| Complaint: | Complaint 19-11 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Alisa Reniker |
| Premises: | 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Chandler |
The complainant's dog was taken to 1st Pet and diagnosed with bloat. We're told that a three-hour surgery was performed and the dog was hospitalized for five days. Her lawyer states that according to the clinic's notes the dog had heart arrhythmias and leg swelling during recovery and dopamine was subsequently administered in the right front paw. We're also told that the records state the right forelimb was painful, bruised, and swollen. The dog was discharged in this condition and the dog refused to put weight on the paw; the complainant subsequently noted a bloody discharge from the paw. The complainant says she asked for an MRI and a culture to determine what was wrong with the paw. The lawyer also quotes a note from the records stating that Reniker was concerned about a possible dopamine infusion in that leg and whether poison control should be contacted to determine if phentolamine should be administered to counteract it. She took the dog to another clinic for a CT scan and culture which revealed an E. Coli infection. Reniker recommended amputating the entire leg but, the dog's regular veternarian suggested only amputating the paw, which appears to have worked.
Reniker's response gives a timeline of the events from the surgery and the follow-up. We learn of how the dog was suffering from bloody stool and anemia after the surgery for bloat. A subsequent blood transfusion caused a transfusion reaction that appears to have not done the dog any favors, but it did involve dispensing a lot more drugs and other treatments. Reniker disputes that the complainant ever asked for an MRI and that Hoskinson (the radiologist) didn't believe MRI would be more useful than ultrasound or contrast CT. Reniker does say that on initial presentation she was concerned that dopamine may have leaked out and damaged the leg, but that was only because nothing else made sense at the time and she hadn't had the time to review the other records; once she did she learned that dopamine was never injected into that leg. Reniker says that an amputation was discussed as a possibility. She states that she knows it was a very difficult and expensive event but that the dog had top-quality care from five specialists and highly competent nursing staff. If further input is required, she says that her attorney, Alex Cooper, is authorized to discuss the case (though oddly David Stoll ends up being her representative at the Board).
The Investigative Committee said that "it was apparent that the dopamine injection was given in the right rear leg and not the right front leg." They conclude they have no idea why the skin began sloughing off the right front leg; apparently stuff like this must just happen. The Committee was also happy the dog made it through the bloat surgery.
| Source: | November 11, 2018 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Alisa Reniker | Respondent |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Absent |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Christine Butkiewicz | Aye |
| Donald Noah | Aye |
| William Hamilton | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | December 12, 2018 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Christina Bertch-Mumaw |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | January 1, 2019 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Alisa Reniker | Respondent |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Christina Bertch-Mumaw |
| Seconded By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Nay |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Nay |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Absent |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| 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.