[aleda]

I took my dog in to have his anel glands removed and they gave him I second rabie shot he died the next day is this possible? I am lost trying to find out what killed him. Please help

[Sariss]

When was the first rabies shot?
How old was your dog?

[aleda]

The dog was two years and he had one shot in June 2010 and then November 2010. I just don't understand what killed him and the vet let him go home one hour after the surgery. Please help... thanks

[Aurora_Bell]

I have never heard of a dog dying from a second rabies shot, What do you mean he got his anal glands removed? Do you mean he got them emptied?

One hour after surgery is an awfully short observation time. Did the vet tell you why he was releasing your dog so soon? Did the vet say any thing about your dogs death? Did they preform a canine autopsy?

I am so sorry that y lost your dog, something about this isn't settling well with me, can you provide us with any other information? Was your dog seemingly healthy before the surgery?

[aleda]

My dog was very healthy he was a small dog but healthy. I wanted him cremated the vet said he wanted to pay for that. I paid 250.00 for the surgery and that was for the removel of the glands. The site did look good but i think they sent him home way to soon. This vet is in davenport,iowa and is also running for senetor. I think his rush out the door was for a campaign meeting. The doctor told me he thought it was a blood clot i don't know

[Aurora_Bell]

I just can't understand why the vet was removing the anal glands. Even dogs who have major issues with their glands just need to be on a regular schedule of expressing.

Actually removing the anal glands is not a normal practical procedure.

Has the dog been cremated yet? Are you saying the vet wants to pay for the cremation?

I;m sorry for all the questions, I am very confused with this post.

[aleda]

I don't know if the vet has cremated him yet they have not informed me and yes the vet said he wants to pay for the cremation!! Because i was taking him in once every two weeks to have the glands milked the vet said it would be the best thing to do

[Aurora_Bell]

Well unless you and your vet have a personal friendship, I would say he has a guilty conciseness . After all I have known my vet for 5 years, and she has never once offered to pay for anything... I would request a canine autopsy if it is not already too late.

[aleda]

Thanks so much i will call the vet now and see if it is too late. And no i do not have a personal friendship with the vet

[shazamataz]

I definitely agree with Bella, sounds like something awfully fishy is going on.
I don't know any vets that would offer to pay for cremation, I also don't know any vets that would release a dog so soon after surgery, they usually keep them in for at least a few hours for observation to make sure they wake up from the surgery properly.

I'm very sorry to hear about your situation and I would definitely be looking into why the vet is so keen on cremating the dog.

And pssssst, I know a few dogs who have had their glands removed... Imagine expressing an 80kg Great Danes glands every 2 weeks... it's like a pressure hose.

[Aurora_Bell]

Interesting, I have never heard of a vet actually removing the glands! Must be a Canadian thing :o

[Sariss]

Okay so.

I doubt the rabies vaccine is what did it. When animals come into shelters, they are vaccinated once eligible for adoption - which means many are probably vaccinated more than once in a year for rabies. It's pretty low risk, and anything serious would happen about 30 minutes afterwards, in the sense of anaphylacti shock from a vaccine reaction.

My guess (and it's a guess) is that this was something to do with the anesthesia.
Did the pet have bloodwork done prior to anesthesia? At two years old while rare, there could have been organ damage which made him a less-than-great candidate for anesthesia.
How was he acting after the anesthesia?
It's not ideal, but also not abnormal for vets to send pets home quickly after surgery, it seems to be in their own discretion. Though, I know we keep our anal sacculectomy patients a few nights.

Your vet MAY have wanted to pay for the cremation because the death may have had something to do with the procedure - possibly unavoidable (ie bloodwork may have picked it up). Or he could be hiding something. Without a necropsy it is next to impossible to determine why your dog passed away.

[CinnamonBrownie]

Hi,

In your post you said that "I am lost trying to find out what killed him." You didn't say explicitly if you have contacted the vet and asked -- are they being less than helpful with information after your pet died in their care?

If they aren't being too helpful, maybe it's time you contacted an attorney (just use your local bar association referral service to find a free telephone consultation) to discuss whether there may be a lawsuit possibility here.

The main reason I mention that is because I get the feeling the vet's office may be clamming up -- and if that's true, I have to seriously wonder what the reason for that would be.

I hope this helps.