How much would you pay to cure a sick dog?

It's a tough question that most pet owners have to face at some time or another: How much can you afford to spend on healthcare for your pet?

Most of us would like to be "whatever it takes" kind of people, but in a recession, how realistic is it to fork over thousands of dollars to give your pet an extra six months -- or even two years?

Writer Emily Green struggles with this  issue when her dog Clunk gets sick and the vet recommends a $7,000 course of radiation therapy. Read her take on vet bills and how much is too much.

--Deborah Netburn

Photo: A cocker spaniel suffering from parvovirus is treated at the San Diego Humane Society. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times