A woman spent her life savings to save her sick dog after he began vomiting 'black liquid' following a walk. Kasia Wawrzyniak, 33, was left fearing for her beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier Gonzo when he fell unwell after a walk.
The pair had returned from their usual route near their home when Gonzo began vomiting black liquid. Gonzo was rushed to a veterinary hospital, where it was suggested that he could have eaten rat poison, or another toxic substance. And despite undergoing tests, his condition initially did not show any signs of improvement, the Daily Record reports.
Vets discovered evidence of internal bleeding, which left Gonzo needing a blood transfusion. He was discharged after six days but Kasia and her husband have been left with a four-figure vet bill for the countless tests and treatment he needed.
She said: "He was vomiting in the house and it was pure black, then when he went to the toilet it turned totally black, too. It was really scary, there was just black liquid. I was thinking ‘is that black or am I just imagining that?’
"Before that happened, there weren't any symptoms that suggested something was seriously wrong. We were told on the third day that he was still not doing any good. We thought they were asking us to go and see our dog for the last time. His face was very swollen, it was double the size of what it looks like normally."
Vets have since told his owners they suspected Gonzo's bleeding was due to damage to his stomach/intestinal lining. While it is believed he ingested a toxin or foreign object, they have not yet been able to rule out inflammation or cancer in the stomach or intestine lining.
Kasia, who doesn't have children and says Gonzo is her 'baby', paid out around £3,000 upfront and still has more to pay. The cost has depleted the couple's savings and they have been left with no financial safety net.
She said: "I’ve spent all my savings trying to save him. How many people can spend thousands in one day? I just wanted them to do whatever they had to do.
“It’s my dog's life, he’s nearly six, and we call him a puppy. We were just hoping they weren’t going to call us with bad news, I wasn't able to work because any time I thought about it I started to cry. It’s been horrible days and hours.”
The family has now launched a fundraiser to help with a portion of the cost. Kasia admits she wishes she had insured Gonzo when she had the chance and not put it off.
She said: "I’m punching myself for not getting insurance. We had meant to insure him but we couldn't decide on who to go with and we thought nothing will happen. That all changed very quickly."
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
In Your Area has news and events tailored to the postcode where you live.
