Almost 70 percent of American families have pets, and in any given year, about 1 in 3 of them needs emergency treatment. The average cost for unplanned veterinary care is 8 hundred to 15 hundred dollars — and that doesn’t account for hospitalization or surgery. Only about 4 out of 10 Americans have the savings to absorb emergency costs like that.

If you think it can’t happen to your pet, you could find yourself unprepared and facing some tough decisions. That’s why financial advisors recommend adding emergency pet care expenses to a monthly budget. In fact, a good rule of thumb is to squirrel away at least 5 thousand dollars in emergency savings for your pet.

Pet insurance can be a big help too. The bottom line is to have the freedom to do what’s best for your buddy — without the bottom line tripping you up.