| Complaint: | Complaint 20-65 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Matthew Hay-Roe |
| Premises: | Deer Creek Animal Hospital |
The complainant tells us that her dog got sick the previous night and noticed urine and diarrhea. She realized the dog definitely had a problem and he was also vomiting at this point. She called Deer Creek Animal Hospital and they told her to bring the dog in. She noted that the dog's gums were turning pale and that her dog couldn't even hold his head up. Hay-Roe recommended hospitalization and she agreed. She called for an update and was told the dog was still unwell but was no longer moaning. She was also told the x-ray and ultrasound suggested a possible blockage. Hay-Roe allegedly told her to expect another call in another couple of hours. Later Hay-Roe called and told her that her dog was dead despite an attempt to perform CPR. She also spoke with a veterinary technician who said that they pulled some fluid from around the spleen after the dog died and it was blood. She requested a necropsy but only got some notes, not a full report; one of the staff told her it was her first time ever seeing a necropsy. The complainant gives us a well-organized list of perceived oversights on Hay-Roe's part, stating the dog was never given pain medication, was given antibiotics despite not being septic, given Cerenia despite the suspected foreign body, nobody bothered to check the fluid around the spleen while the dog was alive, lack of consent for CPR, transposed notes in medical records, and a variety of others. She says that she left her dog in Hay-Roe's kennel dying in pain for five hours when she could have taken the dog somewhere that could have actually helped him.
Hay-Roe's response gives the same general introduction that the complainant writes. He then literally gives an entire paragraph of potential differential diagnoses that's worth a read for your own enjoyment. He says that he presented the complainant with a treatment plan. He admits that he didn't give the dog any pain medication because he seemed dull already, with concerns about further sedation making the diagnostic process even more difficult. He tells us how he did an abdominal ultrasound and that it would not have been safe to perform a fine needle aspirate at that time. He also tells us the dog kept doing worse, but he was "still uncertain of a definitive diagnosis given the multiple abnormalities." He did locate what appeared to be a small object but there were no obvious signs of a blockage. He then collaborated with fellow co-workers Suzanne Higgins and Kelly Grant who concluded the dog seemed "pretty sick." They said that they agreed to watch and see if the object in the dog moved. They also concluded that transfer was unnecessary because the dog wasn't really doing that bad. The dog then dropped dead a bit later and CPR didn't make a difference. On necropsy he found a 1.5 cm square plastic bag fastener that had ripped up some of the dog's innards; he says the dog had a 75% chance of dying no matter what he did. He tells us the complaint came as a surprise.
The Investigative Committee said that they weren't concerned about the Cerenia because it also helps with intestinal pain as well as nausea. (I believe the complainant's concern was that Cerenia is contraindicated in animals with potential GI blockages.) They basically said that Hay-Roe did everything right and that there was nothing on the x-rays to suggest an emergency surgery. The complainant's list of concerns is largely ignored; in cases where they were discussed, they were dismissed.
| Source: | June 6, 2020 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Matthew Hay-Roe | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Aye |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Brian Sidaway | Recused |
| Cameron Dow | Aye |
| William Hamilton | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | July 7, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Seconded By: | Jane Soloman |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Nay |
| Nikki Frost | Absent |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | August 8, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Matthew Hay-Roe | Respondent |
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Sarah Heinrich | Absent |
| 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.