| Complaint: | Complaint 20-59 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Garrell Geiger |
| Premises: | Geiger Veterinary Mobile Clinic |
The complainants write that Geiger believes he did no wrong but overdosed their dog and caused her death. They state that the veterinarian at VCA who examined the dog said the dose was too high. We're told that the dog was taken to Geiger for a thyroid issue, and he put the dog on meloxicam because he thought the dog might have arthritis.
The findings of fact provide a bit more information as the complaint itself is very thin. We learn the dog got very sick and was taken to VCA. Carotenuto examined the dog there and had serious concerns about the meloxicam dosage. Unable to pay for more treatment, the complainants euthanized the dog. Carotenuto apparently performed the necropsy and passed along the results to the complainants; she also apparently called up Geiger to tell him to be expecting to hear from the complainants.
Geiger tells us that the dog had symptoms of arthritis. He also tells us that he had been prescribing meloxicam at a higher dose in larger dogs rather as an alternative to more expensive NSAIDs. He says that he'd never had any problems doing this before but that he learned that the dog had a perforated ulcer and was euthanized. He says that going forward he won't do this any more, and that usually he refers out dogs that don't improve on meloxicam as he doesn't have an x-ray machine.
The Investigative Committee said that it was apparent the meloxicam overdose caused the death of the dog. They found three violations including gross negligence. The Board also found violations including gross negligence. Geiger was required to take four hours of continuing education and pay a $250 fine.
| Source: | June 6, 2020 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Garrell Geiger | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Cameron Dow | Aye |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Absent |
| Jarrod Butler | Absent |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Absent |
| Violations: | |
| ARS 32-2232 411) gross negligence; treatment of a patient or practice of veterinary medicine resulting in injury, unnecessary suffering or death that was caused by carelessness, negligence or the disregard of established principles or practices. Respondent did not follow the recommended manufacturer dosages when dispensing meloxicam causing a pyloric perforation, leading to the death of the dog. | |
| ARS 32-2232 (21) as it relates to AAC R3-11-502 (L) (7)(a -d) for failure to record in the dog's medical recordthat Thyrozine was prescribed. *[(L) (8) may be more appropriate in this situation as the medication was prescribed, not administered] | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (1) for failure to use current professional and scientific knowledge by using the non-FDA approved thyroid medication Thyrozine. | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | July 7, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Seconded By: | Darren Wright |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Absent |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Violations: | |
| ARS 32-2232 (11) Gross negligence | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) Failure to use current professional and scientific knowledge | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) Failure to record in the medical record | |
| ARS 32-2281 (A)(1)(d) Failure to record route of administration | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | July 7, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Seconded By: | Darren Wright |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Absent |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | Order 20059 (November 11, 2020) |
|---|---|
| Violations: | |
| A.R.S. § 32-2232 (11) gross negligence; treatment of a patient or practice of veterinary medicine resulting in injury, unnecessary suffering or death that was caused by carelessness, negligence or the disregard of established principles or practices. Respondent did not follow the recommended manufacturer dosages when dispensing meloxicam causing a pyloric perforation, leading to the death of the dog. | |
| A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-501 (1) for failure to use current professional and scientific knowledge by using the non-FDA approved thyroid medication Thyrozine. | |
| A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-502 (L) (8) for failure to record in the dog's medical record that Thyrozine was prescribed. | |
| A.R.S. § 32-2281(A)(1)(d) for failure to record the route of administration of the Meloxicam on the dispensed medication’s label. | |
| Penalties: | |
| Probation (1 year) | |
| Continuing education (2 hours in medical record keeping) | |
| Continuing education (2 hours in analgesia) | |
| 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.