Anyone have experience going after a Vet?

[mismolly]

I am soooo NOT one to sue anyone. Have never in my life. But now it seems that everyone is doing anything but their job when it comes to Molly. Her foot got broke, the vet splinted and bandaged it and a week later when they checked it to rebandage, they send her home with nothing on it because she developed sores and they said they were afraid that would happen. Well.. she now has a major swollen foot, which by the way was not at all swollen when I first took her there. She also has necrotic tissue and today a different vet cut off one of her toes because it was just dangling there. I noticed it when I bathed her last night. Why in the world would a vet send her home in that condition with not a single med or instructions of what I should do for her foot??? I got so concerned with how it was looking which is what lead me to a different vet for their opinion and learned all of this. I think what I will do is take the pictures of her foot and all of my bills for her foot care thus far and ask her what I should think of this???? Any thoughts or recommendations from any of you on what I can or should do? And please, if all you have to tell me is how horrible my husband is for breaking her foot, kindly please keep that to yourself. It was an accident and he feels beyond horrible and right now after spending 3 and a half hours at this other vet's office, I need to go and cry a bit.

I will be posting pictures of her foot if any of you want to see what it looked like after they took the bandage off and what it looked like this morning.

Lisa

[misslissa]

i dont have advice on suing a vet but i know that you see if she counts as property in your area if she dose thear may not be anything you can do but if the court system in your area will acccept pain and suffering of a animal then contact the vet first and see if they want to settle if no then hire a lawyer

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Lisa, I am so sorry for all that you are going thru with Molly. You have definitely had a terrible time. I've not gone after a vet but I would definitely document anything and everything. I am not sure but I would think that you would have to give them an opportunity to rectify anything that has happened...again, I do not know--I know that I would not want to go back to this vet!

I would also think that you will need a good strong medical opinion from another vet of what has taken place and what role the first vet played in the misdiagnosis/wrong treatment.

Good luck and I hope someone with more knowledge and experience will come on and give you some advice. Hugs to you and Molly.

[violet voon]

I wouldn't say anything about your husband, it was an accident, he wouldn't want to hurt her.
I have no experience going after vet, if you read my previous post, you will know how upset I was...(although now I believe it was due to skin allergic). I'm sorry I have no good advice, I just wish Molly will recover fast, please update us..

[Wylie's Mom]

So sorry your baby is not well - please give her a big hug for me.

I don't have helpful advice for you, but this thread might be interesting for you (I don't know if it will be helpful...but...):

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...pay-price.html

[tammy8833]

im sorry for your trouble


i wonder if he cut off a dew claw that wasnt removed earlier?..still he should have talked to you first...

could it (the foot) swell because the stint is off? like when you take your shoes off and youtfeet swell...

i would think it would need to breathe if it had sores from the stint..but im not sure i hope someone on here can help

good luck

[angeleyes]

I'm so sorry for your baby (and you) to have to go through something like this. Just like Doctors, vets can be neglent too. As an EMT I am surprised that they put a splint on right away. A broken foot will swell if not right away, very soon after. Most doctors wrap with an elastic bandage that can be loosend as the swelling sets in. Then in a few days they either cast or splint. I can't believe they weren't aware that sores would develope. I would say you have at least a right to any and all expenses you incurred plus a settlement. Make sure you have all your receipts and records from the other vet. A statement from him would also be great. Take it to the 1st vet and tell him you want something done or you will turn it over to an attorney and the Veternary Association. See what happens, but at least by reporting him, it goes on his public record so other people checking out vets can see what he has done. I went through this with my kitty. I had her spayed and a few weeks later she was showing all the signs of a heat cycle. I took her back to the vet and told him I withdrew funds on the check I gave him and I would be sending him the bill from another vet that had to do the job he messed up. He said he was going to take me to court for the money. I laughed and said please do, I'm sure the judge would find this quite interesting as will the newspapers. Good luck and give your baby lots of hugs.

[ellaYORKIE]

I am so sorry about your pup. I don't think i can say anything about your hubby. My boyfriend bumped our Ella off the bed and sprang her foot, total accident. Things happen. I would do as misslissa said and get a lawyer if they refuse to settle. This is a very serious matter and should not be taken lightly. It's not fair that our animals have to pay the price for the vets mistakes.

[mismolly]

Thank You. That sounds like a good plan. I have already spent over $700 that we totally do not have just on this broken foot! I am not counting the coccidia and mange fees. We have to go back on Friday and then again Monday for the foot. We will be going twice a week for at least 3-4 weeks. I am beyond a nervous wreck over this. I have little hive bumps on my forhead from the stress. I don't think I will be able to afford to let me boys play soccer this spring now because we are already so much in the hole with my husbands 15% paycut. What gets me is, I had the first vet write me a letter to use if I have to sue the breeder. Even though it is not much of a letter since all of them don't seem to want to get involved! I also was told by the vet yesterday (the newest vet) that Molly has bad knees and was "poorly bred." So here I paid so much money for this "better quality" puppy over the first two of theirs I saw and she has severe coccidia, sarcoptic mange and bad knees!!! What will I find out next????

Originally Posted by angeleyes

I'm so sorry for your baby (and you) to have to go through something like this. Just like Doctors, vets can be neglent too. As an EMT I am surprised that they put a splint on right away. A broken foot will swell if not right away, very soon after. Most doctors wrap with an elastic bandage that can be loosend as the swelling sets in. Then in a few days they either cast or splint. I can't believe they weren't aware that sores would develope. I would say you have at least a right to any and all expenses you incurred plus a settlement. Make sure you have all your receipts and records from the other vet. A statement from him would also be great. Take it to the 1st vet and tell him you want something done or you will turn it over to an attorney and the Veternary Association. See what happens, but at least by reporting him, it goes on his public record so other people checking out vets can see what he has done. I went through this with my kitty. I had her spayed and a few weeks later she was showing all the signs of a heat cycle. I took her back to the vet and told him I withdrew funds on the check I gave him and I would be sending him the bill from another vet that had to do the job he messed up. He said he was going to take me to court for the money. I laughed and said please do, I'm sure the judge would find this quite interesting as will the newspapers. Good luck and give your baby lots of hugs.