dog had surgery sent home near death rushed her to another vet to save her $5,500.00?

Question

went on vacation to Florida for few weeks first vacation in 7 years.
the person taking care of the dog said here urine was dark we should bring her to a vet.
we brought her to are vet here in town they did a ex ray and showed me she had lot of stones and said she needed mediate bladder surgery.
OK told us the surgery would cost between 1500 & 1700 plus I already paid 350 for blood work and x rays
we decided to have it done the following Monday.
brought her in early Monday morning 8:00 AM we stopped feeding her 6:00 PM the nite before also stopped giving her water 10:00 PM the nite before.
the dog was ok before the surgery you would never know anything was wrong with her, running jumping barking etc.
we were told to pick her up 8:30 the next morning Tuesday after the surgery.
we called Tuesday to pick her up the vet said she did not wet yet to pick her up around 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
we went to the vet around that time he said she still did not wet and she would be best at home cause she was not doing good there.
we brought her home she was in real bad shape she could hardly walk I had to carry her into the car.
then when we made it home I had to carry her out she could not get up.
we put her in the porch it is about 10 ft by 25 ft we were told to give her a 1/4 of a cup of water every few hrs we did every time she threw it up.
well she was just standing there in the room looking at the wall her legs shaking then she would lay there and look at the wall.
we never had a dog have surgery so we thought it was normal, we found out she had a hole in her bladder and it was leaking in her stomach that why when she threw up it was brown.
this went on all nite I stayed on the porch with her.
in the morning we called the vet he said to bring her to another vet hospital and have ultra sound done.
we did bring her this other hospital was 25 miles away.
they did the ultra sound and said her abdomen was filled with liquid and her bladder.
they said they would have to do a blood test to see if she had a hole in her bladder.
anyway they told me they would have to keep her there 3 to 5 days and due surgery to fix her up and put a catheter in her, and pump her up with iv before doing surgery.
I asked how much they told me 5000 but they would give me 30 percent discount for total of 3500.
I said for them to do it.
also before that I told them I wanted to bring her back to my vet they said he does not want her.
they spoke with him on the phone.
when I left there she could not stand her eyes were sunk in she looked like death I felt bad.
they gave her surgery the next day after they revived her with iv's.
the following day after the surgery we went to visit her about same time span as when we seen here from the first surgery, what a difference she was in pain but walking and real alert not standing looking at a wall.
plus she cried little well she was sore and had a cathiter in her
well they kept her two more days total five days at 2nd hospital now she is fine.
killed my bank account, she is a keshhound real good dog
she had 17 stones removed the largest are about 2 inches by 2 inches pee size to two that are egg size
Anyway was the first doctor wrong he kept saying when we first picked her up that Tuesday.
to take her to the hospital if you have a problem at nite when my office is closed he said that like 3x?
should I get my money back from the first doctor or what.
we were at the end of are wits all week here

OK this is a small update on something I left out
When I brought My dog to the second vet, that was a big hospital with a lot of vets.
the vet that seen her said she was real dehydrated.
he said before he did any test he was 99.9 percent shore she had a hole in her bladder
that was causing fluids to leak in her abdomen.
ALSO HE SAID FROM LOOKING AT THE X RAYS I BROUGHT IN.
that the surgery looked very complicated and this was no malpractice.
note: this hospital was recommended by the first doctor.
also I said nothing about sue or anything like that, I just said that when she went in for her surgery she was in good shape, but when I had her back she was in space and looking at the wall and just throwing up everytime I gave her water.
think these vets try to protect each other.
note the first vet let her go without urinating and barley able to stand also I think she was really drugged up.
we never had a dog have surgery we thought it was normal, but now we know

note also went back to first vet to get report on what caused the stones, was infection in her diet caused stones, also he gave me a free bag of hils dog biskets and food worth about 28 dollars with no charge I said nothing to him on how I really feel.
just glad we have the dog back, the money just set me back big time and now im thinking hard here.
note the first vet called us 3 x after we went to second hospital to say how sorry he was. my wife was upset with him I was in the middle I just said thank you for calling and that it was ok.

Answer 1

Sounds to me the first vet may have nicked her bladder when removing the stones. Ask the second vet if that is a possibility (especially since she seemed fine with the exception of the abnormal urination prior to the inital surgery). If that is the case, then the first vet should at minimum refund the money you paid him, but I'd rather see him pay for the emergency visit (that's why they have insurance).

If the first vet gives any flack, get a lawyer. Be sure to get a statement in writing from the second vet concerning the hole in the bladder. It's unfortunate, and those things happen, but the first vet is still liable and as I said, that's why they have insurance.

Also, find out what made the stones, usually changing the diet will take care of the problem.

Answer 2

I'm sorry for your loss and the trauma. One of the stages of grief is blame, so this is a natural reaction to what's going on. However, unless you have an alternate vet do a necropsy and that necropsy finds that the vet was neglegent, you are liable for the entire bill. Vets do not guarantee outcomes or offer a money back guarantee if the pet dies. GI surgeries are very very difficult and what happened is a known complication. The blood clot is also a risk, although a less common one. Unfortunately, the body does not always provide the perfect stage for closing intestinal wounds and incisions. If your dog's intestines were already infected and necrosing, getting strong stitches and closure on the attempted repair would have been very difficult. It's not about "ensuring that the incision was secured properly" - it's about doing the best that they could with what was left of the intestines. It sounds like this dog had been ingesting foreign objects for quite awhile without anybody noticing, which probably compromised everything even more.

Answer 3

Wow, I am so sorry for all you and your poor pupper have been through. We recently paid a ton in vet bills too, so I feel your pain and also understand how you'd give anything to have your baby back home. Forgive me, but I think Vets take advantage of our situations from time to time in that they can charge whatever they want since they're the only people that can fix our babies.

Having said that, I think you need to talk to your vet about possibly getting your money back. I'm not certain you'll get the result you're hoping for, but at the very least he needs to know what you've been through and how taxing it's been for you both emotionally and financially. What upsets me the most is that he told the hospital he didn't want your dog. Does that sound to you like he might be feeling liable for something? I'd definitely talk to him---face to face. Anyone can cop out over the phone. Good luck to you!

Answer 4

If the 1st vet screwed up and didn't fix the real problem, then you should at the very least get your money back. You will need your current vet to atest to that though, as I am assuming that you have no vetrinary expertise yourself - that is why the dog went to a vet. If it turned out that the vet caused the hole in the bladder, I would give them the oppertunity to pay all your vet bills, and if they didn't I would talk to a lawyer about sueing them. It sounds like your 1st vet was an idiot, I wouldn't go back and would at the very least ask for your money back. Your current vet (the one that saved your dogs life) sounds like a keeper and kudos to them for giving you a discount. You should talk to them about what happened, see if in their professional opinion the 1st vet was in the wrong, then go from there. Keep in mind though, sometimes professoinals don't like to go against a professional in the same field.

Answer 5

I would be heading to a lawyer right away. (most give the first hour free so take a list of questions so as you don;t waste any time)

The first vet sounds very negligent. It's obvious that the surgery was not carried out correctly first time around. he should have also told you the dog needed to be inside not outside after surgery too, but that's a minor point.

A lawyer can tell you exactly the steps you need to take. This vet should never be allowed to practice again.

Thank God you are such a good owner and had the surgery done. Many would not have had it done once, let alone twice. I strongly commend you for being a wonderful dog owner who like myself would do anything and everythig needed to save their dog.

Answer 6

Ask the second vet if the problem was caused by negligence from the first Vet. Most of them do not like to narc on another vet,but ask anyway. Try to find out why she had the other problem. They were in there and they should be able to tell you>

If it was the fault of the first vet, I would sue him for the money you paid him and the money you paid the second vet. Plus a sum for pain and suffering.

Good luck.

Answer 7

for those that have never assisted with a bladder surgery...the bladder is cut in order to remove stones from it. then it is sutured back together with multiple interrupted sutures, then it is flushed with sterile saline to ensure that it is completely sutured and will not leak. even if this is done, it is possible for a suture to come loose thus causing the bladder to leak.

now, your first vet should have kept your dog in the hospital on iv fluids for more than just overnight. my vet keeps them for at least 2 or 3 days to make sure they are able to urinate and that there are not any complications from the surgery. if your vet told you to go to the er if there were any problems and you waited until the next day to go, that is your fault.

there is really no way to know if the first vet screwed up during the surgery or if it was just bad luck. with this type of surgery or with any surgery, there will always be risk of complications.

Answer 8

The first vet sounds irresponsible. Why did your dog end up with a hole in her bladder/stomach? Sounds like you went to a butcher. If you're in the U.S sue that damn vet. Get a lawyer involved if you have to. Am so sorry for you and your dog, am glad she's ok now though.

Answer 9

yes, see what your rights are. Depending on the state you live in you may or may not be able to sue for pain and suffering for an animal (I live in Texas and I know they won't allow it--looked into it when the food scares were going on last summer), but you would defintely be able to sue for your vet bills.

Good Luck! Sorry your poochie was ill, glad she's doing better.

Answer 10

I would report the Doctor to the vet board and sue for my money back if I got no response.
Get the new vet to write a letter containing specifics about the case and what they did wrong.