[Connie]

You are not going to believe this...that something so horrid could happen in the hands of what is supposed to be a competent veterinarian. My daughter works with a lady who has become friends with us. She got a yorkie/maltese not long after I got Maddie. She named him Scruffy, which fits him so well. She brought Scruffy in a little over a week ago to have him neutered. One of his testicles hadn't dropped, so it was a little more complicated than the normal neutering, but all seemed to go well. About a week later, she noticed something on the skin of his back and feared he had mange. She took him back to the vet and they also thought it was mange and told her to bring her cat in. When she did, the cat was clean and then they asked her to bring Scruffy back in because they were wondering if he may have been burned from the heater they use during surgery. She brought him in and the vet shaved his back to disclose HUGE, thick scabs and then said the scabs have to come off and ripped one off. At that time, Lorna, (the owner), picked up Sruffy and said she wasn't going to allow them to rip the scabs off. She then took him to another vet who immediately knew what was wrong because she had just seen another dog who had had surgery the same day as Scruffy that was burned all up and down her back. She gave medication for Scruffy and said that eventually they would have to put him under and remove the scabs. They are 3rd degree burns...so deep! I saw scruffy last night and nearly cried when I saw him. The scabs were so huge and thick and hard and infection was pushing them upwards. Lorna took him back to the new vet this morn because the burns were getting worse and the vet had to put him under and remove the scabs. Lorna brought him home this afternoon, but the poor little thing...the burns were getting worse, so she had to bring him back there tonight and the vet is keeping him drugged and taking him home with her. She said this will be a 4-6 week recovery and that he will have to be put under 3 or 4 more times to remove scabs. That vet will be researching and consulting a University Vet place regarding Scruffy and the other dog that was burned. The vet also said that it's possible he will have bald spots once recovered...that the hair may not grow back in those areas. Lorna is beside herself with grief and has even wondered if she should get Scruffy put to sleep. The new vet told her not to even think in that area right now...that she is to think positive and hopefully there will be a good outcome.

Tonight Lorna called the vet who did the surgery...his wife answered and Lorna said she needed to talk to her husband, and when she kept insisting she needed to talk to him, his wife hung up on Lorna. I can't believe it! I am so upset over what they did and now won't even talk to her on the phone. Lorna is going to get a lawyer and do what she can to get that clinic shut down. It is Minot Veterinary Clinic in Minot, ND. Anyone with any suggestions for Lorna, please post and I'll pass it on to her. I told her to find a lawyer who has a puppy of his own whom he adores! Also, please, if you would, pray for poor little Scruffy and Lorna. Funny how we all worry when we take our little ones in for surgery...the normal fears about them coming out of the anesthesia and all...never in my wildest dreams could I have come up with worrying about anything this bizzare!