| Complaint: | Complaint 22-35 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Anita Laucher-Morris |
| Premises: | Circle L Animal Hospital |
The complainant took his dog to Circle L Animal Hospital for skin issues. He relates that he was told that his dog had kidney problems; the skin issue was related to uterine issues and would be handled later. He believes that the treatments prescribed to only made the dog sicker; over the next month the dog lost 15 of her 90 pounds. After a follow-up visit more lab work was performed, and the complainant called the next day to inform them the dog was yet worse; they called him back and informed him that the dog needed to be taken to Yavapai Emergency Animal Hospital for kidney failure. Treatment there proved ineffective and the dog later died at home. The complainant questions why the kidney disease was not treated more effectively, also wondering why kidney medications were not refilled as part of a medication refill.
Laucher's response states that the dog was seen for severe skin problems that were seasonal in nature. She stated that the dog had been seen by Prescott Animal Hospital but the records had not been sent over for this visit. She claims that the complainant was only concerned about the skin problems and did not want to discuss the dog's risk factors for pyometra; she had a variety of concerns including the dog's age, a possible mammary mass, a largely-human food diet that "may have been under- or over-consuming vital macro and micronutrients" and leg arthritis. She planned a follow-up to address these myriad medical problems. She gave a Cytopoint injection, a probiotic, a renal support supplement, a medicated shampoo, and fluconazole; she also wanted the dog to have a renal diet but the complainant said he would make one at home. At some point cefpodoxime also ended up in the mix.
According to Laucher it was difficult to get in touch with the complainant and he was only able to come back a month later for a recheck. They also called back for refills on some of the medications. On recheck the dog had lost weight and the owners had changed some of the dog's diet and supplements without checking with her or the prior veterinarian at Prescott Animal Hospital (who had apparently diagnosed a chicken allergy). She states that based on the information available at that visit, it did not appear that the dog had kidney failure, and she gave the dog a steroid injection. The dog did worse at home and another vet at the clinic, Francesena, suggested the dog go to Yavapai Emergency Animal Hospital; blood work from the recheck came in pointing to kidney failure as well, again indicating that the dog needed emergency care.
The Investigative Committee stated that it was a "complex" case and that unfortunately people focus on the skin because it's so obvious; apparently they were more or less in lockstep with the respondent's account on this one. They also said that the steroid injection didn't cause the kidney failure because it was given at the same time the final blood draw was performed. (This would seem to be a rather unique read of the complaint as they don't discuss the antifungals, antibiotics, and more that were prescribed during the month prior to that final visit. Could any of those have tipped the dog into kidney failure?)
| Source: | March 3, 2022 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Anita Laucher-Morris | Respondent |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Roll Call: | |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Steven Seiler | Absent |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | April 4, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Jane Soloman |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Result: | Passed |
The primary source for the above summary was obtained as a public record from the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. You are welcome to review the original records and board meeting minutes by clicking the relevant links. While we endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the complaint, response, investigative reports and board actions, we encourage you to review the primary sources and come to your own conclusions. In some cases we have also been able to reach out to individuals with knowledge of specific complaints, and where possible that information will be included here.