| Complaint: | Complaint 19-10 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Kelly Grant |
| Premises: | Deer Creek Animal Hospital |
The complainant's dog had a red bump so she took the dog to the veterinarian. Grant examined the dog and suspected allergies so they gave the dog a Kenalog injection. The complainant asked about potential side effects and was told the dog might be more thirsty than usual. The complainant says the dog was incontinent by the next weekend, but the clinic told her this was normal. By the end of the day she says her dog had deteriorated to the point the dog was unaware of sitting in a puddle of his own urine, also becoming disoriented and having a strange walk. She took the dog back to the clinic where they said they were very concerned about the dog and suspected Cushing's or diabetes. She kept contacting the clinic and was told she never authorized blood work during the initial visit but she informed them she was never asked. The latest round of tests allegedly had a blood sugar of 700 mg/dL and the clinic told her the "good news" was that it was unrelated to the injection. She was told to stop by and pick up some donated insulin and had no instructions so she went to her family veterinarian for help. The dog appears to have subsequently had significant complications related to diabetes.
Grant's response is no response at all and is remarkably terse even for this context. She states the dog presented for itchy skin and coat changes and was treated for allergies. She then states the dog came back for a recheck and blood work suggested diabetes. Treatment was started.
The Investigative Committee discussed that there's no reason to believe the Kenalog injection could have caused diabetes. They also say that the dog already had risk factors for diabetes. They also state that the dose of the steroid was on the low side. They said they had problems with the case management after diabetes was diagnosed, but that wasn't Grant's fault. There's no note that anybody bothered to follow up on that concern.
The Investigative Committee may also have some problems with the meanings of words. They state that "it has been documented" that long-term steroid use can result in diabetes in dogs, but that while "theoretically possible" it's never been seen by any of the veterinarians appointed to the Investigative Committee. If such instances have been documented, then it's no longer just a theoretical possibility.
(Maybe the dog was prediabetic? There's quite a bit to suggest that these injections can significantly elevate glucose levels in diabetic patients, it seems.)
| Source: | November 11, 2018 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Kelly Grant | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Absent |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Christine Butkiewicz | Aye |
| Donald Noah | Aye |
| William Hamilton | Aye |
| Violations: | |
| ARS § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to AAC R3-11-502 (L) (7) (a) failure to document in the medical record the concentration of kenalog administered to the dog on August 4, 2017. | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | December 12, 2018 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Nikki Frost |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Nay |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Sarah Heinrich | Nay |
| Violations: | |
| ARS 32-2233 (B) (3) Minor records violations | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | Order 19010 (January 1, 2019) |
|---|---|
| Violations: | |
| A.R.S. § 32-2233 (B) (3) minor records violations that are routine entries into the medical record and that do not affect the diagnosis or care of the animal; failure to document in the medical record the concentration of Kenalog administered to the dog on August 4, 2017. | |
| Penalties: | |
| Civil penalty ($250) | |
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.