My husband and I have 2 Siberian Huskies that we consider part of the family – almost like kids to us. I would do whatever is necessary to to get them the medical care that they need. We have both of our dogs on an insurance plan through PetSmart. It costs us about $50 a month to have both dogs insured. It is well worth the money – it has saved us over $1,200 so far, and that is just on routine care – physicals, shots, yearly lab work, etc. Plus we can take the dogs to the vet anytime we have a question or problem with them throughout the year, at no charge. You really should consider getting pet insurance if you are going to own a pet – it will save you a lot of money in the long run, and it will give you peace of mind knowing that if something should happen to your pet, you will be able to afford to give it the medical attention it needs. Shop around for prices on the insurance though, because prices vary. At PetSmart you can get pet insurance for around $25.00 a month per pet. Good luck with your dog.