Steps to take regarding a Vet misdiagnoses

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

Not every Vet Office has that type of tool, and then the animal must be seen by specialist to have it done.

I would consider changing vets. That sounds like a tool every single vet should have as soooooo many animals swallow things they shouldn't!!!!!

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I would consider changing vets. That sounds like a tool every single vet should have as soooooo many animals swallow things they shouldn't!!!!!

I know my Vet has one. Some Vet Offices that are smaller just don't have the money to purchase that type of equipment, but are still very good Vet's.

This is on the Human side of medicine, my PCP doesn't have this type of equipment, and if neeed to be scoped after an x-ray would have to be referred to specialist. so it holds true that some Vet Offices are this way as well.

[acesmom79]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Don't they usually run a little flexible scope down and look around the eso/tummy if they suspect a dog has swallowed something or has a possible FB in the belly, whether it shows on x-ray or not?

That is probably what a normal Vet would do. Unfortunately, the vet I took him to apparently did not know of such things. Nothing like that was did for Ace.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

I know my Vet has one. Some Vet Offices that are smaller just don't have the money to purchase that type of equipment, but are still very good Vet's.

This is on the Human side of medicine, my PCP doesn't have this type of equipment, and if neeed to be scoped after an x-ray would have to be referred to specialist. so it holds true that some Vet Offices are this way as well.

But humans don't routinely eat anything such as a dog will, unobserved as they are in back yards and such. Vets are a dog's first line of defense and life saving in a case where the dog has something in his belly that can kill him and vets all need to have this equipment. And where an obstruction or full item in the belly is palpated, you would think the vet would have to take a "look see". With humans, we know if we've swallowed a button or if our child ate a knob off a toy before we could get to him, as babies are watched a lot more closely than dogs are, especially when the canines are let out to potty or play. I would think vets would have a flex scope at the ready to use in cases where suspected ingestion of FB's have occurred and supported by history, exam, other testing.

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I'm so sorry.
I Agree with you. This is not right if the vet saw what looked like food in the stomach and did not think more of it after being notified that pup had not eaten in several days. A barium study should have been done. Any vet with an xray machine and baium can do this.

When something is sitting in the intestines, they can start to die off. The longer it sits, the more problematic things become. So yes, waiting several days may have caused his death. Abdominal palpTion should be part of any exam done on a dog with GI uoset.

You can file a complaint with our stTe veterinay board.

I 100% agree with this post. Furthermore, had the 1st vet had a clue they would NEVER have suggested it COULD be an obstruction BUT say lets keep him over night for fluids & observation. This is just inexcusable when there is a possible obstruction & had something been done at THAT time instead of waiting , this pup would most likely have survived. Time is of the essence when any animal has an obstruction.

[concretegurl]

You have every right to tell your story anywhere and everywhere...of course be careful of beibg very factial and watch legalities.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Misdiagnosis happen, but that Yorkies Yorkies Yorkies comment might have cost her some front teeth to have been snidely said to the wrong Yorkie mama!

Absolutely make a complaint to the board- they will review it. If nothing else hopefully this vet will be more throurough abd it can save another animal in the future.

I can only say from my experience with a dog with pica everytime there was a tummy issue a scope was used vefore xrays were done if at all, maybe its not standard equiptment everywhere but consideeing an obstruction should be IMHO.

It soubds like to me she automatically assumed to throw some antibiotics at the problem hoping it would go away?

Again very sorry for your loss one complain wont cause the vet a loss of license so being good abd mad and having thia looked at cant do harm but can only IMHO cause improvement if needed.

No one is perfect everyone makes mistakes some are more costly than others, but a change in attitude and diagnostic procedure is something everyone needs to prevent future mistakes.

The only thing I can say to lend pause to the anger is if ahed done it all right and your babay still went to rainbow bridge would you be upset...I'm guess the answer is no, so be mad and follow through.

I hope you get through all this and are able to then mour and heal.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by acesmom79

I have a right to tell other people about my experience with a Vet. The vet misdiagnosed my baby, plain and simple. She did not listen to us and didn't even feel his abdomen until my husband suggested it to her. This was our experience and I have a legal right to tell people about this. That's why they have patient reviews. If the shoe was on the other foot, and I was a yorkie mama or any pet mama again, I'd wanna know. In hindsight, maybe it would save another animals life.

I didn't say you don't have the right to tell your story, but it is up to the board in your state to make a determination of whether or not this vet was truly negligent. Just hearing your side of the story, I agree, it seems she was in this case.

[jp4m2]

I'm so sorry you lost your pup especially in this kind of way. You put your trust in someone to provide the best care and you got the worst. I know how devastating this can be. When it happened to me I was soooo angry. I just couldn't let it go. I had to file a small claims suit against my vet. He had his attorney contact me to settle, so I did.

I just wanted him to know my pet mattered. I also knew I has a slim to none chance to win. I settled for the price I paid for my pup and the total cost of the medical bill he charged me. I didn't want him benefiting from my pets death.

I did file a report with the vet board. This is a joke also, they protect their own. From the stats I've found at least 80% of the cases that are filed are dismissed with no repercussions at all for the vets. No one is watching them, no one tracks this kind of malpractice, abuse, or negligence. There is very little accountability. If I had to over again I would have pushed for pain and suffering too....Because that is what I am still living with today.....

Maybe you can find some helpful info in these links....

Veterinary Malpractice

Veterinarian Malpractice

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.....

[acesmom79]

Yeah, I'm already looking into making a complaint with the board. I know probably nothing will come of it but it needs looked into. By her delaying 1 day and knowing now that time was of the essence is the hardest thing. Looking back, I wish I had advocated and pushed more for the obstruction. I honestly just thought the vet knew what they were doing.
I found it upsetting that animals don't really have malpractice laws defending them like humans do. I know in PA animals are just considerd peresonal property and aren't held in the same reagrds. I feel if Vets had malpractice laws on the same levels humans Dr. did, there would be less Vet mistakes. I've been reading horrible stories about Vet negligence, it's terrible.
As far as Ace goes, I'll never know if maybe they would have operated a day sooner if he would still be alive. That is something that I don't know how to deal with. I'm trying, it's just there aren't any answers and it is beyond unfair. I know when he first started vomiting I didn't immediately take him to the vet. I waited because he stopped vomiting and was drinking fluids and holding that down. He also was running and jumping on couch and running upstairs. I knew he didn't feel 100% and wasn't eating but I thought he was getting better...
What I wouldn't give for one more day with him. Make sure you guys hug your little ones daily and tell them how much you love them, and spoil them rotten! I spoiled Ace and I don't regret it! I actually realized how precious Ace was when I had him, and I used to feel so warm in my heart when we cuddled on the couch. It's so weird and empty now trying to get used to not having that warmth anymore. Sorry to go on but he was a little rock star and the light of my life! Love You Ace!

[rubymoon2072]

i am very sorry for your loss of ace. rip ace. i too would be beside myself with grief and very angry. i hope your story saves another baby from ever having this happen to them. the vet should have never made that comment and im sorry you had to hear that. i will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[acesmom79]

Originally Posted by jp4m2

I'm so sorry you lost your pup especially in this kind of way. You put your trust in someone to provide the best care and you got the worst. I know how devastating this can be. When it happened to me I was soooo angry. I just couldn't let it go. I had to file a small claims suit against my vet. He had his attorney contact me to settle, so I did.

I just wanted him to know my pet mattered. I also knew I has a slim to none chance to win. I settled for the price I paid for my pup and the total cost of the medical bill he charged me. I didn't want him benefiting from my pets death.

I did file a report with the vet board. This is a joke also, they protect their own. From the stats I've found at least 80% of the cases that are filed are dismissed with no repercussions at all for the vets. No one is watching them, no one tracks this kind of malpractice, abuse, or negligence. There is very little accountability. If I had to over again I would have pushed for pain and suffering too....Because that is what I am still living with today.....

Maybe you can find some helpful info in these links....

Veterinary Malpractice

Veterinarian Malpractice

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.....

Husband and I are going to file a small claims suit as well. I figured filing a complaint with the board will be a joke. Did you file the small claims suit first or file a complaint with the board first?

[jp4m2]

I filed first then within a day or two I mailed in a complaint. I had to write a detailed explanation as to what happened. I received the reply i expected. They saw no indication of wrong doing.....Make sure your written report is detailed because that is what they based their decision on. They never spoke to me directly.

[acesmom79]

Originally Posted by jp4m2

I filed first then within a day or two I mailed in a complaint. I had to write a detailed explanation as to what happened. I received the reply i expected. They saw no indication of wrong doing.....Make sure your written report is detailed because that is what they based their decision on. They never spoke to me directly.

We spoke to a magistrate that said if the judge would decide in our favor it would then be up to us to decide how to go about getting the money. The magistrate said we would have to file a lawyer and then go about putting a lien on the vet property as to go about assuring that they pay us in a monetary means. Did you have to get a lawyer? Thanks.

[Ellie May]

Endoscopy is a great tool. It is very expensive and not all vets can do it. Xrays come first. If it is clearly in the intestines and not still in the stomach, the dog has to be cut. The scope reaches the stomach and some vets can get it ino the proximal duodenum. It takes some level of talent just like sonography. So it will never be found in every vet hospital. If it is in the intestines, simetirs a small hole can be cut to take the object out. Other times the i testines have started to die off in that area and a resevtion and anastamosis is needed (cutting out part of the intestines and sewing the ends back together). Just saw one of these on Saturday and it was too far down to consider scoping. It had also been in there for too long and the intestines were very unhappy in that area. It is always good to catch things early so the scope is an option.

[jp4m2]

Originally Posted by acesmom79

We spoke to a magistrate that said if the judge would decide in our favor it would then be up to us to decide how to go about getting the money. The magistrate said we would have to file a lawyer and then go about putting a lien on the vet property as to go about assuring that they pay us in a monetary means. Did you have to get a lawyer? Thanks.

No I didn't...I just went to the courthouse to file a small claims for about $20. He was served a notice that I had done so and he was to appear in court concerning the case. Our small claims court does not allow lawyers, it's just between the two parties. I guess he didn't like this so he had his lawyer contact me by phone offering a settlement to drop the case. That is what i did.....I settled so I had to go back to the clerk of courts office to sign a paper stating I was dropping the case.