The lack of care and knowledge by Dr Kimmel at Academy West Animal Hospital contributed to the death of my 9 ½ year old pit bull, Che’. I had taken her here for vaccinations etc because he took United Pet Care and was the only one in my area.
On January 27th I took her here because she was not eating and was lethargic. They did a basic exam, heart, temp, weight and he said he could find nothing wrong with her. I explained that I had changed her diet in December to the raw diet because I had heard good things about it, friends who have done it for years and I had done a little research myself, turns out not enough. Anyway, he said he did not recommend it because there had been some bad things associated with it. He never asked me exactly what I was feeding her or mentioned it again. I specifically requested a senior blood panel on her, assuming it would catch any abnormalities in her blood. Unbeknownst to me, it does not catch e-coli. It came back normal.
Two days later she is having stomach spasms, lethargic and cold to the touch. I rush her back, they do another basic exam during which the tech, Freddy, comments “you are pretty cold today girl” No mention was ever made again of this crucial symptom which I only found out after she died is a sign of e-coli.(hypothermia) I also did not find out until after she died that her temp at this visit was under 100 degrees, also not a good sign in a dog. So they do an x-ray which took forever and he comes back in and says, “I can’t find anything wrong with your dog other than she has a lot of stool in her intestines. You should just take her home and put her in the yard for a while. She is healthy and should live several more years. I GOT ONE MORE WEEK.
No attempt was made to clean out her colon, and again I found out too late that constipation is very bad in a dog on a raw diet. No follow up blood work, no stool sample requested, which I would have gladly taken back to him, or a urine sample. Nothing. I was a little uncomfortable with the diagnosis, but figured he was the vet, he should know. Looking back I should have followed my gut instinct and gone somewhere else for another opinion.
She seemed fine for nine days, eating, pooping, playing, as far as I could tell. Then on February 8th, 2014, she woke up with the same symptoms as the second visit. I am stupidly thinking constipation again. I call the same dumb vet, whose office says to “keep an eye on her and if she isn’t better bring her in on Monday”. A couple of hours go by and she poops, so I know it’s not constipation. She has vomited a clear liquid and is just barely moving. Will not eat, but is drinking. I call a different vet finally, but it is Saturday and they are gone. I call my same stupid vet and they are also gone and the guy who answers says to take her to the ER vet if she is worse. I am spending my last hours with my baby googling her symptoms trying to figure out what’s wrong. About 2 pm I check her gums which are very pale and it seems she is going into shock. She tries to follow me in the house and can’t walk. I am crying hysterically now, sensing this is very bad. We quickly load her in the car and rush to the ER. After about an hour they come in and tell us the prognosis is very bad. There is fluid in her stomach which is septic and even surgery will probably not save her and would be extremely expensive.
By the time they bring her into a private room she is taking her last breaths, so at least I got that. Their diagnosis: septic peritonitis with possible GI perforation. Peritonitis is caused by e-coli.
But I am so angry at myself for putting her on that stupid raw diet, and more angry at this vet that he didn’t even attempt to really find out what was wrong. If he had done just a few simple tests at that second visit, she may have been saved. Now my baby is dead and I am on a mission to let people know the raw diet is not safe and do not go to Academy West Animal hospital.
by Diana
xxx.xxx.177.98
February 28, 2014