Going on a trip can be so much fun. While planning, packing and making arrangements for someone to watch the house or take care of the pets, the excitement builds.

Before you know it, you’re in the car or on the plane traveling to your destination.

Man's best friend may land him in the emergency room!

But if you’re a pet owner, there’s one kind of trip you never want to take: a tumble over your dog or cat!

Not exactly a vacation—but a very real problem many pet owners don’t take seriously enough.

Most people have experienced near-misses with their pets…nearly stepping on the dog glued to their feet as they cook over the stove, or almost tripping on the dog as he runs down the stairs just ahead.

But if you’re one of the more than 86,000 people who land in emergency room every year because you’ve tripped over your pet, you realize just how dangerous pets really are underfoot.

And the home isn’t the only place pet-related falls occur. They can also happen outside the home. For instance, if your dog becomes too excited while out for his daily walk, you could trip over his leash—or the curb—as he surges to chase another animal.

Bad weather only accentuates the problem, especially for the elderly, who lack balance and peripheral vision, says Idaho-based veterinarian Marty Becker. If they start to trip, Becker says, seniors can’t catch themselves.

This is “the same group who trips on throw rugs,” he adds.

According to Dr. Richard O’Brien of the American College of Emergency Physicians, fractures of the ankle or wrist are the most common injuries doctors see in emergency rooms. But a senior who falls may break a hip, leading to a myriad of other health issues.

Then there’s the matter of cost. Though your health insurance company may recognize the fact that your beloved dog or cat provides unconditional love and helps keep your blood pressure and stress levels at bay, it may raise your rates if you trip over your pet and land yourself in the hospital one time too many.

So watch out for your beloved tabby, do what you can to help avoid injury, and keep yourself and your family safe from the hazard of pet-tripping.

A stay in the hospital is no one’s idea of a vacation!