It’s a common question, and honestly we understand why veterinary care can sometimes feel more expensive than human health care. This is largely due to human healthcare in Australia being funded through Medicare. While about 70% of healthcare costs for people are subsidised by the government, including hospital stays, diagnostics, procedures, and medications, there is no medicare for pets.

Veterinary care, is not government funded. As a result, the full cost of care is more visible than it is in human medicine, where much of the expense is covered behind the scenes through taxes and public funding. Even private human hospitals receive large government funding meaning they can charge clients less. Unfortunately, this funding is not allocated for veterinary care.

On top of this, caring for animals can often be more hands on and require sedation or general anaesthesia for procedures that humans would otherwise stay still for. What may seem like a straightforward procedure can require additional staff, equipment, and time to ensure safety and comfort for your pet.

Despite this, the overall cost of veterinary care remains significantly lower than what the same treatment would cost in human healthcare without government funding and subsidies.

At VECA, we understand that unexpected veterinary expenses can be stressful, especially during emergencies. That’s why we’re committed to providing costs associated upfrount and will always provide clear, upfront estimates before moving forward with any treatment. We also offer a range of flexible treatment options and will work closely with you to find a plan that suits both your pet’s needs and your budget.

If your pet is insured, we’re happy to assist with claims and, in many cases, can help reduce upfront costs through pre-approvals. Just let our team know 24 hours before your appointment if you’d like support with this.

Running a veterinary hospital that’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week requires a dedicated team and significant resources. Having the right team of skilled vets, nurses, and support staff available at any time, day or night, is essential to delivering timely, high-quality care when your pet needs it most.

At VECA, a large portion of our operating costs goes directly towards staffing, ensuring we can maintain a highly experienced team around the clock and that they are cared for. The remaining costs are made up of medications, medical supplies, and the many overheads involved in running a purpose built emergency hospital, such as electricity, water, equipment maintenance, and diagnostics.

Before dedicated emergency clinics existed, pets needing overnight care were often left unattended in general practices until morning. Now, with 24/7 emergency and critical care available, you can have peace of mind knowing your pet is never alone and always receiving the attention they deserve, no matter the hour.

Cash, debit or credit card including AMEX and EFTPOS Afterpay

We can accept your Afterpay in-store card.

For more information, speak to our friendly receptionists, or click here.

Vetpay

Our reception team can add your pet's treatment costs to your VetPay account.

For more information, speak to our friendly receptionists, or click here.

GapOnly

We can process GapOnly claims with a policy from a GapOnly® pet insurance partner weekdays.

For more information, speak to our friendly receptionists, or click here.

Our reception team can process Petsure eClaims any time of day, and GapOnly Claims within minutes on your behalf.

For more information, speak to our friendly receptionists, or find out if your insurer is a GapOnly partner here.

Please note that GapOnly claims can only be submitted between 8am - 10pm, Monday - Saturday.

At VECA, we’re committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care for your pet. To help us continue delivering this level of service that is supported by a dedicated 24/7 team and advanced equipment, we kindly ask that all accounts are settled in full at the end of your pet’s appointment or upon discharge from hospital.

For hospital admissions, we’ll provide a detailed itemised estimate and ask for a deposit of up to 70% at the time of admission. For longer stays, progress payments may be required.

We understand that unexpected veterinary expenses can be stressful, and our team is here to support you. We offer a range of payment options and can assist with pet insurance claims or pre-approvals to help reduce upfront costs. If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to speak with us, we’re here to support you and your pets.

With Afterpay, you get what you purchase now, and pay for it in 4 payments over 6 weeks, interest-free.

They pay the merchant in full, you make your first payment (approximately 25% of the total) at the time of purchase, and the remaining three payments are automatically deducted from your nominated debit or credit card approximately every two weeks.

Afterpay applies an approval process for each transaction that considers multiple factors, including your available to spend and on-time payment history. This process is carried out on every order, not just your first one.

When you start using Afterpay, your spend limit starts low. Depending on various factors, including consistent on-time payments, you may become eligible for a higher spend limit.

Learn more about Afterpay here.

Only GapOnly® ready policies process your pet insurance claim while you’re still at the vet. You simply pay the gap (the difference between the vet’s invoice and your eligible claim benefit) and off you go.

Learn more about how Gap Only works here.

At the moment, we do NOT accept zip pay.