Pockets

You should be able to now Kirty, I deleted some messages

I also originally asked the owner, did the vet do a pre-anaesthetic blood test, the owner was not aware of any such test being offered so he asked the vet who replied "Vet *** did not do a pre-anaesthetic blood test as this is not part of the process and incurs an additional cost to the owner"....the owner replied that he was not advised of the options of either pre-anaesthetic testing nor the additional fluids after surgery. I know this may not have anything to do with it, but if there may have been something wrong, this MAY have been picked up with a simple blood test, had it been offered to the owner. I am not saying it would have or it wouldnt have. There was a chart of anaesthetic done, but how honest do you think it is as an after occurance? I would hope it is factual, I could not read it, but it was not explained to me and the owner was obviously in great shock at the time.

In my opinions the Practice Manager is responsible for the conduct of the staff, you leave a dog in a place to get help, they make you sign a disclaimer and advise of the risks of anaesthetic, we all know its risky, so why leave a patient unmonitored? and How a Vet notices the patient has stopped breathing is beyond me

Thank you DD :) I went over for a visit last night for a few hours and got a lovely message this morning of how much better they are feeling that they could share this experience with someone like me and really are grateful more than they can ever say. They are very much looking forward to welcoming Tig into their home and I am sure they will enjoy a wonderful life together :) I on the other hand am not looking forward to farewelling my beautiful Tig.....but I know in my heart it is a great match and a wonderful home :)

Will check Kirty :) Yes the dog was left unattended and the vet didn't even realise, it wasn't until the nurse came back in and she noticed the dog no longer breathing.....so obviously the vet didn't even notice!!

It is only something small I could do for them, he will never fill the hole, but I know he will help then heal :) It will break my heart to let him go, I am not looking forward to it at all, but I know the pain of losing a family member and anything I can do to ease that pain is a good thing :) They are only 10 minutes away and are going to go to the same obedience club, so at least I still get to see him regularly :)

I have just come back from our visit with the family, took Tig (Harley's brother) for introductions, he was very at home there and was happy giving kisses and cuddles and playing "paws" It's official Harley's owners will take Tig and welcome him as a loved family member. We are waiting for the vets written report and will go from there....this is far from over

I know what it is like to lose a very cherished family member, as I said to him, he was not your pet, he was your family. I will always fight for the ones I breed, I have always said to my puppy buyers, I love and raise these babies, I will always be "mum" and I will always love them and they will be in my heart no matter where they are. Its like losing one of the ones I have at home, I am feeling this loss also I will wait to get a report from the vet, which they are sending to the owner, see what that says and then discuss with the Practice Manager, need all the facts before I say anything I will regret. I will lodge a formal complaint with the Veterinary Board of Victoria once the information is gathered and we have spoken with the Vet, I do not want to go to court or anything for compensation, but I do feel the owners should at least be compensated for the cost of the cost and possibly his upkeep over the 3 months they had him for. Its just so sad that we put trust in Veterinary Practices to do there best and a simple "innocent" mistake can cost a life, protocols and guidelines are set for a reason...

I am not sure, but need to know and understand, should a graduate vet, that only finished at the end of 2012, be doing surgeries unassisted or unsupervised by another more experienced vet?

Thanks Sheridan, I just cant believe this has happened, everytime I think about it I start to get upset and then looking at his photo, such a regal and strong boy, who was adored by his family. Eventually the pain heals, Harley will never be replaced or forgotten...

Here is a photo of Harley's brother Tig

Here is a photo of Harley and his owner

Tig is Harley's full litter brother and looks like Harley I have always thought, if I can help to take away some of the pain and grief that they are feeling right now by offering for them to take Tig, its the least I can do. Its a wonderful home and they are truly lovely people. Unfortunately this couple a few months before getting Harley, suffered the loss of a baby..so Harleys loss has been especially hard as he was like their baby

Totally agree - if you autopsy collect him and take him to another vet! The vet said last night the window of opportunity for completing an autopsy was closing as he was being stored in the freezer etc..

Yes, the above quote, I got from the Veterinary Board of Victoria :) I am waiting for a report and reply from the vet clinic.

Thanks Sheridan, I have sent them an email this morning, just asking if the nurse leaving and an animal dieing under anaesthetic, if this is normal and does it happen often...just a nice sort of email, I obviously want that they stuffed up in writing... But the nurse admitted to the owner over the phone what happened, and in a Stat Dec by the owner, this would certainly be something

Would I be right in saying they have breached Standards of Veterinary Practices, Section 1.2 (L) GENERAL PRACTICE "Have a trained assistant present during sterile procedures for the purposes of anaesthetic monitoring and to assist in maintaining sterality" The autopsy I believe is irrelevant, as the fact I am persuing, is that the puppy was left unmonitored for at least a few minutes whilst under a GA

The window for autopsy has closed, as he was stored in the freezer, the surgery happened yesterday early arvo, so the window of opportunity for autopsy was not long. I was even considering having his body moved and having a different vet clinic perform the autopsy, an impartial party, as I wouldn't trust this vet clinic

Hi Minimax, no the original cost of the surgery was reimbursed and credited back to the owner. We will be gathering facts and going through the relevant board. Like is said, we are not after any financial gain, but hopefully by pursuing this, it really drives it home that this was negligent and should never have happened, it won't bring Harley back, but it could save the life of anothet

I will be pursuing this further, as I personally feel it was negligence. We asked about an autopsy, but the vet said it would cost $550, after discussing it with the owners, we agreed it wouldn't bring "Harley" back, and he was a healthy and fit dog, regardless of what caused him to go downhill, it was the negligence of the vet nurse who left the puppy during surgery, leaving no one to monitor the dog. I have offered the owners Harley's brother, who I kept back to show etc, I have offered him at no cost to them at all, in hope that it will ease some of the pain they feel We are visiting with Tig this Thursday, which they are looking forward to. I agree they are entitled to compensation, they paid $1800 for Harley, plus the cost to raise him etc. I personally wouldn't expect any financial gain for raising the litter etc. even if it didn't eventuate, I feel the vet clinic needs to know that this is not ok, they can't get away with this and they need be vigilant and provide a high standard of care when looking after people's pets. Whether its surgery for a hip replacement, open heart surgery or teeth cleaning, an anaesthetic is an anaesthetic and every dog needs monitoring! They always say how risky it is with Anaesthetic, yet they allow this to happen

We don't know what to do, the vets response was "no explanation" and that an autopsy would be needed at a cost of $550 to the owner. Later after I spoke to the owner, he called the vet and spoke with the nurse who advised him that she left the room... The puppy was strong, happy and healthy as a horse. I bred this puppy, all my puppies are very close to my heart regardless of where they are, I am at a loss and truly gutted...this has left us all shattered. I am following this up no questions, this in my opinion is neglect

We are all very devastated, they have a duty of care with our much loved family members and they have been so careless today. In my opinions there is such a big time frame between a dog going downhill (blood pressure, heart rate) to stopping breathing, to having no pulse. So no one was monitoring this puppy for quite a few minutes at least and the puppy and his loving owners have paid the terrible cost I am just shattered this has happened, something that to me is so preventable. What would be so much more important for the nurse than to monitor an animal under anaesthetic!!! I don't care what the vet would "prefer" your operating on a member of my family and all precautions should be taken!!

A couple is left devastated after the took their 5 month old GSD puppy to the vet to have a cut stitched. Later they received a call advising them he had had a cardiac arrest during surgery and passed away. On further investigation, the nurse of 13 years experience said the vet doing the surgery had graduated last year, the surgery was going well, so the nurse left for a few minutes (leaving the pup not being monitored) came back and the Puppy wasn't breathing, checked for a pulse and the puppy didn't have one, he has passed while she was out doing something more important. They tell you how risky Anaesthetics are, yet leave a puppy un monitored during surgery Does anyone know what to so in this situation, the owners Do not want anything out of it, but in my opinion the Vet Clinic needs to he held accountable

Does anyone have working dog group results please

Yes but even the Preventic box said not to use with other products