We have a "pet budget" we add to each week. For the most part it covers our pet expenses. Emergencies often come out of our savings account or put on a credit card.

One evening, back in March, my dog Nova ripped her stomach open. A loose nail on our back porch had popped up and we hadn't noticed it. Nova's belly got caught on the nail and really did some damage. She spent the night in the emergency clinic and was transferred to our regular vet the next morning. It was a full 2 months, and more than $4000 before she was better. That really drained us. She's doing great now though!