| Complaint: | Complaint 20-06 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Frank Coburn |
| Premises: | Animal Care Clinic of Prescott |
The complainant took his snake to Coburn because he was concerned the snake was suffering from internal parasites. This was subsequently verified by a fecal sample. Coburn is said to have suggested giving the snake ivermectin subcutaneously rather than orally. The complainant says that he was uncomfortable about this but says that he trusted the doctor. He states that he was not given any warnings or other reasons to be concerned and was aware that ivermectin is used to treat parasites in many species. The snake started to do poorly after coming home, becoming lethargic, having trouble breathing, and becoming unreactive to external stimuli. The snake eventually was unable to hold his head up and died during the night. The complainant states he could not afford to perform a necropsy. He says that not only does it bother him that an animal he spent much effort nursing back to health has now died, but that he was not given any warning that death could be a side effect. He states that the Board should investigate the matter and has concerns that perhaps the dose of ivermectin was incorrectly calculated.
Coburn's response begins by noting that he also suspects that ivermectin killed the snake, but it was not the result of an incorrect dosage calculation. He states that ivermectin has been used safely off-label in many species though some species and breeds do not tolerate it well. He also points out that idiosyncratic reactions can always occur. He states that he believed the snake would be too stressed receiving the drug orally and the injection was actually given into the muscle rather than into the skin "to help avert any skin discoloration in this beautifully colored snake." He states that neither he nor the Prescott Area Pet Emergency clinic had heard from the complainant (can he just call up the pet emergency clinic and find out who's been there?). Coburn says that there are no known side effects of ivermectin in reptiles and death is rare in all species; he states that the mechanism of action is very complicated and "I'm not sure I can explain all the biochemical changes in common language." (It is unclear why Coburn would feel the need to explain in "common language" considering the veterinary board and its investigators almost entirely consist of veterinarians.) He concludes with his dose calculation and copies from a veterinary medicine textbook. He also has an addendum apologizing for not warning the complainant about the risks of ivermectin.
The Investigative Committee minutes state that some members on the Committee also felt the ivermectin killed the snake. They also said that the complainant was familiar with ivermectin and would probably have agreed to go ahead even if Coburn had warned him about it, so there was no concern that Coburn didn't really warn him about it. They also thought that the snake might have had other health problems that caused it to drop dead, with at least one person wondering when the snake last ate. They conclude by stating that "exotics" can just drop dead for "no apparent reason, even when they appear healthy." It's truly surreal.
Note that both Coburn and at least some people on the Investigative Committee are suspicious that the ivermectin did in fact kill the snake. On the other hand, we're assured that this is a one-off and that no such reactions have ever been recorded. So did anyone report this one? Where would it be reported? If things aren't reported, then how do we know how rare they are?
| Source: | October 10, 2019 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Frank Coburn | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Absent |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | November 11, 2019 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| 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 | Absent |
| 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.