Have any of you, had a vet misdiagnose and end up killing your dog, because of the wrong diagnosis@ treatment?

Question

This is Gigi!

http://i38.tinypic.com/6y0ete.jpg

Answer 1

I am sooo sad for your loss and so mad at the unnecessary death of your beloved Gigi.  Although this has never happened to me personally, it has happened to a dear friend of mine.  She had a young chihuahua girl named Coco.  Coco was fine until a vet said she found a heart murmur on one of her checkups.  Without running any blood tests (required for heart medications) the vet prescribed massive doses of lasix (too much for a tiny chihuahua).  Coco started going downhill within a few days.  My friend called the vet and told her that Coco was doing so much worse, and the vet didn't even ask her to bring Coco in to see her.  She only prescribed more meds without even seeing Coco or running tests.  So my friend gave her more meds.  Coco was doing even worse.  So she called the vet again and asked if she could bring her in to see her right away.  The vet said she was busy and didn't have time for her until late in the afternoon.  So she made an appointment to bring her in after work.  While she was at work, she got a phone call from her husband.  He said she should come home right away because Coco is really not doing well.  So she rushed home, and held Coco in her arms.  And Coco just looked up at her face like she had been holding on just to wait for her so she could say goodbye to her mommy.  Then she passed away. Coco had been fine until she was prescribed those medications.  Within 2 weeks, she was dead.  My friend still cries every time we talk about Coco.

In most cases like this, it is very hard to get another vet to speak against the original vet because vets do not like to speak against one another.  But in this case, your second vet is making very solid, specific statements that the diagnosis was wrong, wrong meds were given, and that Gigi would still be alive if she had received correct diagnosis and treatment.  This is sufficient evidence to win your case.  Get the second vet to put it in writing and have it signed.  And sue the first vet.  Sue for all the medical expenses including all the weekly vet visits and medications, the cost of your dog (I know it's hard to put a price on your baby but this is how it's done in court) as well as pain and suffering.  And file a formal complaint with the state veterinary board.  My heart goes out to you and your husband.  

Answer 2

Im more than sure u can take some kind of legal action. this hasnt happened to me but i see on jury/court shows stuff about this. may bee you can post this Q up on the Politic-law/ethics part of YA. and have all your recites and evidence... good luck to you. God bless all the animals & animal lovers

Answer 3

No.......never.   But I'm very sorry to hear your story.  That is upsetting in my stomach to hear such a thing like this.  

Just as a human baby, my dogs "past and present" are my canine kids.  I would talk with the Vet personallly as this is Vet against Vet in their opinions on the illness.  

Our Vet for many years was an older man with MANY years of experience.....even came to my home when we had puppies in the house (many years ago.....over 14-15yrs), and would personally observe and check each and every puppy for me, individually.  He has since retired.  I have a newer Vet that my original one recommended.  I like to go on high recommendations, and I personally prefer an older Vet with past and present knowledge and experience.  But, that's me.  I'm very protective.  

I've starred your question, and again....I'm terribly sorry to read and hear of your loss.  I know it hurts....bad.  

Please be well, and I hope your pain settles and gets resolved, quickly.  

Answer 4

Yes- We took our dog in for a lump on the side of her face.  The vet said it was just a blocked salivary gland.  She took a sample and everything so we thought we were getting the right diagnosis.  We six month later she suddenly became blind over night.  Turns out she had late stage Lymphoma.  We gave her treatment and she lived another year and a half.  However, if we had gotten to her six months earlier then it is very likely that the treatment would have been much more successful.  And she could have had years and year left.  Old age might have killer her before the cancer.

We have another dog that got Lymphoma as well. It was diagnosis very quickly and he is still doing fine almost 3 years later.  He is in very good shape for being 12 and we might have him for another 3 years.

So I completely understand what you are going through.  We now have a very good vet that we take all our dogs too.

I am very sorry for your loss. Losing a dog can be very difficult.  Take care

Answer 5

I can't stop my tears for you and your family right now. I had a vet pretty much to the same with my dog 23 yrs ago!!  Its hard to trust a vet again.

My heart is breaking remembering my Chewy. If I had not been a new single Mom I would have taken him to court! Chewy was only 7 when he had to be put down due to the Drs mistake.

I would sue the vets a-s off!..  My dog was one in a million and my best friend and protector back then!

From Gigi to Mom and Dad.

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.

I could see that you two were crying, you found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away your  tears,

"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you guys pour the coffee

You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care.

I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house as you fumbled for your keys.

I gently put my paw on each one of you, I smiled and said, "It's me."

You both looked so very tired, as you  sank into your  chairs

I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you every day

To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You both sat there so quietly, then smiled; I think you both knew...

In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you both.

The day is over... I smile and watch you guys yawning

And say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,

I'll rush across to greet you both and we'll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.

Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.

~Author Unknown~

Answer 6

I'm so sorry for what you have been through - it's hard enough when you must care for a seriously ill pet, only to find out the treatment was the wrong one.

It would do some good for other animals to make a complaint to the veterinary board. If you do have proof - a necropsy or other evidence, and the cooperation of the second vet, you could probably sue for damages, but it isn't a sure thing that you would win - unless there was something really blatant, there's a lot of technical information that the judge would have to wade through to see the problem.

But leaving it up to the vet's colleagues would mean some sort of disciplinary action - the mere fact that there was any kind of inquiry would probably mean plenty to them.

I hope that helps some... I'm really sorry.

Answer 7

Medicine isnt an exact science. Just like Human Doctors make mistakes. Vets do it too. I would ask the 2nd Vet his honest opinion if the first vet was in the wrong at all. Be sure though FIRST they dont have a personal beef between them. Then get a 3rd vets opinion. Also I would call a University and get a specialists take on it. With something as serious as liver disease your dogs should have been at least recommended to a Liver Specialist. I have watched your questions and these liver Diseases your dogs were diagnosed with were quite severe they should have been seen by a specialist. A VET is a all around doctor. He has to look at so many things and so many cases. Its not often a vet is a specialist at any one thing. So it IS easy to mis-diagnosed very complicated ailments. I would be angery like you if my dog was so poorly treated and I do think this first vet will need some repercussions. Its bad practice to do what she did. So first gather some evidence, then get some possible testimonials. Then go after her if you think you have a case.

I have had a Horse, and a dog mis-diagnosed by a elderly, town favorite, vet and had him pay for his mistakes.

Answer 8

I imagine that yes, you can take some sort of legal action, although I'm not certain what.

My last dog was misdiagnosed and ended up having to be put down because of it. I know how you feel.  

Answer 9

OK, liver problems are very common in chihuahuas. Was the term 'portosystemic shunt' mentioned at any point?

It was very unprofessional of the second vet to make these comments regarding the first vet's diagnoses. You just don't DO that as a vet.

If this happened to me I'd be making d**n sure I understood EXACTLY what the first diagnosis was and how the second diagnosis differed. I'd be doing a lot of research. It doesn't sound like you understand quite what was going on, so I'd start there.

Chalice

Answer 10

We moved two years ago.  I have fired 7 vets since then.  I still can't find a vet with a brain.  I am now more paranoid about going to the vets than the dogs are.  I am just glad I don't own a gun.  It is like an epidemic of stupidity out there all of a sudden.  Don't get me started.  I am sorry about Gigi, and I hope Zoe will be o.k.

Answer 11

I have never had a misdiagnosis from a vet about a dog but i have had one for a cat. We took our cat in and the vet took a look at him and said he needs to go on a drip to get his fluids up so we understood then we went back the next day and the vet gave us some antibiotics for him which was all fine. We booked another appointment for the following wek for a check up and went on our way. We kept giving out cat the medicine that the vet told us too and he seemed to be getting better. So we took him back the next week and we saw a completely new vet who then turned round and said the previous vet had given us the wrong antibiotics for the cat and gave us a totally different one. A couple of days later after us giving him this new medicine he died. We swear to this day that it was that new vets fault because he seemed to be getting better on the other medicine he was given.

Answer 12

I am so sorry for the loss of your Gigi.

You can file a complaint with your state's board of veterinary medicine.

Something similar happened to my dog.

I get too angry when I talk of it..



The last I heard, the  vet that killed my dog was losing her practice, as she couldn't get insurance because of so many other lawsuits and complaints.

Here are some guidelines on dealing with veterinary malpractice>

http://judymyers.tripod.com/tfaq.html

This pertains to laws and procedures concerning vet malpractice>

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/qvusv...

Thank you for sharing the picture of Gigi. She is so pretty and sweet.

Answer 13

yes that has happened to me, I can't even talk about it as it still hurts so much.. and it has been almost 3 years since my little cocker spaniel Molly had to be euthanized. I am so very sorry.  I have also had a kitty die because they took too much blood and refused to do the x-rays that I signed consent forms for. I think he had a blockage but they would not listen, they said there was nothing wrong with him and sent him home after an overnight stay at the emergency vet. He died less than 5 minutes after we got home, right on the kitchen floor, in my arms :o( Take whatever legal steps you can.

Answer 14

This has never happened to me but you should call the vet who misdiagnosed your dog.  This way, she knows that she was wrong and won't misdiagnose any others.  But how do you know this new vet is right and the other is wrong?  Just make sure that this time they are treating the dog for the proper illness!  Best of luck to you and the dog

Answer 15

All I can offer you is my sympathy and hope that it never happens to me.

I have a little crossbreed female weighing in at only 6 pounds and she is 15 years old. She is a child for me, especially since my wife passed away, and I will be ready to murder if something like this should happen to her.

Then again, some will argue that mistakes are human. Maybe so, but don't tell me that when I lost my beloved pet due to what seems negligence.

Negligence maybe hard to prove and I'm not sure if there's any action you can take. Your laws will differ from ours.

All the best and hopefully you have many joyful years ahead with a healthy Zoe.