£6k costs as vet bills spiral, dog owner warns

A dog owner has warned pet owners how quickly vet bills can spiral after his dog's life-saving treatment left him nearly £6,000 out of pocket despite having insurance.

JD, a nine-year-old malamute from Gillingham, Kent, was diagnosed with a rare blood condition and required intensive care, blood transfusions and specialist treatment which pushed total costs beyond a £10,000 policy limit.

Owner Robert Catchlove said the bills "escalated far beyond anything we could have anticipated", forcing him to take out a loan to cover the shortfall.

"Never underestimate how quickly things can change and always trust your instincts if you feel something isn't right with your pet," he said.

In November 2023, JD was diagnosed with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP), a condition which causes dangerously low platelet levels and he can relapse without warning.

His most recent relapse was the most severe, involving complications from treatment which resulted in a stay in intensive care after an adverse reactions to medication.

Catchlove is warning dog owners to look out for the symptoms of IMTP including unexplained bruising, bleeding, tiny red spots on the skin, blood in the urine or stool, or unusual lethargy.

"Early diagnosis and treatment can make a huge difference," he said, adding the specialist care JD had received had been "excellent", with frequent clinical updates.

However, he said cost information was only shared intermittently until the bill had already escalated.

JD will now need lifelong monitoring, including regular blood tests and possible ongoing steroid treatment to prevent further relapses.

Insurance covered part of the treatment, but the policy's cap, excess fees and a 20% contribution requirement due to JD's age meant thousands of pounds still fell to the owners to pay.

Catchlove said the policy terms had been clearly explained when it was taken out.

"Having insurance made a huge difference, as without it many of the life-saving treatments JD received simply would not have been possible," he said.

Reforms from the UK's competition watchdog came in March, which capped written veterinary prescription fees at £21 and practices have to publish their service prices.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recommended the changes after a UK-wide investigation found veterinary prices had been rising at nearly twice the rate of inflation.

Catchlove said he and wife Julie have always had pet insurance and provided for their dogs.

"But JD's specialist care, hospitalisation and blood transfusions have exceeded our remaining insurance cover," he said.

"Emotionally, it has been one of the hardest experiences we've ever been through.

"JD has been part of our family for many years and there were points during his hospital stay when we genuinely didn't know if he was going to make it.

"The constant updates, specialist treatment, blood transfusions and uncertainty have been exhausting for both of us.

"We also have our other dog, Mollie, who is battling cancer herself, so it has been an incredibly difficult time for our family."

JD's owners have shared his story on Instagram and raised just over £800 through an online fundraiser.

He is now "home and continuing his recovery, but his journey is not over", Catchlove said.

"The support has honestly been overwhelming in the best possible way.

"During some very dark days, knowing that so many people were rooting for JD gave us strength and hope when we needed it most."

Southfields Veterinary Specialists said it was unable to comment on individual cases.

A spokesperson said it was "committed to delivering the best possible care for every patient, and to ensuring pet owners have clear information about treatment options and estimated costs throughout their pet's journey with us".

The family's insurance company Ageas said it was "very sorry to hear about our customer's dog being unwell and appreciate that advances in veterinary care mean treatment costs can be substantial in complex cases".

It said its policies "support ongoing conditions" with an annual veterinary fee limit "higher than the market average", adding its excess is "comparatively low".

It said it cannot comment on individual cases but added they "wished their pet a speedy recovery".

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