reach out before booking and we'll help you figure out the best path forward.