| Complaint: | Complaint 20-113 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Tatyana Lyakhova |
| Premises: | AZPetVet Roadrunner Animal Hospital |
The complainant says that she discovered some blood on her cat's belly and the cat seemed uncomfortable. She was worried about a clump of fur causing a tear and took the cat to the veterinarian. Lyakhova recommended injections for pain and antibiotics and then said the cat needed scheduled for a "sedated grooming." She agreed and the cat was sent home. The cat went home and was still bleeding so the complainant was able to slowly trim off hair until she discovered a mass on the cat. She took the cat to another veterinarian who discontinued the medications Lyakhova prescribed as he allegedly said they were unsafe for a cat in that condition. He also performed a biopsy that suggested an infectious cause rather than cancer. The complainant ends by stating that Lyakhova's ineptitude is concerning because not everyone can just go to another veterinarian, and in other circumstances, the cat may have been severely harmed by her poor care.
Lyakhova tells us that they were fully booked but were able to work the complainant in. She also says that the cat was placed in a carrier with a dirty towel covered in bird feathers, seed, and feces; based on the condition of the animal and the bird poop on the towel she suspected animal neglect on the complainant's part. She lists the drugs she recommended for the cat and states that since the cat was doing well on exam that there was no reason to not use them. She also said that they could not work on the cat because the cat was putting up too much of a struggle, and as a "fear free certified practitioner" she didn't feel comfortable proceeding. She said that she suggested sedating the cat and dealing with the problem another day. She believes that the bird poop on the towel was the cause of the infection (does she think the cat was on that towel all the time?) and doesn't believe the cat would have died. She says that if the cat was really bleeding as bad as the complainant made it sound, she should have called because it would have been an emergency.
The Investigative Committee said that if Lyakhova hadn't used the term "sedated grooming" perhaps the cat would have received care sooner. (It is unclear why this would be.) They felt Lyahkova handled the situation appropriately and noted that the other veterinarian who took over the case handled it the same way. They said that there could have been miscommunication and wished that Lyakhova had warned the complainant about using a towel with bird poop on it.
| Source: | October 10, 2020 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Tatyana Lyakhova | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Aye |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Brian Sidaway | Aye |
| Cameron Dow | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | November 11, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| 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.