It sounds difficult not to be able to access healthcare for your pet so please accept a virtual hug on our behalf. I have never worked at a vets that applies a first time fees for patients but money is something you could ask about when you book (it is worth calling a few practises and asking for typical fees - not just of consultations, but also of medications and whether it might work out cheaper to ask vets for a prescription). If you know who used to own your dog, a few phone-calls may grant access to the previous clinical notes, which might save your new vet time and work in figuring things out. As things stand at the moment, a low income is common and very relatable. Local vets may be able to give you some idea of which practises offer the best value; in the UK there are some charities who might be able to help - I have certainly never heard of them turning people down because they are too broke, although there may be stiff criteria as to which pets they can help. Here is an article that addresses the subject of vet fees, just in case it mentions anything you might not already be doing. Other than that, I would always recommend being honest with vets from the outset about financial limitations because this way, they will try to offer things appropriate to the context of your finances and start with the plans that will make the most difference given these limitations. I hope that something in all of this might help a little.
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2024/11/29/why-do-vets-consultation-prices-vary-so-much-in-2024/