Must read story!!!!!!!!!!!! - Page 1

My friend worte this story, I was there and know that it is a true story!

Here is the report on what happened on the night of June 27/28     I feed Hunter at 8.15 pm. I saw him jump up on the side of his run and I told him to stop as he was just feed. I went back out at about 9.10 pm to let him out, and I saw that he was bloating. I felt his sides and found that he was getting bigger. I called my friend Maggie Thomas at 9.17 to come and at 9.18 I called my Vet Dr. Fenton. I left him a message.   In the meantime Maggie arrived and we cut a peace of hose off and tried to tube him. After he swallowed the tube Maggie and I heard air coming out. Hunter worked the tube back up and I did not feel comfortable to do it again. We put Hunter in the car and started driving. Dr Fenton called me back and I explained the situation and he advised me to get him as quickly as possible to the emergency clinic in Fayetteville. ( 20 miles),   We arrived at the clinic at 10.07 pm. Hunter was taken from us and lead to the back where they took a X-ray and did some lab work. After a short time we were called into a room where we had to wait. The doctor came and took us to the back to see the X-ray.   He then told us that he believes that the stomach was twisted and that the spleen was most likely involved. He also started talking about a mass that could been pushing the stomach over. At that time I told him that Hunter was with us at all times that afternoon and that I did not see anything unusually. I also told him about the jump at feeding time and that I was sure that that was the reason for his condition. He then told us that Hunter has a fever of 107.and talked about heatstroke. Again I told him that that can not be the case.   After he repeated himself for several times I interrupted him and asked if he would please do the surgery. He then explained that he would have to stabilize Hunter first with fluids and painkiller. He also advised us that the high temperature was an concern.   I asked him again to help Hunter and do something now. He told me, at this point, he has to do what he thinks is the best for Hunter.and that would be to wait.   We ( my Husband, Maggie, Aaron and Laura) all went out and we were discussing the situation. I was very concerned about the time that was passing as I very well know that this situation where Hunter was in, was a race against time.   After a few minute, I went back in and requested to talk to the doctor again. It was about 11:00pm. We were led to the room again where after a few minutes he came. That was about 11:00pm. He informed us that Hunters temperature has gone down to 103.9.but they did not have all lab test back.  I asked him if he would do the operation now. He told me no that he would first give him more fluids. At that point I told him that I would like for him to do the operation and I would sign a waiver and that I would take total responsibility for Hunter. His answer was: ""That is not how we work here and even if you would sign the waiver I would do it my way."&nbs

This is the next part of the story!I asked him again and again to do the operation but he did not. I begged him more then once. He just had a smile on his face and denied my request.

  About 20 -30 min later we talked to him again and he gave us the rest of the lab results. Most were normal only three were slightly elevated. Then again I offered him that I would sign a waiver and that I would like for him to do the surgery immediately. I believe that at that time he was annoyed with me and he told me that I should leave it up to him as he has lots of experience and that he went to school for many years and that he will do the operation when he feels it it the right time. Also if I think that we are the only pations there and that they are quite busy. I then told him that I was under the impression that bloat is a very serious situation for Hunter. He did not react on that at all.   At 12:05 we went in the back to see Hunter. He was in a crate and I could see that he was still in pain. One of the technicians was with us and there again I asked when they would finally do the op. He told me that it would be soon. I asked him if they had even tried to tube him and he said " No we have not done that. I questioned why they have not done that. He told me that they were just worried about toxic gases.   At 12.10 we left the hospital and drove home. We were home about 15 - 20 min when the phone rang( it was 1:18 am)  and one of the technicians spoke to my Husband and gave him an update on Hunters situation. She told him that they had just started the op and that Hunters blood pressure had dropped at one point but that it was back up again. She also confirmed that it was a food bloat and that the stomach was twisted and that there was damage to his stomach and that they would continue with the op.   At 1:47 am we received the next call and it was Dr. Ramson. He told me that Hunter was still on the operating table and what had happened so far. I asked him if Hunter was still alive as he spoke in past tense. He said , yes he is still alive, but I am calling you to get permission to euthanize him. There is to much damage to his stomach and he would not be able to live with that.  At that time I told him,  I asked you several times to do the surgery and you refused to do it, if anything would have happened it would have been on me, but now  this one is on your conscious.You did not help Hunter in time. He started saying no that is not true we have done what we could do. I told him that this was not what I thought and I also told him that they had not even tried to tube him. He told me then that this was not correct and that they had tried earlier to do so. I then called him a liar and told him that I had asked the techn and that he did confirm to all of us that nothing had been done earlier. He then just told me that he would pass me on to Sheena one of the techn and I should give her the permission to euthanize Hunter. I repeated again that I think it was his fault and that I blame him that Hunter now has to die.   He then just passed the phone to Sheena.   I told her the same that I blame the doctor for the outcome. She said that she understands . I also told her to note that I did not like to give her permission to euthanize Hunter, but as I have to do what is best for Hunter now I have no other choice then to do so. Even so I asked her to note this it was no where written down.

I am so sorry for you.

I have learned not to trust them Dr. or VETS. I complianed the whole time I was pg to my OB, he passed me off as a complaiiner. I kept telling him I was in trouble. No gorry details, sufice to say, I was right! Go with your gut.

This is a good post, we belive in them, well they are not always correct. I lost a dog to a vet and a bad call, again I kept telling them I think my dog is in trouble, and when they would not listen to me, I had my daughter bring him in, she got the same thing. Put him on a diet, he is to fat. That dog was not fat, he was distented from liver damage,

I wanted to run the sob over. they could not get me out of there fast enough, I was so loud

There is a big difference in a fat dog, he is rounded on the sides, this poor guy's belly was growing straight down.

I send the son of a _ITCH, a picture of him with the words RIP every year on the date of his death. He should be glad I am not flattening his tires. He even moved offices, I found him. I have been doing this for 8 years.

I am so very sorry for you, I understand the anger/rage.

Greatest GSD -

  I am SO sorry for your friends loss. Bloat is a horrible thing and when we fall into the wrong Vet's hands we are simply at their mercy. I've been there. She should contact your states Vet Association or AVMA and discuss the situation to see what other Vet's would have done differently and if they agree things should have moved faster, lodge a complaint.

  I know when my dog Bloated they did the surgery within a half hour/45 minutes of my arrival and it probably took me 20 minutes from the time I saw him collapse to the time we arrived at the Vet. the Vet did tell me that if I was 10 minutes later, I would have lost him.

RIP Hunter!!

Tina