More than a month ago my lab Task had some serious gastrointestinal health problems, which first started to manifest in bloody vomiting on empty stomach more times per day – already a serious signal that there’s something really wrong, so I took him to the local vet as soon as I could. After many investigations and thorough veterinarian examination (vets were doing all sorts of tests on him, trying to exclude potential causes of his problems) they excluded options such as eating a foreign object and poisoning.

However, these tests weren’t so cheap, but money wasn’t a question for me, I just wanted my dog to be ok. To worse things up, a bloody diarrhea appeared three days later, and vets again didn’t exactly know what the problem was. They prepared me also for the worst to happen; because it seemed to them that option my dog to have cancer was not to be excluded.

At the end, after some more tests and consulting with other vets they found out that there must be two causes of my dog’s problems – Helicobacter Pylori infection was causing vomiting and stomach ache as well as ulcers which were causing bloody vomiting and food allergies were causing bloody stool. After more than a month of medical treatment and 3 weeks of antibiotic treatment and food change my lab Task now feels better, but still not totally ok. But I’m happy that he feels better and that he’s more vivid again. After this horrible month was over, when I couldn’t sleep well at all as Task was having biggest troubles at night or very early in the morning, I felt relief that situation is now stabilized.

Financial result of this treatment was 400 €. And this was a reasonable cost, because I know our local vet very well so he offered me quite a discount for my dog. But for some other people this might seem a fortune.

When I got myself a dog I knew all about potential veterinarian costs and accepted this as a possible fact that might happen also to me. And this wasn’t the first not the last veterinarian expense for my dog. Task has many health problems, such as food allergies, arthritis and spinal problems, our veterinarian costs are quite high. Only for this year, if I do the sum up, all together probably around 1.000 €. And this is without food and other things, only for the veterinarian service and treatment.

I know it’s a lot of money, but my dog is part of my family and I voluntarily accepted the responsibility to take care of him, also when he’s sick. It is true that a dog can cost a fortune. But I’m aware of that and I will do my best to help my dog when he is in need.

Check also Costs of having a dog.