A devastating outbreak of infectious hepatitis has claimed the lives of two of beloved Labrador puppies and has left a Croydon couple with an overwhelming vet bill as they did everything they could to save the rest of the litter.

Adam Leake, 34, and his partner Georgian Florea, 25, paid almost £23,000 in medical expenses while fighting to save their litter of puppies.

In March, Adam and Georgian’s Labradors, Emma and Oliver, welcomed a litter of six puppies - but the joy was short-lived as Chartreuse, one of the puppies, fell ill unexpectedly.

Despite immediate medical attention, Chartreuse succumbed to what was suspected to be infectious hepatitis, a highly aggressive viral infection.

Determined to protect the remaining puppies, the couple rushed the entire litter to the vet for treatment.

Adam told Your Local Guardian: "When they were five or six weeks old, they started to look really sick.

"They began to have weepy eyes, looked shaky, and appeared very unwell. We had no idea what was wrong with them."

Unfortunately, they lost Solstice to the same infection soon after.

The quick action and medical care ensured that the remaining four puppies recovered fully.

However, the financial toll of the extensive vet care has left the couple struggling to cope with nearly £23,000 in vet bills.

This includes several days of overnight stays at the vet, intensive treatments, and a post-mortem for Solstice that helped save the others.

Adam added: “We had no idea what it was because all the tests were coming back negative.

“When Solstice died, we got a post-mortem done, but we didn't get the results for another week and a bit.

“So, we just kept treating them without knowing what was causing these symptoms. The costs kept going up and up.

“We knew we had to do the right thing for the animals because once you're invested and you care for them, you just have to keep going.

“We were pretty much crying every day. Sometimes, we were driving 100 miles a day, going from one place to another, and then taking one to the post-mortem place as soon as one died.

“It felt like we were losing one every day or every other day. It was unbearable."

The staff at Streatham Hill Vets played a crucial role, providing round-the-clock care which helped save the puppies’ lives.

Adam explained: "The staff were absolutely amazing. I mean, we weren't even registered, but they took the puppies without question.

“The staff were very knowledgeable and truly cared for the animals. They were dedicated, whether the puppies were doing well or very poorly.

"Honestly, that was such a massive help, and they were available 24 hours, constantly checking on the puppies and caring for them through the night. It was really amazing what they did."

Despite the tragedy, the couple found solace in the recovery of the surviving puppies and they have found wonderful homes for three of the puppies and are considering keeping Violet, who has become a symbol of resilience and hope.

To manage these expenses, Adam and Georgian have set up a GoFundMe page, asking for any donation, no matter how small.

Adam and Georgian also emphasize the importance of vaccinating pets against infectious diseases like hepatitis.

Early vaccination and healthcare can prevent such heartbreaking incidents, and they advise pet owners to ensure their pets are insured early, especially if they have a pregnant dog or a new litter.

Adam added: "If you have a pregnant dog and you're breeding dogs, don't do it for the money. Often, the costs will outweigh any profits.

“Focus on caring for the dogs, and if it costs as much to get them well as you can sell them for, then that's just how it is. We decided that we would prioritize their well-being no matter the expense.

“The first vet bill estimate was low, so we thought we could manage. I'm a teacher, and Georgia works in hospitality. We don't earn a lot of money.

“We knew we'd have to tighten our belts for the next three to five years to get through it. It’s a lot of money for us, and we're really going to struggle to pay it off. At the moment, it's £800 a month.

“It means a lot to us to do the right thing for our animals, no matter the cost. We believe it's always the right thing to do.

“We want people to be aware of hepatitis because it can seriously affect dogs, especially if they're not vaccinated.

“Our puppies probably got it so early that they weren’t vaccinated yet. You can vaccinate your dogs from four weeks old.”

To support Adam and Georgian in covering their vet expenses, donations can be made through their GoFundMe page.