What do you do when your dog is sick?

I almost fainted today at the vet. It was awful. My dog has very bad gum disease.. abscessed tooth. Poor thing. He got shots and still can't walk to well after all of them. It's hard having pets. I don't think I'll let my kids get one. It's too painful to watch them get old so fast. I can't imagine and  don't want to know what its like to have kids anytime soon either!!
I'm definitely grateful that It wasn't anything too serious that couldn't be treated right away. -Thank you St. Francis!!