Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog has a skin problem. How to get vet care without breaking the bank?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | neutered | 2 years and 3 months old | 5.5 lbs

My dog is having some type of reaction or infection. I have no clue what it could be or what I can do to help him. I just had a baby and have no way to afford a vet visit right now.

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 8th, 2019

This could be a skin infection or it could be ringworm. You do need to have Taco seen by a vet to have this diagnosed and treated. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
My dog suddenly has extremely bad dandruff, scratching all the time. He drags his stomach on the carpet, and it makes his genitalia and nipples red and raw. No money for vet right now. Please help! Also lack of interest in treats, won’t let me clip i
Bixby sounds pretty bad with his skin issues, and he does have to see a vet. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
okay so my mix breed lyrics not too sure what's going on with her but I'm very worried I took her a bath this morning and I felt this stuff under her skin so I succeeded so check it out and this is what I found OMG can you please help me to be honest
It could be Lyric has a skin infection. She really does need to see a vet for this. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. I'd also see if you can borrow money from family and friends. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
took my pup for wellness check and asked vet to plz check for mange/mites. after the check he wanted to give meds for 'possible allergy(he wanted 400 for visit<40> plus meds) to prescribe 4 kinds of meds guessing as no real tests (blood,skin) were do
That looks pretty bad. I'd take him into another vet for a second opinion. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I’m scared it can be a tumor or cancer and I don’t know what to do my family doesn’t have the money to be able to treat him
That can be from an infection. You do need to have the checked out by a vet. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. I'd also see if you can borrow money from family and friends. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
My dog keeps scratching! I’ve bathe her in this oatmeal sensitive skin dog soap and she’s still scratching, her skin is red! What do I do? I don’t have money for the vet
This scratching can be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If Roxie isn't up to date on her flea treatment, I can give you one for her. First, I would give her Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash her bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. If she is up to date on her flea treatment, I recommend taking her into the vet for an exam today or tomorrow. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see i
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has these patches all over her head and ears and under her arms that are bleeding and itchy. Recently my cat has what looks like 2 puncture wounds near his anus. What should I do? I'm unemployed and broke, but they are both visibly bothered by
They both need to see a vet. Your dog could have a skin infection or allergies causing his issues, while Evol may have ruptured anal sacs creating the wounds near his anus. I can give you some resources that may help you afford a vet. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Check these out to see if one can h
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My brothers chihuahua one morning seemed to be having some sort of seizure 2 days ago in the morning. We rushed him to an pet ER and all they gave him was pain medication because we couldn't afford the blood sample to take place. He seems to be doing
Unfortunately no, there are no OTC medications you can give Speedy. It sounds like he has an eye infection and a skin infection. Leaving eye infections untreated can lead to vision loss, so he has to see a vet asap. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has had a lump grown in her stomach and now I've noticed that small dark lines that look like hairs are sticking out of it. I have no idea what it could be and I can't afford to go to the vet. The lump is hard and unmovable and it's worrying m
Oh no, poor Peaches! She does need to see a vet for this, as it could be a cyst, an abscess, benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I can give you some resources that may help you afford a vet for Peaches. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Really worried about my dogs skin. have no way to treat it. it’s not bothering him he’s just all over him.
Hello. When you say you have no way to treat Tip Toe's skin, do you mean you are financially unable to take him to the vet? There are payment systems to help, such as CareCredit & ScratchPay. You can obtain a small loan from friends or family, or even sell something. Some communities do have outreach programs to help disadvantaged pet owners. In the meantime, it does look like your pet has some king of bacterial dermatitis going on. If you can afford to purchase a medicated shampoo at any pet retailer, I would like you to try & pick up one with either Benzoyl peroxide, or a combination of miconazole & chlorhexiderm. Bathe your pet twice a week for a minimum of 3 weeks leaving the lather on for 10 minutes before rinsing. This should help & hopefully you can find the funds to have Tip Toe looked at by a veterinarian. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
I got a 6 week old puppy that is weak drinks eats very little gets chocked easy and has dry skin and pumps on her doesn’t stand for a long time. But she wants to play just a short time then goes to sleep what can I do to help her out I cannot afford
Mercy really needs to see a vet now, she sounds very ill. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Check out these resources to see if one can help you. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The inf
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Food Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dog Health & Wellness Antifungal Medication for Dogs Prescription Shampoo for Dogs Pet Pharmacy Prescription Dog Antibiotics Dog Thyroid Medication & Hormone Care At-Home Dog Vaccines Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Ketoconazole Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dermalone Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Animax Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Ketoconazole Antifungal Medication for Dogs Pentoxifylline ER Tablets Prescription Shampoo for Dogs Tobramycin Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Cestex Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Ketoconazole Prescriptions for Small Animals & Other Pets Atopica Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Orbax Prescription Dog Antibiotics
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored