Don't let vet bills leave you in the dog house

When her dog Liza starting having seizures, Alison Taub was alone at home for the first time since having major surgery — and her regular vet was closed for the weekend.

The problem turned out to be in Liza's heart. "The emergency vet was actually a specialist in heart problems and pacemakers which was really lucky," she said. "But they were also very expensive and demanded money upfront."

Taub had to leave a $2,000 deposit before treatment could begin — treatment that would eventually add up to almost $6,000. The only bright side of the otherwise bad timing? Taub had just signed up for a CareCredit health credit card to pay for her own surgery, a card that was also accepted by the vet.

"The emergency vet had a 3-month interest free option set up, so I knew I had some time to work it all out," said Taub, of Lake Forest, Calif.

Veterinary medicine can do amazing things nowadays, like implant a pacemaker though a dog's jugular vein — treatment that Taub said "had a huge effect." But the bills can be equally astonishing, especially when we're all worried about the economy.

It helps to plan ahead and know what your options are:

MANAGING YOUR FINANCES:

— Before you get a pet, make sure you understand what your expenses will be, says Anna Worth, president of the American Animal Hospital Association. The initial cost of a puppy or kitten — whether it's a thousand dollars for a purebred or a smaller fee from a shelter — is a small fraction of the lifetime care costs.

— Consider pet health insurance. A couple of places to start: the guide to plans recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association (www.healthypet.com/sealbuyersguide.aspx), and the insurance plans offered by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspcapetinsurance.com).

The ASPCA offers options starting with an accident-only plan at $7.50/month for cats and $9.50/month for dogs, and part of the proceeds from each plan go to support the work of the ASPCA.

— A health credit card may help you manage you cash flow. Vets who accept the CareCredit card, for example, may offer payment plans with no-interest periods starting at three months.