Seeking damages from a vet
Discussion
Bit of a story.
Dog was pregnant and due to give birth. She went into the first stage of labour, panting etc but no contractions or pushing. When she'd been like that for about 10 hours I rang the vet, they said take her straight in. They scanned her, told me the pups were fine and just to wait. The vet said if she was straining for 20 minutes or more without giving birth to ring them straightaway, or if we were getting towards 24 hrs and still no puppies we should call.
An hour after this conversation a different vet rang, said she'd just come on shift, read the notes and was concerned, could we bring the dog straight in. She took the dog in the back and came out grim faced and told us she needed a C-section. We left her there, this was about 9pm.
About 11pm the vet rang and said her uterus had torn during the operation and was it ok to sterilise her. I had no choice.
I collected her at about 1am with 4 puppies, 2 had died. The vet tried to explain about the uterus tearing and the puppies dying but seemed very nervous and then blurted out that she had had to facetime another vet for help during the operation. She gave us antibiotics for the dog.
My girl was absolutely traumatised. I've never seen a dog look so utterly demolished. We had to bottle feed the puppies because of the antibiotics. After 2 days watching her just unresponsive and wondering why the puppies were so sticky I realised with horror that the wound was dripping with fluid. Literally running out.
I was doubting my vet by this time so I rand another local vet. They took her straight in, diagnosed peritonitis and operated with a 30% chance of survival. She was in there for a week at a cost of £3k for another operation to open her up and clean her out. but they saved her.
I want the first vet to compensate me for this but they insist there was no wrongdoing. However they have never sent a bill.
These are the questions I have:
Why was I pushed into the decision to allow a C-Section only an hour or so after being told that she would be fine for 12 hours unless she was straining for 20 minutes or more without giving birth? What was the reason for this change of plan? Blood tests and 2 scans plus internal checks showed everything to be fine.
How competent was the vet doing the operation?
Was she fully signed off for this type of procedure?
If so, why would she facetime a senior vet for advice during the procedure?
In the phone call I received during the operation I was told that the uterus had torn 'during the procedure' meaning that Chica needed to be sterilised. Yet when I spoke to the vet on picking Chica up she told me it was already torn. I pressed her on this and she then said the membrane was partially damaged not torn.
There were 6 healthy heartbeats when the first vet we saw did the scan a couple of hours before the operation. What killed those puppies so soon after the operation?
What caused such a severe infection that Chica couldn't even move when she came home? The infection was in the cervix, the two places the uterus was cut away from the ovaries were fine ruling out a reaction to the sutures. It was this infection that led to the peritonitis that nearly killed her.
Why was the incision in Chica's abdomen so badly stitched that there was a hole big enough to get your finger in?
What should I do now?
Dog was pregnant and due to give birth. She went into the first stage of labour, panting etc but no contractions or pushing. When she'd been like that for about 10 hours I rang the vet, they said take her straight in. They scanned her, told me the pups were fine and just to wait. The vet said if she was straining for 20 minutes or more without giving birth to ring them straightaway, or if we were getting towards 24 hrs and still no puppies we should call.
An hour after this conversation a different vet rang, said she'd just come on shift, read the notes and was concerned, could we bring the dog straight in. She took the dog in the back and came out grim faced and told us she needed a C-section. We left her there, this was about 9pm.
About 11pm the vet rang and said her uterus had torn during the operation and was it ok to sterilise her. I had no choice.
I collected her at about 1am with 4 puppies, 2 had died. The vet tried to explain about the uterus tearing and the puppies dying but seemed very nervous and then blurted out that she had had to facetime another vet for help during the operation. She gave us antibiotics for the dog.
My girl was absolutely traumatised. I've never seen a dog look so utterly demolished. We had to bottle feed the puppies because of the antibiotics. After 2 days watching her just unresponsive and wondering why the puppies were so sticky I realised with horror that the wound was dripping with fluid. Literally running out.
I was doubting my vet by this time so I rand another local vet. They took her straight in, diagnosed peritonitis and operated with a 30% chance of survival. She was in there for a week at a cost of £3k for another operation to open her up and clean her out. but they saved her.
I want the first vet to compensate me for this but they insist there was no wrongdoing. However they have never sent a bill.
These are the questions I have:
Why was I pushed into the decision to allow a C-Section only an hour or so after being told that she would be fine for 12 hours unless she was straining for 20 minutes or more without giving birth? What was the reason for this change of plan? Blood tests and 2 scans plus internal checks showed everything to be fine.
How competent was the vet doing the operation?
Was she fully signed off for this type of procedure?
If so, why would she facetime a senior vet for advice during the procedure?
In the phone call I received during the operation I was told that the uterus had torn 'during the procedure' meaning that Chica needed to be sterilised. Yet when I spoke to the vet on picking Chica up she told me it was already torn. I pressed her on this and she then said the membrane was partially damaged not torn.
There were 6 healthy heartbeats when the first vet we saw did the scan a couple of hours before the operation. What killed those puppies so soon after the operation?
What caused such a severe infection that Chica couldn't even move when she came home? The infection was in the cervix, the two places the uterus was cut away from the ovaries were fine ruling out a reaction to the sutures. It was this infection that led to the peritonitis that nearly killed her.
Why was the incision in Chica's abdomen so badly stitched that there was a hole big enough to get your finger in?
What should I do now?
- Dog's name has been changed.
I hope she and the 4 pups are now doing well?
It would not be appropriate for anyone to comment on the clinical side of things without having access to all the details and being directly involved.
I would suggest that you put your concerns to the vet practice that performed the C- section. I would also clarify where you stand financially with them.
It would not be appropriate for anyone to comment on the clinical side of things without having access to all the details and being directly involved.
I would suggest that you put your concerns to the vet practice that performed the C- section. I would also clarify where you stand financially with them.
Hi, we lost another one and are left with 3 who are pretty good thanks.
I have written to the vet who did the C section and had a reply that they did nothing wrong, the second vet stands by her decision to do the C section after the first one said it was unnecessary and facetiming in the middle of surgery like this is not unusual.
I have written to the vet who did the C section and had a reply that they did nothing wrong, the second vet stands by her decision to do the C section after the first one said it was unnecessary and facetiming in the middle of surgery like this is not unusual.
Hmm this is a bit of a mess, apart from that, I hope your pooch and pups are ok going forward. Something that many forget (or have never experienced) is that life and especially partutuition comes with risks, just ask the human medics.
If you wish to pursue a claim against this or any vet, you should put it in writing to the practice, they should respond but it will quickly be put in the hands of a claim specialist such as the Vet Defence Society, who, although they look after us vets, are actually a very fair group.
Anyway, passing any meaningful judgement on this is, as has been suggested, is pointless without acces to the clinical notes. However, it has obviously been a difficult situation and clinical decision, brought about by the choice of breeding and the consequences of that. Irrespective of that, a caesarean section comes with major risks, I gave uop doing dog/cat sections about 20 years ago to concentrate on cows and sheep, which although very diferent,"enjoy" many of the same challenges. One good thing is that the O. And, sometimes, I wish I could have done that to save my patient.
Overall, OP, you chose to breed your pooch, it is risky but completely acceptable, your vets seem to be rather mixed in their approach and reports (according to your understanding) so as said before, the main thing is that your pooch is ok, after that, I think it will all end up in lawyers arguing and costing money.
Any pics of pups?
If you wish to pursue a claim against this or any vet, you should put it in writing to the practice, they should respond but it will quickly be put in the hands of a claim specialist such as the Vet Defence Society, who, although they look after us vets, are actually a very fair group.
Anyway, passing any meaningful judgement on this is, as has been suggested, is pointless without acces to the clinical notes. However, it has obviously been a difficult situation and clinical decision, brought about by the choice of breeding and the consequences of that. Irrespective of that, a caesarean section comes with major risks, I gave uop doing dog/cat sections about 20 years ago to concentrate on cows and sheep, which although very diferent,"enjoy" many of the same challenges. One good thing is that the O. And, sometimes, I wish I could have done that to save my patient.
Overall, OP, you chose to breed your pooch, it is risky but completely acceptable, your vets seem to be rather mixed in their approach and reports (according to your understanding) so as said before, the main thing is that your pooch is ok, after that, I think it will all end up in lawyers arguing and costing money.
Any pics of pups?
Total shortage of good qualified vets.
Or local practice has shut down one of it's surgeries through lack of staff, 3 of the vets I've known for 30 odd years are all coming up for retirement soon.
Our dog was spayed earlier this year, we went for keyhole because it's a quicker recovery time which is better for a lively one, someone left a stitch in which should have been removed on a checkup, but wasn't.
We timed it so she could have her yearly jabs on her final visit, this was conducted by a lady who had no confidence in what she was doing, she asked did we want the more up to date Lepto jab, said yes, then she said after giving it we'd to come back again for a second one in a fortnight.
On leaving I asked at the desk if they wanted paying now for the jabs or after the second one, they replied that the second one was included in the price.
A few weeks later I get a phone call saying we hadn't paid for the last visit, lady in accounts claimed there was £30 to pay for the second lepto jab, I told her I'd paid what was quoted and if they didn't agree that the senior partner should give me a call, never heard another word.
Or local practice has shut down one of it's surgeries through lack of staff, 3 of the vets I've known for 30 odd years are all coming up for retirement soon.
Our dog was spayed earlier this year, we went for keyhole because it's a quicker recovery time which is better for a lively one, someone left a stitch in which should have been removed on a checkup, but wasn't.
We timed it so she could have her yearly jabs on her final visit, this was conducted by a lady who had no confidence in what she was doing, she asked did we want the more up to date Lepto jab, said yes, then she said after giving it we'd to come back again for a second one in a fortnight.
On leaving I asked at the desk if they wanted paying now for the jabs or after the second one, they replied that the second one was included in the price.
A few weeks later I get a phone call saying we hadn't paid for the last visit, lady in accounts claimed there was £30 to pay for the second lepto jab, I told her I'd paid what was quoted and if they didn't agree that the senior partner should give me a call, never heard another word.
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