Several months ago, my friend Barbara nearly floated into my office to announce that she had finally purchased her tickets for an overseas trip that she had been wanting to take for many years. It was going to involve quite some expense, but it was most certainly a well-deserved vacation. She was now mentally and financially committed to it.

What Barbara couldn’t have known at the time was that, only about two weeks later, during a routine physical exam for her 12-year-old cocker spaniel, the vet would discover that Maggie had developed liver cancer. Surgery would be her best option, but it would cost at least $3,000 and possibly more if complications arose.

For Barbara, doing what’s best for her dogs has never been a question, even if it meant in this case returning her airline tickets and canceling her travel plans. She took Maggie home, cried a lot over the diagnosis, made the necessary appointments with the surgeon in Overland Park and then sat down at her computer to find a way to make it all work.

So many pet owners face this problem each year, and in today’s economic climate, it’s going to be a problem we’re going to see more and more often. Not everyone places a pet’s health concerns in the same category as those of human family members, and sometimes medical procedures for animals are considered luxuries more than necessities. For many of us, though, our pets are beloved family members, and as with any family members facing medical emergencies, we have to figure out how to make the payments necessary to keep them in the best health.

How, then, do we do what’s best when personal finances seem to prohibit an expensive procedure that might save our pet’s life?

The first step would be to find out the worst-case scenario in terms of dollars and then talk with your vet to determine whether she or he would be willing to work out a payment plan with you. Especially if you have been a long-time client, your vet might take your previous payment history into account and let you make installments each month toward the full cost.

Please remember, however, that the vets have to pay many of their own bills up front, in addition to paying wages and benefits for the staff members who help with every aspect of your pet’s care. It’s not fair to assume that your vet is wealthy and can carry everyone’s expenses for an extended period of time.

Those of us who are committed to caring for our pets no matter what know that even without medical emergencies, the costs of keeping a companion animal can be high. Those who can and prefer to plan a little ahead might consider pet insurance. I spent some time on the Internet to find out what kinds of costs we’re talking about for this. As you can imagine, pet insurance is a business like any other that relies on chance, and a lot of companies are willing to take such chances. The quotes I found, of course, varied based on the amount of coverage you choose, but you might expect to look at about $20 each month per dog for basic coverage of higher allowances and payouts (the unexpected: hospitalizations, accidents, surgeries) or $12 for lower coverage. This can be paired with wellness coverage that provides higher allowances and payouts (vaccinations, heartworm or flea control, neutering or dental work) for $22 more or lower coverage again for around $12. Cats ran about $4-$5 less per month.

As you check into the plans that work for you, consider that some companies give a small (very small) deduction for multiple animals. Also, some companies won’t cover older pets (age 10 and up).

My friend Barbara found her salvation in the fact that the surgeon she used carried a plan called CareCredit, which works not only for human medical and dental bills but for veterinary expenses as well. If you qualify, CareCredit is basically a credit card for medical purposes, but for bills up to certain amounts, you may take three, six or 12 months to repay them on a same-as-cash plan. Beware, though: Like any credit card company, the interest rates beyond that can be as high as 20 to 25 percent. Some of the veterinary offices in Lawrence use this or a similar plan; check with your vet to see what is available to you.

The unexpected will always arise, but of course the best health plan is a pro-active one. Have your pets spayed or neutered, feed them properly, don’t let them run loose, be regular with their vaccinations and dental cleanings, use the available preventatives for heartworms or fleas and ticks, and love and play with them regularly. These will help your pet have a consistently high quality of life.

— Sue Novak is a board member of the Lawrence Humane Society.