An Edinburgh dog owner has told how her beloved pet “vomited black liquid” after ingesting a ‘toxic substance’ on a daily walk.
Kasia Wawrzyniak has been forced to dip into her life savings in order to pay vet bills for poorly Gonzo following the terrifying incident on Leith Links.
The 33-year-old carer revealed her five-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier's condition rapidly deteriorated after they returned from their usual route amid fears he may have eaten rat poison.
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The pooch was finally discharged from specialist care at the Dick Vet Hospital for Small Animals when medics discovered evidence of internal bleeding requiring a blood transfusion.
However Kasia and her husband have been left with a four-figure vet bill for Gonzo's countless tests and the treatment he received.
She told the Daily Record: "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."
Gonzo was rushed to Braid Vets Hospital where it was suggested that he could have eaten "rat poison, or another toxic substance".
Despite undergoing tests, a heartbroken Kasia could see Gonzo's condition was not improving.
"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", she recalls.
"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.
It's believed he ingested a toxin or foreign object - but 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, who have been left with no safety net.
Kasia 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.
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“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.
"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", she said.
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
