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How Much Would You Spend to Save Your Pet’s Life? Here’s Where Americans Draw the Line.

A new survey finds most pet owners have a financial limit on veterinary care, even as rising costs force difficult decisions.

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Spoiling a dog with birthday cakes and a fancy bed is easy. Paying to have a sock surgically removed from its stomach can make you question every financial decision you’ve ever made.

A survey commissioned by Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and Money.com asked 1,542 American dog and cat owners about the financial realities of having pets. Some 77% consider their animals practically children, but 76% admitted there’s a price at which they’d consider turning down treatment their vet recommends. For about a third, that limit is under $1,000.

Healthy Paws obviously has an interest in getting people worried about vet bills, given that it sells pet insurance. But the cost of veterinary........

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