| Complaint: | Complaint 20-122 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Karina Cox |
| Premises: | Prescott Animal Hospital and Equine Center |
The complainant tells us she took her horse to Prescott Animal Hospital's Equine Center after she noticed her horse not wanting to eat or drink well. She examined the horse's mouth and found nothing suspicious, so she wanted a veterinarian to look. She tells us that Cox looked in the horse's mouth and saw nothing, then came back with a syringe. She thought Cox was going to run blood tests but instead sedated the horse and filed his teeth down without a prior explanation. She then came back to draw blood and said she would return in 30 minutes; the complainant says that based on a wall clock she actually spent an hour and 30 minutes with her horse's head propped up on her shoulder before Cox came back. Cox said she wanted to keep the horse overnight and the complainant agreed. She says that they tried to feed her horse hay and pellets, but she told them her horse only eats pellets because his teeth are already worn to the gumline. She says they hooked up an IV bag and said to expect a call from Cox the next day. The next day she says she received a call from Cox who said the horse still wasn't eating and needed more hydration. On the second day the complainant drove down to see the horse and found the horse with nobody there; she says her horse very much wanted to come back with her, so she went to get her trailer and then took the horse home. There was no IV bag on the horse and the horse appeared very gaunt as though he was now malnourished or outright starving, much worse than when she brought him in. There was nobody around at the office to ask what was going on. She took the horse home and tried to do what she could, but her horse died two days later. She says she never did get the blood work results and the only call she received was a follow-up call to pay her bill; she notes that she's always paid her bill on time before but she isn't going to pay this one. She states that on prior occasions she had taken her horse to Prescott and had euthanasia suggested even though the horse was performing well in athletics and endurance competitions. She appears to believe that Cox and Prescott in general didn't believe the horse was worth helping because of his age.
Cox says that she's seen the complainant's horses over the past four years, as have four other veterinarians at the facility. She says that the complainant has been difficult to communicate with. She claims that the complainant actually suggested the teeth might be the problem and also consented to sedation to float (grind) the teeth, contrary to the complainant's description of the events. She also says that she explained the horse's blood test had elevated kidney values suggestive of either kidney disease or dehydration, and that the complainant agreed the horse was very sick. We're also told the complainant agreed to pay a 24-hour estimate and told Cox to keep the horse longer if needed as the horse meant everything to her. She says the horse appeared to be getting better, was monitored overnight by a camera, and seemed to show some minor discomfort. She also says a repeat blood test suggested the horse's blood work was abnormal from dehydration rather than kidney disease. She states that care was handed over to Bryan Nolte; she also notes that the complainant had not yet bothered to actually pay the required deposit, referencing that on previous occasions the complainant had issues paying for medication promptly. She says that the complainant has not contacted the hospital nor responded to their many voice messages regarding her outstanding bill. There's no mention of the horse's gaunt condition or allegedly being left alone at the facility. Instead we're told that she thinks the complainant only filed the complaint because she received a notice they were sending her bill to a collection agency.
The findings of fact state that the hospital administrator, Diane Oveido, stated the complainant actually met her the afternoon she retrieved the horse. They also state that the horse's course of treatment was actually finished that day, hence there was no reason for the horse to have an IV bag or anything else. (Whether that makes their case better or worse given the alleged condition of the horse will be left for you to ponder.) There are also mentions by Prescott Animal Hospital and Equine Center's staff of attempts by the complainant to avoid paying her bill, including driving off from the clinic.
The Investigative Committee said that there were no medical concerns regarding the case. They said it was somewhat concerning the complainant was able to just show up and take off with her horse, but that they didn't feel it was a violation.
Prescott Animal Hospital and Equine Center has a variety of interesting connections with the AzVMA and the state veterinary board, largely as a result of professional connections from Skinner and the Dow family. Skinner was a former AzVMA president and AzVMA official who served alongside Brian Serbin, a veterinary board chair. Steven Dow was a former AzVMA director, vet board member, and vet board investigator. His son, Cameron, inherited the clinic from his dad; he's also a former AzVMA secretary/treasurer and board investigator who appears to have been replaced by none other than his father. Cameron also appears to have been an AzVMA director alongside Christina Tran, one of the investigators on this case. Cameron's wife, Amie, is also a veterinarian who's in with Yavapai Emergency Animal Hospital along with Nikki Frost, a vet board member, and Barbara Batke, a veterinarian subsequently elected to the AzVMA Board of Directors.
| Source: | November 11, 2020 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Karina Cox | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | December 12, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | J Greg Byrne |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Absent |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| 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.