There are thousands of veterinary practices across the UK, including privately owned practices, corporate organisations and referral hospitals. However, did you know that there are also charity run practices that help to treat peoples animals? 

The PDSA are one of these charities, with some owners being eligible for treatment from them if they meet a certain criteria. Let’s have a look at what the PDSA does and the services that they offer.

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What is the PDSA?

The PDSA is short for the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals and is a UK based veterinary charity. The PDSA provides free or low-cost veterinary care for owners who may be struggling or unable to pay the cost of veterinary treatment. The charity was founded in 1917 and has now grown to have around 48 practices and hospitals throughout the UK.

The PDSA is a charity organisation that relies entirely on donations and fundraising in order to support the work that they carry out.

Who is eligible for PDSA veterinary treatment?

In order to receive low cost or free veterinary treatment from the PDSA, an owner needs to be eligible for help from the charity. There is a criteria which is based upon the financial status of the owner.

To be eligible for veterinary care provided by the PDSA, an owner will usually receive one or more of the following:

  • Housing payment benefits
  • Pension credit
  • Jobseekers allowance 
  • Income support
  • Universal credit
  • A reduction in council tax

This may be different depending on geographical location or individual PDSA practice policies. If you are unsure whether you are eligible for veterinary care provided by the PDSA, speak with a practice that is local to you.

What services does the PDSA offer?

Services may differ from practice to practice, but the PDSA generally offers the same treatment options as a standard non-charity clinic. The PDSA’s mission is to provide accessible and affordable veterinary care to those that may not be able to afford their veterinary bills, so try to offer an array of treatment options. These include:

Consultations: 

The PDSA runs consultations in order to help diagnose and treat common conditions.

Medical treatments: 

Where possible, conditions may be able to be treated using different medications. This may involve injections as well as topical and oral medications that owners can give to their pet at home.

Surgical interventions: 

In some cases, surgical interventions may be required. This can range from simple neutering to emergency surgery including orthopaedic, soft tissue and diagnostic surgery.

Dental procedures: 

Some animals may require dental treatment. This can include a scale and polish or the extraction of teeth. 

Vaccinations:

Most domestic animals require vaccinations in order to prevent unwanted diseases. The PDSA offers vaccinations for cats, dogs and rabbits. 

If you are unsure of what services your local PDSA clinic offers, contact them directly to ensure that they have the service you require.

Does the PDSA offer “out of hours” help?

Unfortunately, our animals don’t always fall ill during veterinary practice opening hours. Therefore, owners often require help throughout the night. The PDSA does offer an out of hours service – essentially offering veterinary care 24 hours a day. However, not all PDSA practices may offer this, so check with your local clinic.

Some PDSA branches may have help from other local veterinary practices, who are not run by the PDSA, in order to offer an out of hours service. This may mean that even though you are receiving treatment through the PDSA, you may need to visit a different practice that is not owned by them.

Does the PDSA ask for payment for treatment?

In some cases, owners may be eligible to pay nothing for their veterinary care based on individual financial circumstances. In other instances, owners may be asked to make a contribution towards the bill or even pay the entire bill. Let’s break it down:

Entirely eligible for PDSA veterinary treatment: 

Some owners may be entitled to free veterinary care based on their financial situation. If an owner meets the eligibility criteria for free veterinary treatment then treatment is often given at no cost to the owner.

Partially eligible for PDSA veterinary treatment: 

Some owners may meet only some of the criteria to receive help from the PDSA. In this situation, the PDSA may ask for a contribution towards the veterinary bill, or the cost of treatment may be subsidised. 

Not eligible for PDSA veterinary treatment: 

In some cases, owners that visit the PDSA may not be eligible for free or discounted veterinary care. In this instance, an owner will likely have to pay for the treatment given by the PDSA.

Final thoughts

The PDSA is a valuable and useful service for owners who may not be able to afford veterinary treatment. It allows animals who may be suffering to receive the treatment that they need. From a welfare point of view, animals should not be allowed to suffer unnecessarily due to lack of finances, so the PDSA is able to offer this service for clients who may need it.

The PDSA is entirely funded by donations and fundraising. If you have received treatment from the PDSA or simply want to support the amazing work that they do, try organising a charity event to help keep this brilliant service running.

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