Financing Fido

If you're thinking of getting a new furry friend to keep you company after your little birdies have left the nest, make sure you've left room for them in your budget. Last year alone Americans spent $19.9 billion dollars on veterinary care, supplies and over-the-counter medicines.

Americans are taking better care of their pets than ever before, and thanks to the advent of everything from doggie vitamins to kitty CAT scans, they're living longer, too. But with age comes additional expense. One woman in Washington, DC spent $14,000 on two surgeries to treat her eight-year-old Husky's cancer.

Now that you won't be spending as much money on your child, you might have some wiggle room in your budget. However, its important to consider what type of pet you're getting. Pure breeds tend to have more health problems and treatments for less common pets like rabbits or iguanas tend to be more expensive. [Washington Post]