When Caitlyn Isham got her pet pig, Porkchop, six years ago, her large family had just welcomed three stair-step newborns.

I had nephews born in May, June and July,” said Isham, a 37-year-old Chicago resident. “I got Porkchop later in the fall and said, ‘Here’s my contribution to the family.'”

With 14 nieces and nephews, Isham said she’s “not short on the baby aspect.” And much like her siblings, she’s a devoted, caring parent — her child just has hooves.

Porkchop snuggles in bed with Isham at night; Isham makes sure his diet is top-notch; she’s on top of his veterinarian visits; Porkchop has his own room in the apartment (Isham’s old walk-in closet, which she converted); he has ample toys and entertainment; and he even pouts or throws a tantrum here and there.

“I treat him like my child,” Isham said, and one thing that comes along with children: an exorbitant amount of expenses — seen and unforeseen.

Recent data from an August 2019 LendingTree survey found that approximately 42% of the millennials surveyed have been in pet-related debt. Nearly 1 in 10 are currently paying it off.

The survey questioned 760 pet owners during the first three days of July 2019. The goal was to see how pet owners pay for their animals, especially when a surprise expense pops up.

Brianna Wright, lead researcher of the study, said that the debt comes down to a millennial’s net worth and discretionary income.

“Higher salaries come as you get older,” said Wright, a consumer research specialist at LendingTree, “so millennials may have student loan debt or other things (to pay for), so finding money for their animal in an emergency might be impossible to do without taking on debt; they might not have a choice.”

Since Porkchop is a pig, Isham has to go to a “special vet,” Isham said. “He’s basically the only vet in the area (suitable for Porkchop), so I have no choice; I can’t shop around for a better deal.” Porkchop’s last visit cost $800.

Isham has a designated CareCredit credit card for Porkchop’s veterinarian visits, which she can pay in six months to a year with no financing, she said.

“But that’s the only way I can afford him because of payment plans and things like that,” Isham said. “I don’t have money like that laying around.”

The survey found that a credit card was the most common form of payment among millennials for emergency pet expenses, Wright said.

“Members of GenX and Boomers were more likely to pay for expenses using a credit card too, but they may have been able to pay off the balance in full before the month so it didn’t incur any debt,” Wright explained.

Katie Reynolds, a 36-year-old dog mom to three special needs Pomeranians — Rachel, Oliver and Parker — has experienced a pet emergency. She says CareCredit and pet insurance have been “so helpful” for her and her husband financially, and a large part of the reason they’re able to care for three dogs.

“When Oliver was 14 months, he got into Parker’s (medication) and overdosed,” she recalled. “He spent almost two weeks in ICU and insurance paid 90% back on that. We rely a lot on insurance.”

More millennials have pet insurance than Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, according to the survey, yet the avocado toast eaters still somehow have the most debt. That discrepancy makes sense when you think about how pet insurance works, Wright said.

“A pet’s age and breed plays a big role in the rates you get, and what is and is not covered,” she explained, “and insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions.”

Some companies require you to pay a deductible before insurance kicks in, and sometimes the deductible can be $1,000, Wright added. “Some millennials will need to take on debt just to meet the deductible. Other insurance companies make you pay for expenses up front then file for a reimbursement.”

The insurance process for Reynolds has “been pretty smooth” and she’s “very lucky in that.” She also finds a bit of financial relief by bringing her dogs to the pet hospital where she works for treatments and surgeries.

On Sept. 18, Oliver had a total hip replacement, a surgery that typically costs about $10,000. While Reynolds received an employee discount, she still paid “a good amount.”

“He was our fall vacation,” Reynolds said jokingly. “He needed it so we changed (our plans) around and are no longer going to Dollywood (in Tennessee).”

She added, “Our dogs are our children. We love and respect them as beings, and think they deserve the best we can give them.”