The struggle to pay 'ridiculously expensive' vet bills

Harry is "such a perky, happy little dog", said his owner Melanie Gassmann

A dog owner has said she is "depressed" as she struggles to pay vet bills after "maxing out" her pet-insurance policy.

Melanie Gassmann's 18-month-old chihuahua-cross has been having treatment since he was three months old, after being born with deformed legs, costing more than £14,000.

It comes as a rescue charity says it is being "hammered" by vet bills.

In May, the Office for National Statistics estimated the cost of veterinary and other pet services had increased by around 50% since 2015, much higher than the overall rate of inflation.

The British Veterinary Association's president Dr Anna Judson said: “Vets provide highly specialised, tailored medical care for the UK’s animals but with no NHS for pets and therefore no subsidies to offset the true cost, prices can seem costly in comparison."

She explained while costs had risen in recent years due to factors like inflation, advances in medical diagnostics and treatments and changes in pet owners’ expectations added to the often unexpected costs.

Melanie Gassman described the vet costs as "ridiculously expensive", adding the consultation fee alone is £140 for the vet

Ms Gassmann, from Swindon, Wiltshire, felt a £7,000-per-year insurance policy would be "adequate", but has now set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for Harry's treatments "as a last resort".

"I've been so depressed. I can just cry at the drop of the hat," she said, adding she was "so grateful" to those who had donated.

Last year, Harry had an operation on both of his legs, which Ms Gassmann said used up the whole £7,000 for the first year.

This January, just as the pet insurance renewed, he was admitted for dental surgery to remove puppy teeth that had not fallen out naturally, which was quoted at £1,200.

'Astronomically expensive'

"While he was under anaesthetic they phoned me and said his blood wasn't clotting.

"Thankfully they saved him," Ms Gassmann said, but he has since been on steroids and chemotherapy and needs more treatment, and the £7,000 insurance pay-out is once again "maxed out".

Harry has costly regular blood count checks, including an upcoming "astronomically expensive blood test" of £265, she explained.

"The dream is that he will go into remission... and he will live a happy life, " Ms Gassmann added.

Ms Gassman believes pet insurance companies should offer higher pay-outs to reflect the high vet costs

Meanwhile, Bristol and Wales Cat Rescue has had to reduce the number of cats it takes in, "in an effort to reduce costs".

Trustee Margaret Brittan said they were "lucky" to be registered with a private vet that is "charity-minded" and gives them discounted prices.

She said: "We do use other vets as our foster homes are spread far and wide and the price differential is incredible."

The organisation can also no longer afford emergency out-of-hours care.

Ms Brittan added: "Sadly that does sometimes impact on the care our cats receive as they then have to wait until the morning to see our routine vet.

"At a time when more are being surrendered and abandoned than ever before, it's not ideal but we have little choice if we want to survive."

Bristol and Wales Cat Rescue said donations and adoptions were down as people struggle with the cost of living

Ms Brittan said: "Insurance premiums have risen and we often get asked to take on cats because owners can't afford their vet bills.

"There really should be a standardisation of costs across all vets," she added.

A petition set up by a pet owner calling for regulation to ensure fairer and more transparent vets bills has reached almost 130,000 signatures.

The Competition and Markets Authority is currently investigating the cost of veterinary services for household pets. It is due to publish its findings later this year.

Dr Judson added many pet owners now want to pursue treatment options for illnesses "when in the past they may have instead chosen to have their pet euthanised".

“Whilst fees reflect the investment needed to keep practices financially viable and open, we recognise more can be done to improve client choice."

She said the veterinary profession was "actively looking at how we can be more transparent about both pricing and practice ownership, to ensure our clients can make an informed choice".