Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  03/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My dog stopped eating and drinking Saturday 3/9/24. His legs went out 3/10/24 and he still wouldnt eat or drink. I brought him to this vet. ************** stated he has stomach problems and arthritis. I thought it was more serious but hey Im not a vet. I had to force medicine down my dogs throat praying he would get better. 24 hours later he kept spinning couldnt eat or drink because his head was stuck left. Brought him back to the vet the next day 3/11/24 for them to say he has a brain tumor and would need to be put down. March 14, 2024, I called and left a VM to rectify misdiagnosing my dog. No phone call back. I emailed them the same day asking for someone to call me and rectify the misdiagnosis and they did not respond back. I looked at other reviews and others have said the same. No amount of money will bring my dog back but I want a refund of the ****** I paid on Sunday 3/10/24 for them completely misdiagnosing my dog. Please help.

  Business response

  04/16/2024

  3-10-24:

  King presented for watery ****** diarrhea, not eating for a day, and having his hind legs go out and walking sideways that morning. On physical exam King was dehydrated, sensitive in the abdomen, vomited in the exam room, and had intermittent hind limb ataxia (wobbling) but otherwise normal neurologic exam.

  
  I discussed with owners the possible diagnoses for vomiting and diarrhea and recommended diagnostics (blood work and radiographs) and hospitalization with intravenous fluid therapy. Since **** had no other neurologic deficits, I discussed possible osteoarthritis causing ataxia due to his dehydration.

  
  Owners declined all diagnostics due to limited finances and we elected to try and treat his gastrointestinal issues with an anti-nausea injection, antibiotic injection, and medications for GI upset and pain. Owners were told if King's **** (walk) did not improve with treatment then further diagnostics were needed. Owners were told to recheck with their regular veterinarian as soon as possible for diagnostics.

  
  I was later told by ************** that **** came in again and his neurologic signs had greatly worsened. Considering his age, a presumptive diagnosis of a central neurologic disease such as a brain tumor was most likely.
  
  Hopefully this helps. My heart goes out to them, they are very kind people from what I remember.

  *******************

   

  3-11-24:

  King presented to me the day after presenting to **************. He was not eating or drinking, he was still having diarrhea, and he had begun circling to the left and couldn't walk properly.
  
  On physical exam, he was alert and nervous, eyes fixed to the left with mild intermittent horizontal nystagmus, MM were tacky, and he was ataxic and circling left with his limbs sliding out from under him at a stand. I discussed with the owners possible causes such as lesion/tumor in brain or brain stem that unfortunately could not be ruled out at his age. I recommended radiographs to rule out other abnormalities, but stated advanced imaging (CT/MRI) would be necessary to detect any neoplasia in the brain or spinal cord. I also recommended bloodwork to evaluate organ function though it may not show signs of neoplasia if it was present and his body was ignoring it. Owner stated diagnostics were not an option at that time financially and opted for humane euthanasia that night so pet did not suffer. I explained the euthanasia process at our clinic and the owner opted to be present for the entire process.

  *************, DVM

  Customer response

  04/16/2024

   
  Complaint: 21478892
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
   
  The description of my visit provided clearly shows this was something more severe. My friend was with me as a witness. I had to force pills down my dogs throat who hadnt ate or drink. I was unable to return the dog food or the medicine. I would like a full refund for the misdiagnosis. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business response

  04/17/2024

  The owner declined all diagnostics due to limited finances and we elected to try and treat his gastrointestinal issues with an anti-nausea injection, antibiotic injection, and medications for GI upset and pain. Owner was told if ****** did not improve with treatment, then further diagnostics were needed. The owner was also told to recheck with their regular veterinarian as soon as possible for diagnostics. With that being said, the patient was not a misdiagnosis because of the owner declining more testing that was needed. 

  Customer response

  04/17/2024

   
  Complaint: 21478892
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  **************,

  You were nothing but nice. But blaming my lack of finances for saying further testing couldnt be done and saying King had arthritis and stomach issues is unacceptable. If I wouldve paid THOUSANDS like you showed me to keep him overnight. The end result was him having to be put down 24 hours later and I am out thousands. Obviously for more testing you knew the issue was clearly something more. You gave me another invoice showing $776.40 and I allowed you to chose what was best for my budget of $500. At the end of the day I wouldve felt better if you said he doesnt have much time than to spend $482.32 for me to lose my dog the next day. I have trauma and distress from trying to force pills down Kings throat when he still hadnt ate or drank, when he was obviously suffering from something more serious. I respect ************** for acknowledging no matter what tests, chemo, radiation, surgery, which would cost  thousands, that the outcome was still going to be the same, that he would have to be put down. Since he was seen, I will respect and compromise with the charges of $99 emergency room fee, the $10 biohazard fee, the $74 Subcutaneous fluid fee since he was dehydrated, the Cerenia 10mg/ml injectable $100.11 for the nausea since he threw up. Totaling $283.11. But I would like a refund for the remaining charges of:

  Pro Pen G 300,000unit/ml Injectable for $65

  Gabapentin 300mg capsules for $57.50
  

  Metronidazole 500mg for $16.50

  Sucralfate 1gm for $19.26

  Hills Rx K9 I/D 13oz (6 cans) for $41.40. 
  

  Refund total of: $199.21. 

  Sincerely,

  *****************************

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