Payment for Companion Animal Care

Payment policy

The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital requires full payment at the time of service for all outpatient office visits including community practice and specialty clinics, for elective surgeries (spay, neuter, declaw), and for prescriptions and lab work for non-patient accounts. Elective surgeries are paid in full when the animal is admitted to the hospital. Emergency and inpatient cases require deposits and payments as outlined below. We accept cash, checks, Mastercard, VISA and Discover.

Emergency cases

All small animal emergency cases must pay the emergency charge when the animal is presented. This charge includes the hospital service fee and the emergency examination fee.  

Hospital cases

All small animal inpatient cases (animals staying overnight at least one night) are required to pay a deposit at the time the animal is admitted to the hospital. An estimate will be provided for the proposed course of treatment. For estimates up to $1,000, a deposit of $300 will be collected. Estimates over $1,000 will require a deposit of $600. The required deposit may be higher based on past credit history or estimates over $2,000.

Payment is due upon release of an inpatient from the hospital. Account balances less than $300 must be paid in full. For accounts over $300 at least half of the balance must be paid at the time of release. The remaining balance can be paid over a 90-day period upon completion and approval of our credit application. Interest of 1.5% per month (18% APR) is assessed on all accounts with balances over 30 days.

It is possible that some of the charges will not be posted to the hospital billing system at the time your animal is released from the hospital. In such instances, you will be billed for the charges incurred during treatment of the animal but posted in the billing system after release. Payment for these additional charges is due 30 days after billing.

Clients with poor credit histories will not be extended credit. All previous debts with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital must be paid in full before any new care is provided.

For billing questions, please contact the Small Animal Accounting Department at (614) 292-1360.