But see here’s the thing. Having pets is a privelege. It is not a right. Ergo, if you can’t afford basic care and the occasional emergency, you shouldn’t have a pet. People don’t buy cars when they can’t afford them, so why should a pet be any different? Yeah, some vets allow payment plans, and that’s all fine and dandy, but if you’re faced with a severe injury (eg. broken limb, necrosis, infection of any kind, etc.) and you can’t afford to treat it, you either need to euthanize that animal (because it’s the HUMANE thing to do. Self diagnosing and treatment is wrong and inhumane and can be ANIMAL CRUELTY when you do it wrong) or get it to someone who can afford it.
Don’t love having a pet more than you love the actual animal. Do what’s best for the animal, not what is best for your wants. That’s what you do when you really love and care about your animal.