My dog just died. Case of malpractice?

by **baigh** » Fri May 18, 2012 8:31 pm

Last weekend, my wife and I visited her mother for Mothers' Day. We boarded our German Shepard for the weekend at the safest place we can think of - the local Vet Clinic which we frequent. We pick him up that Monday to find him ill. Doc tells me he has been puking and had the liquid poos. We took him home thinking it is a stomach bug, but he was out of his usual self. Confused, lethargic, weak. The next morning we readmit him. The vet placed him under IVs and has him stay to monitor progress. 2 days pass. This morning they ran an xray. They find a bockage in the intestines. I give them the green light to perform surgery to removed said blockage. They find an important portion of his intestine extremely infected, near dead. Three options - 1. Take him to a larger hospital for extensive surgery 2. Removed dead intestine, possibly shortening his lifespan. 3. Place him on antibodies until result from biopsy reveal source of infection. I opt for 3 based on financial conerns ($1800 at this point, no insurance). As they close my dog up, he crashes and dies. First and foremost, I miss my best friend, and the hole in my heart cannot be replaced. Second, why did they make me pay for what I feel they may have caused while he was boarded? They did give me a 20% discount....probably to prevent me from asking questions like this on Yahoo. What can I do? What should I do?

by **menw** » Fri May 18, 2012 8:37 pm

What caused the blockage? If it was something they gave them, you could sue. Your best bet is to talk to a lawyer about this.

by **tredway** » Fri May 18, 2012 8:39 pm

What caused the blockage? If it was something they gave them, you could sue. Your best bet is to talk to a lawyer about this.

ASK them what happened while he was in THEIR care..

A blockage....WHAT was causing the BLOCKAGE???

I would NOT let them get away with this..

They owe you a LOT of answers!!!

by **felabeorbt** » Fri May 18, 2012 8:47 pm

Not much. Wait a few months and look for another pet.

by **kendon19** » Fri May 18, 2012 8:53 pm

Oh man I am so sorry:( I would find out what caused the blockage and it if it was something he got while in their care sue them for the medical bills. Unfortunately that is all you can really sue them for but you can file a complaint with the veterinary review board for your state. That totally sucks and again I am so sorry.

by **seme22** » Fri May 18, 2012 9:02 pm

I'm sorry for your families loss. If they caused the death of the dog then go after them! They need to be held responsible.

by **maddox** » Fri May 18, 2012 9:08 pm

The discount was almost certainly due to the dog's death during treatment, and I believe it is common. I have had a few pets die or wind up needing to be euthanized while under treatment of a vet (and definitely NOT the fault of the vet), and received discounts from 20-40% on their outstanding bills in each case. Also, when cause of the animal's death or illness was undiagnosed, the vets I have used have all done free necropsies as they wanted to establish the cause and expand their knowledge, in case it can help a future patient.

If you believe the issue that caused the dog's death to be the fault of the vet, pick up the body and take it to another vet for a necropsy. If you want to pursue the vet for compensation, you will need to PROVE that the condition was a result of care they provided or failed to provide while your dog was boarded. Of course, you could have the necropsy done and find out that the vet had nothing to do with it, or find out that they can't determine what caused it at all. If that's the case, you'd be out not only the bill, but also the cost of the necropsy and tests needed to establish cause. So, its a gamble, and a decision you'll have to make as to whether to pursue it or not.

by **cleirach70** » Fri May 18, 2012 9:22 pm

If the dog had an intestinal obstruction it was present before you boarded him at the vets. The fact that part of the intestine was already necrotic is proof of that. This doesn't happen over a period of 2 days. Symptoms of an intestinal blockage take a few days to become evident.

The first symptom is usually that the dog becomes restless. It won't settle in one place but keeps laying down, moving from place to place trying to get comfortable. Often this symptom it not noticed by the owner.

I guess when you say 'antibodies' you mean the dog was placed on antibiotics, which is normal procedure after surgery. Usually vets will prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic until pathology results are in and they know which particular bacteria that's causing the infection.

I'm so sorry you lost your dog. The vet should have contacted for your permission to treat the dog when they saw he had vomiting and diarrhea. Did they have your contact number?

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