Veterinary bills don’t announce themselves ahead of time, and the gap between what a procedure costs and what’s sitting in your account on any given Tuesday can be significant. Financing exists to close that gap without forcing you to choose between your pet’s health and the rest of your financial life. At Great Plains Veterinary Clinic, we offer two distinct financing programs because we know one size doesn’t fit every situation.
Our clinic serves pet owners throughout Vaughn and the broader Cascade County region, where access to flexible financial tools has historically lagged behind what urban veterinary practices offer. Our payment options include insurance, in-clinic plans, and the two financing programs covered here. Whether the expense is a planned surgery coordinated through our clinic or a dental procedure that came up at a routine exam, CareCredit and Scratchpay are both designed to get your pet treated the same day you apply.
CareCredit is a healthcare credit card issued through Synchrony Bank and accepted at more than 25,000 veterinary locations nationwide. It functions as a dedicated line of credit for medical and health-related expenses, separate from your regular credit cards. Once you’re approved, you can use the same card at Great Plains Veterinary Clinic for any qualifying veterinary expense, and you can reuse it at future visits without reapplying.
You can check whether you prequalify at carecredit.com without any impact to your credit score. If you proceed with a full application and you’re approved, your credit line is available immediately. Our team can also send you a secure application link by text or email if you’d prefer to apply from your phone in the waiting room.
CareCredit offers promotional financing periods on qualifying purchases, meaning no interest is charged if the balance is paid in full before the promotional period ends. The detail worth knowing is that CareCredit uses deferred interest on some plans — if any balance remains when the period closes, interest is charged retroactively from the original purchase date. According to CareCredit’s own provider resources, financing options can help clients make care decisions based on what’s best for their pets rather than postponing treatment because of cost.
Scratchpay is a veterinary-specific financing platform built around installment loans rather than revolving credit. It does not require a credit card, and the eligibility check uses a soft credit inquiry with no impact to your credit score. Most applicants receive a decision in under two minutes. Here is how the process works from application to care.
Both programs get your pet treated today, but they work differently. Here’s a side-by-side look at the key distinctions.
There is no wrong choice here. Our team will explain both options clearly and let you decide what fits best.
Dr. Jessica Johnson opened this clinic because she wanted animals in this community to receive the kind of care she’d want for her own. Our clinic and team are built on the Montana values of straightforwardness and genuine investment in neighbors. Financing through CareCredit and Scratchpay is part of how we make sure the answer to “can my pet be seen today?” is yes, regardless of what a paycheck cycle looks like this week.
If you’d like to talk through your financing options before an upcoming appointment or have questions about a specific procedure’s estimated cost, contact our team and we’ll give you a clear, honest answer.
We’re happy to work with you to find a payment option that feels right for your situation. Just ask—we’re here to help make great care easier and more accessible.
Let’s work together to give your pet the happy, healthy life they deserve.
