You've welcomed your newest family member into your house, you've acquired all the necessary items, like a dog bed, leash and collar, gotten him a physical exam and shots and begun dog training classes. All is going well and there's no reason to think about trouble, right? Wrong.

The vast majority of cats and dogs will require more than just preventative medical attention at some stage in their lifetime. It might be something comparatively unimportant, like an allergy or a broken bone, or it could be major, like a car accident or cancer. It could crop up while your dog is young and seemingly hale and hearty, or it might come as he gets older. Your beloved canine might see the doctor only a few times over the years, or she could be one of those that your vet recognizes on sight.

The trouble with this, of course, is the uncertainty. If you knew that your Labrador would experience the typical amount of medical problems, you could find out what the average lifetime vet bill is for a Labrador Retriever, and put cash aside every month to cover the costs.