(Aging Untold) - Planning for a beloved pet as we age and life changes - whether through illness, hospitalization or other unexpected events - should be just as important as planning for anything else we care about.

However, many pet owners overlook this crucial step until it's too late.

"You hear so many pet owners and pet lovers that will say, 'They're like my children,'" Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist, said.