Veterinary Care Financial Assistance for Chronically Ill Pets

We help eligible families afford ongoing veterinary care for dogs and cats living with one of five covered chronic conditions. At this time, we are unable to provide support for emergency or urgent veterinary care.

Program at a Glance

We offer financial assistance up to $10,000 per condition (per year), for up to five years, for Santa Clara County families managing a dog or cat’s chronic illness. Approved invoices are paid directly to the treating veterinary clinic. Please check the list of approved chronic conditions in the section below.

Applicants must provide:

  • A confirmed diagnosis
  • A recommended treatment plan
  • Medical records supporting the diagnosis and prognosis
  • Demonstrated financial need
  • Ability to cover 25% of monthly treatment costs for the chronic illness

We can help pay for:

  • Prescription medications and supplies
  • Clinically required prescription diets
  • Routine rechecks and medication adjustments
  • Scheduled lab work, monitoring, and clinically required imaging

Note: We are working very hard in the background to make this program accessible by April 2027.

A brown and white dog is being examined by a veterinarian.

Before You Apply – Please Read the Requirements Carefully:

We want to make this process as smooth as possible for you. Before applying, please read this page carefully and submit all the required information and documents listed below. Missing information may delay the review of your application.

We will be in touch by email within two business days after receiving your completed application. If you do not hear from us within that time, please check your spam folder before reaching out. If you have questions about the program or are unsure whether you qualify, please email us at support@dieselsfootprint.org. We are happy to help.

Our financial assistance program currently supports five chronic conditions that require consistent, ongoing care. A confirmed diagnosis is needed before applying. For an approved condition, assistance may help with the following treatment and routine monitoring expenses.

Diabetes Mellitus

Eligible care may include insulin and supplies, prescribed therapeutic food, glucose curves, fructosamine testing, urinalysis, and periodic bloodwork.

Addison’s Disease

Eligible care may include DOCP or fludrocortisone, glucocorticoid therapy, electrolyte testing, dose-adjustment and bloodwork.

Chronic Hepatitis in Dogs

Eligible care may include hepatoprotectants, immunomodulators, or chelation therapy when recommended; prescribed therapeutic food; liver panels; bile-acid testing; and periodic imaging.

Congestive Heart Failure or Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Eligible care may include prescribed cardiac medications, recheck examinations, respiratory-rate monitoring, bloodwork, and imaging.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Eligible care may include a prescribed renal diet, phosphate binders, blood-pressure or proteinuria medication, subcutaneous fluids, renal staging, and routine monitoring.

We understand how difficult it can be to seek help for a pet you love. If your pet’s diagnosis is not included on this list, we are so sorry that we cannot assist with treatment costs at this time. Our Cooperative Care Training and Pet Caregiver Support Groups are available to all families caring for a pet with a chronic illness.

  • The initial specialist consultation.
  • The diagnostic workup used to establish the diagnosis
  • Emergency, crisis, or after-hours veterinary care
  • Hospitalization
  • Treatment of complications unless the complication separately qualifies as another covered condition
  • Care provided by anyone other than a licensed veterinary specialist.
  • Care for an unrelated illness or injury
  • Routine or preventive veterinary care
  • Nonprescription supplements that have not been recommended by your veterinarian
  • Surgery or another one-time definitive treatment
  • Palliative or hospice services
  • Euthanasia or aftercare
  • Treatment completed before approval, including care listed on an estimate you have already signed and approved with your clinic.
  • Routine or preventive care, including vaccinations, spay or neuter, parasite preventives, dental treatment, reproductive or breeding evaluations, breeding-related complications, cosmetic procedures and their complications, emergencies, and surgeries.

  • Live in Santa Clara County, California, and provide proof of residency.
  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Be your pet’s primary caregiver.
  • Have a household income that falls within the federal poverty guidelines.
  • Provide documentation of financial need, such as tax returns or proof of government assistance.
  • Have applied for CareCredit or ScratchPay and been denied or approved for less than the cost of treatment.
  • Have no other available resources, including savings, stocks, or bonds, that could cover the treatment.
  • Be able to contribute 25% of the monthly treatment costs.
  • Pay for your pet’s initial examination at the partner clinic.
  • Have a treatment plan focused on managing the chronic condition.
  • Apply before approving or receiving veterinary services or treatment. We cannot cover services included in an estimate you have already signed and approved.
  • Participate in a brief follow-up interview and allow us to share your pet’s story, which may include photographs, for community awareness and fundraising.

  • Be a dog or cat.
  • Have a confirmed diagnosis of one of the five covered conditions.
  • Have an ongoing treatment and monitoring plan.
  • Meet the program’s clinical criteria based on prognosis and expected quality of life.

There is no fixed age limit. Each pet is reviewed individually.

The treating veterinarian or specialty practice:

  • May be located anywhere within the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
  • Must provide current medical records, a treatment plan, and an itemized annual estimate.
  • Must agree to submit invoices to Diesel’s FootPrint and accept payment directly.

1. Apply After Diagnosis

Send us the required financial and veterinary documents. Your application is complete once we have received everything. We will let you know if anything is missing.

2. We Complete Our Review

Our veterinary and financial review begins when your file is complete. A decision is usually made within two business days.

3. Assistance Is Calculated

Approved assistance is based on the itemized annual estimate and the remaining cost after your 25% contribution, CareCredit, Scratchpay, and any other assistance you receive.

4. Your Veterinary Practice Is Paid

Eligible, documented invoices are paid directly to the participating veterinary practice, generally within 30 days. We cannot reimburse families directly, so please wait for approval before paying out of pocket.

  • Household financial eligibility is reviewed once each year.
  • Clinical eligibility is renewed for each condition on its anniversary.
  • A second covered diagnosis requires a separate application and clinical approval.
  • Please notify us within 30 days if your household income changes, you move outside Santa Clara County, you change veterinary practices, or your enrolled pet passes away.

A Tribute to Diesel

The Veterinary Care Financial Assistance Program honors Diesel, who was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at just six months old and lived for another nine and a half years.

Over the years, he also navigated hypothyroidism, autoimmune neutropenia, inflammatory bowel disease, and immune-mediated polyarthritis. He underwent a splenectomy and experienced several emergencies and hospitalizations. His care required daily medication, regularly scheduled bloodwork, dose adjustments, and ongoing monitoring.

Through it all, Diesel had a good life. He was happy, comfortable, and fully himself for nearly 9 years after receiving a serious diagnosis before his first birthday. This program was created to help make those years possible for other pets by supporting the ongoing care their families may not be able to afford alone.