[Ilovethemountains]

Hello, this is my first time posting to this particular forum. I don't know if there are any veterinarians out there, but I have a couple of questions that are really bothering me. In November of 2005, my 12 year old Collie / Shepherd mix suddenly appeared very bloated, and felt hard. I took him to the vet I had used for several years. He kept him for two days, and then operated. He removed an 18 lb. Non-malignant tumor of the spleen in a 3 hour surgery – something about the spleen had ruptured, encapsulated, re-ruptured, etc. until it became noticeable. He also said that this was a very “rare” illness. He said it was “touch and go”, but if he survived 48 hrs. he would be okay. When I called at noon the next day, I was told that my dog had died the night before of a probable “thrown blood clot”, that he had been doing well, but suddenly went into respiratory arrest, and died within minutes. That this was common in large dogs after long surgery.
We did not get a new dog for several months, as I just needed some time. He had been an important part of my life for 11 years. Then, in May, a coworker said she needed to get rid of her two year old Lab mix, he was too energetic for their house. I took him, and quickly became attached. He became my daily morning walk buddy. Last Saturday, he was fine, jumping and running as he always did, when he suddenly collapsed. He quickly became completely non-responsive, and seemed to be dying before my eyes. My wife and I ran him to the vet just before they closed. The vet felt hardness in his abdomen, and immediately performed surgery. About one hour later, he returned and showed us what he said was a very inflamed, near to rupture, gall bladder. It was about 3-4 inches long, and purplish. He said it should have been half that size and greenish. He then said it would be “touch and go”, but if he survived 48 hrs. he would be okay. (Boy did that sound familiar.) We waited as we wanted to see him after he came out of the anesthesia before we left. Twenty minutes later, the doctor came out and reported that he hadn't made it. He began bleeding through the suture, and was hemorrhaging from his nose, and went into cardiac arrest. He then said this was not uncommon, that sometimes after surgery, they just lose the ability to clot. He also said that this condition (the inflamed gall bladder) was extremely rare, and this was the first time he had dealt with a stricken dog that survived long enough to get into surgery.
Today we got the bill, and coincidentally, the bill for the 1 hour of surgery and 3 hrs of service, was exactly the same as the 3 hrs of surgery, 3 days of service. $750!! I have spent $1500 in less than a year for two “rare” unsuccessful surgeries.
My questions – are these rare ailments? Do the animals typically die? Or is there something not right with my vet's post-op care? Would the bills be so similar if the 3 hrs. of service occurred in an after-hours procedure? Should I trust this vet, or start searching for a new one. Up until this, we really liked him, and trusted him.

Thanks
J

[kymwm]

I'm a vet tech, & in my OPINION you should probably find a new vet. Yes, some animals do die after surgey. However, I have worked for the same vet for 10 years. We have had animals die, but usually they are extreamly old or we knew it is touch & go BEFORE going into surgery. I would say that in the past 10 years, maybe 3 or 4 dogs have died after surgery that we were surprised by. We have had many more live long lives after surgery that surprised us (we didn't think they would even make it through the surgery.) Question, did you see both of your dogs after they died?

[kymwm]

P.S. Sorry to hear about your sorrow. I know how hard losing your best friend is.

[Ilovethemountains]

Question, did you see both of your dogs after they died?

We saw the older dog after he died, as we brought him home and buried him in the yard. He looked asleep. The younger dog we didn't see. The vet made it sound as if he would be disturbing to see due to the hemorrhaging. So we let them have him cremated.

J

[valinors_sorrow]

I am sorry about your dog and I would seek a second opinion next time. And can't help wondering how it goes on other fronts with you both as well. Take care.

[binx44]

I'd be looking for another vet too if I were you I agree that that does sound suspicious. If you know anyone else who has dogs (and you are getting another one) ask them all who their vets are and the experiences the've had with them before making your own opinion... good luck and I am dearly sorry for your loss

[gvellianitis]

It sounds very suspicious! If it was me, I would see if you can find a different veterinarian. I'm really sorry about your losses. It so hard to lose such a close friend you've had for so long, and has brought you so much unconditional love.

[Fr_Chuck]

I have no idea about animal care, but the main issue is you are suspicioius and have doubts about this vets ability.

So once you have a doubt, you would never fully trust them, so you really have to find another one.

[badams007]

The number one thing between my vet and I is strict honesty. I trust him to be honest with me, even if I am not going to like what he says...

Without that relationship, I would be hard pressed to have him treat my own dogs and about a dozen foster dogs each year.

Trust is the biggest factor in any health relationship be it your body or that of a beloved fur-kid. I would recommend starting to interview new vets... and one clue will be if a vet will even take the time to meet you in the first place.

Your story is gut wrenching and is something no one should have to go through...

-Beth

[labman]

Has anybody noticed the original post was August? It would have been automatically locked in another coupleof weeks.

[heathervettechCa]

Hello, this is my first time posting to this particular forum. I don't know if there are any veterinarians out there, but I have a couple of questions that are really bothering me. In November of 2005, my 12 year old Collie / Shepherd mix suddenly appeared very bloated, and felt hard. I took him to the vet I had used for several years. He kept him for two days, and then operated. He removed an 18 lb. Non-malignant tumor of the spleen in a 3 hour surgery – something about the spleen had ruptured, encapsulated, re-ruptured, etc., until it became noticeable. He also said that this was a very “rare” illness. He said it was “touch and go”, but if he survived 48 hrs. he would be okay. When I called at noon the next day, I was told that my dog had died the night before of a probable “thrown blood clot”, that he had been doing well, but suddenly went into respiratory arrest, and died within minutes. That this was common in large dogs after long surgery.
We did not get a new dog for several months, as I just needed some time. He had been an important part of my life for 11 years. Then, in May, a coworker said she needed to get rid of her two year old Lab mix, he was too energetic for their house. I took him, and quickly became attached. He became my daily morning walk buddy. Last Saturday, he was fine, jumping and running as he always did, when he suddenly collapsed. He quickly became completely non-responsive, and seemed to be dying before my eyes. My wife and I ran him to the vet just before they closed. The vet felt hardness in his abdomen, and immediately performed surgery. About one hour later, he returned and showed us what he said was a very inflamed, near to rupture, gall bladder. It was about 3-4 inches long, and purplish. He said it should have been half that size and greenish. He then said it would be “touch and go”, but if he survived 48 hrs. he would be okay. (Boy did that sound familiar.) We waited as we wanted to see him after he came out of the anesthesia before we left. Twenty minutes later, the doctor came out and reported that he hadn't made it. He began bleeding through the suture, and was hemorrhaging from his nose, and went into cardiac arrest. He then said this was not uncommon, that sometimes after surgery, they just lose the ability to clot. He also said that this condition (the inflamed gall bladder) was extremely rare, and this was the first time he had dealt with a stricken dog that survived long enough to get into surgery.
Today we got the bill, and coincidentally, the bill for the 1 hour of surgery and 3 hrs of service, was exactly the same as the 3 hrs of surgery, 3 days of service. $750!!!! I have spent $1500 in less than a year for two “rare” unsuccessful surgeries.
My questions – are these rare ailments? Do the animals typically die? Or is there something not right with my vet's post-op care? Would the bills be so similar if the 3 hrs. of service occurred in an after-hours procedure? Should I trust this vet, or start searching for a new one. Up until this, we really liked him, and trusted him.

Thanks
j

That's a tough question that I am sure most vets will not touch since it's a small industry. I have been in the industry for more than 10 years and I can tell you, there are a lot of great vets out there and there are just as many quacks out there. On the note of weather or not these cases were poorly managed, I cannot say, but I can tell you, in medicine, unfortunately, there are no guarantees. I always say, if a vet in a small practice rearely or never refers services to specialists that have more experience in the area of a rare or complex disease, surgery etc. they probably have too much pride to admit when they are not qualified for a particular procedure or treatment and often doint want to give up the profit margen (I know this sounds bad, and it is, but it is the truth). There are surgical specialists for a reason in human medicine as well as veterinary medicine, because the more experience you have the less likely you are to have complications. You gain experience by being a resident at a specialty facility and eventually become board certified once you complete your residency and take the test. I don't want to advise you on weather or not to leave your vet and seek anouther but I will say that if you need to ask, you probably already know the answer. Is a gall bladder surgery rare, yes and no, it is not routine in a small practice, is a splenectomy a rare surgery, not in a critical care hospital or surery specialty hospital, but in small practice yes. Its always best to seek specailists and to request a consult with one if you can, and if the vet you go to says that they will not refer you, than you should cue in on that. You wouldn't see your family practitioner for a gall baldder surgery or splenic mass would you? Yes they can diagnose it but you are hard pressed to find one that is going to try to operate on it.
I am sorry for your loss, I just lost my girl of 9 years to lymphoma so I feel your pain.
Heather