What Happened?

Monday 6/14/10:     
Ruby taken to 29th Animal Hospital, Denver, CO due to symptoms of excessive vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite the previous night.  She started vomitting at about midnight and vomitted periodically throughout the night.  She would not eat her food in the AM and was taken to the vet at this time.

Services provided:
    CBC w/Profile Electrolytes        $94.50
    Lab Sample Collection              $2.25
    CPL Snap Test                          $55.75
    Hazardous Waste Disposal      $2.25
    6 Cerenia Tablets 60 Mg          $33.20
    21 Metronidazole 500 Mg         $16.40
    1 Digital Radiograph                 $198.50
    1 Office Call/Exam                     $45.00
    1 IV Catheter                            $61.50
    1 Intravenous Fluid                   $31.50
    1 IV Fluid Pump                         $30.50
    3.20 Cerenia Injectable 10 mg  $24.00
    1.60 Famotadine                       $10.40
    1 Hospitalization                       $37.00
Total                                              $643.18

Diagnosis after spending approximately 7 hours at the vet:  "We are not sure what is wrong with Ruby.  Here are some medications for her.  We don't think she has pancreatitis, as we did a radiograph.  If she does not feel better in a few days, give us a call."  I am still wondering what she was being medicated for without a diagnosis.

$643 later and they don't even know what is wrong with her? 

Thursday, 6/17/10, 8:40am:
Although the vomiting had ceased and her appetite was slowing returning, Ruby was still not herself and still showing signs of lethargy.   She was taken in for a return visit around 8:40am to the 29th Avenue Animal Hospital a few days later.  At this time, vet Michele Smith said "she may have pancreatitis, which can be very serious.  Let's keep her here and we will call you in a little while with an update."

Wait, didn't someone tell us on Monday that she probably did not have pancreatitis?

She was placed on an IV again and kept at the vet.  An Elizabethan collar was put on her to keep her from pulling out the IV in her arm.

Thursday, 6/17/10, 10:45am:
We received from another vet's office several miles away that said Ruby had been hit by a car and was at their vet.  How could this be?  She was in the care of another vet?  "Is she alive I asked," trembling.  "No, she isn't," the voice on the phone said.  I collapsed.  "I am so sorry.  What would you like me to do with her body?"  I could not even breathe or think at this point.  What is going on here?  What has happened?  How could this be?  She was dropped of at the vet this morning and I am getting a call by another vet that she is dead and they are asking me what I want to do with her body.  Meltdown, here I come.

After ending this horrible conversation, I immediately called the 29th Avenue Animal Hospital and asked to speak with vet Michele Smith.  She told me Ruby had "gotten out of the back and got struck by a car."  What?  How could this have happend?  Isn't pet safety and health your #1 concern?  My $643 from 6/14/10 was refunded ONLY after I demanded it to be and she first checked with her lawyer.  She then agreed to pay for Ruby's cremation, as she should.  I was not expecting my seven year old dog to be dead today.  I never got to say goodbye to her.  Just a week ago we were jogging together in our neighborhood and playing at the dog park with other dogs.  Now this?

When we arrived at the 29th Avenue Animal Hospital later that afternoon, I wanted to see what happend and the interior crate and door from which she supposedly escaped.  Only hours after Ruby's death, there was already ANOTHER dog (white bulldog) in the crate in which had escaped with a bloody unwrapped paw.  Vet Michele Smith showed us how the door on the latch of the crate was broken.  And there was already another dog in this crate?  What is WRONG with these people?  The broken crate was only a few feet away from a back door that was left propped open.  Ruby let herself out of her broken crate with an IV in and then out of the open door.  She travelled 18 blocks before being struck and killed on the interstate. 

Friday, 6/18/2010:
Written complaint filed with Colorado State Veterinary Board of Medicine and Better Business Bureau.

Thursday, 6/24/2010:
Ruby's ashes picked up and taken home with us.

Thursday, 8/5/10:
Colorado Vet Board Meeting and Hearing in Denver, CO:  "This case will be considered for further disciplinary action."

Monday, 8/23/10:
"Letter of Admonition" sent to vet Michele Smith for her negligence in Ruby's case. 

1. a mild rebuke; reprimand
2. gentle or friendly reproof
3. counsel or warning against fault or oversight

And vet Michele Smith carries on with her business as usual.  Where is the discipline in this?  There is none really.  It goes on her public record...and things like this will continue to happen to other animal companions.  Until the collective group is big enough and strong enough to make headway for these archaic laws to change, your beloved animal companion will continue to enjoy the same rights as your toaster, coffee mug, and toothbrush.