The complainant says that his old cat passed away, so he adopted another cat from a humane society. He
said that for the next few months the cat did well but started to refuse to eat and lost a lot of weight.
He never needed a vet before, so he was given a list of vets and took his cat to see Sorensen. She allegedly
said the cat's teeth were grossly neglected and had elevated AST levels on blood work. The cat declined
and he went back to the vet. He says that while there another client came out and said that his dog died
just like the previous five dogs treated at the vet's office. Sorensen examined the cat and said that the
teeth were still a problem and that the cat wasn't eating because it had been vomiting. The complainant
said that the cat hadn't been vomiting and had been able to chew on hard objects. It sounds like Sorensen
allegedly told him that he doesn't know what it looks like when a cat throws up. He also said that at
this point the cat was turning yellow. Sorensen gave the cat Cerenia. The cat began dry heaving on the
way home and vomited bile at home. He says the cat had trouble walking and had a vacant look. The cat
died the day after. The complainant was concerned that the cat actually had a liver problem. He also
has concerns that Cerenia has a warning that it should not be given to cats with suspected liver problems.
Sorensen's reply emphasizes that the cat hadn't eaten for several weeks by the time she saw the cat. She
also accuses the complainant of being "surly and belligerent." Contrary to the complainant she says that
the cat acted painful when she examined the mouth, which made her suspect dental problems. She says that
she had concerns about metabolic diseases including liver disease, but that the limited bloodwork the
complainant approved made her less concerned about liver disease. She says that her clinic is small and
if she doesn't hear from a client that a pet is doing poorly, they assume the pet is doing well. She then
says that after the second visit she had strong concerns for hepatitis, fatty liver disease, or diabetes.
She only mentions Cerenia in the context of stating that she uses it in animals with liver disease and
has had no ill effects.
The Investigative Committee does not discuss the elevated liver tests, the Cerenia warning, or the cat
becoming yellow. They also do not discuss any potential concern with a cat with suspected liver disease
turning yellow and then being given a drug that's contraindicated in cats with liver disease. They said
that it would have been nice for Sorensen to have better record keeping but that the complainant was
actually at fault for not agreeing to more tests on the cat.
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.