Guiding you and your pet with dignity and understanding through the most difficult times
There is nothing worse than watching your pet struggle while worrying about how you will pay for the care they need. Too many pet owners in Oakland Park have faced that exact moment, torn between their budget and their best friend’s health, wondering if there is a way to make quality veterinary care fit their finances.
At Oakland Park Animal Hospital, we have watched families wrestle with this decision for almost 40 years, and we built our financing options because we never want cost to be the reason a pet goes without care. We are a family-owned practice, not a corporate chain, and that difference shows up in how we talk with you about money. Your pet is our pet too, and we want every conversation about payment to feel as personal as the care we provide.
Rising costs at the vet are not just a feeling. Nationwide research backs up what so many pet owners already sense in their wallets. According to a recent survey from PetSmart Charities and Gallup, 64% of pet owners said payment plans would have potentially doubled the amount they could afford to pay for life-saving veterinary care, yet only 23% were actually offered that option.
That gap between what pet owners need and what they are offered is exactly why we built our financing program the way we did. We do not want you choosing between your pet’s health and your monthly budget. We want you to have real options on the table before a decision ever needs to be made.
We know every family’s financial situation looks different, which is why we offer more than one way to manage the cost of care. Our goal is to work with you in whatever capacity makes sense for your household, not to push a single solution that only fits some families.
Through Cherry and CareCredit, qualified pet owners can spread the cost of treatment over time instead of paying the full amount upfront. These programs are especially helpful for larger or unexpected expenses, like surgery or emergency care, when a bill arrives all at once. Both options are applied for directly, and approval decisions typically happen quickly so care is not delayed.
We also offer our Stay Well Pet Plan, an in-house wellness membership designed for pet owners who want predictable, budget-friendly costs for routine care throughout the year. Annual canine, feline, and puppy or kitten memberships each include a discounted exam fee, along with reduced pricing on in-house lab testing, heartworm and flea and tick prevention, bathing, nail trims, and ear cleanings. Puppy and kitten members also receive a full set of included vaccinations across their first year, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of budgeting for a new pet’s early visits. It is one more way we try to keep long-term wellness within reach, not just crisis care.
Dr. Spencer Ratnoff has spent over 40 years building relationships with pet owners across Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, and the surrounding Fort Lauderdale community, and one thing has stayed consistent through all of it. Our team believes you deserve to understand your options before a treatment plan is decided, not after. We walk through pricing openly, explain what each financing route actually covers, and help you figure out which option fits your situation best.
Many of our longtime clients have brought multiple generations of pets through our doors, some caring for four or five dogs over the decades with us. That kind of trust is not built by surprising people with bills. It is built by having honest conversations about cost from the very first visit, and by making sure financing feels like a resource rather than a hurdle.
Financing questions do not stop at cats and dogs. Birds, reptiles, and small mammals often need specialized diagnostics and treatments, and the cost of that care can catch exotic pet owners off guard just as easily. We built our financing options to cover the full range of pets we see, not just the most common ones.
Whether you are budgeting for a routine checkup or an unexpected procedure for your exotic companion, Cherry and CareCredit apply the same way they would for a dog or cat, and our exotic pet care team can walk you through what to expect before any decision is made. We want every pet owner in Oakland Park, no matter what kind of companion they bring through our doors, to know that cost does not have to stand between their pet and the care they need.
Choosing the right financing option does not have to feel overwhelming, and you do not have to figure it out alone. Whether Cherry, CareCredit, or our Stay Well Pet Plan makes the most sense for your family, our team is ready to walk through the details with you and answer any questions along the way.
We have been a doctor-owned, family-run practice in this community since 1987, and we plan to keep it that way. Reach out to Oakland Park Animal Hospital today to talk through your financing options and get your pet the care they deserve.
Schedule a visit with our compassionate team and let’s partner in your pet’s lifelong well-being.
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