The complainant says her dog ate ten pairs of underwear. She took the dog to Kiesel who
allegedly said it wasn't that concerning but the dog continued to worsen and be in pain.
The dog was unable to pass the underwear naturally. She also received a subsequent call
stating that the dog had inhaled some of the barium during the barium study and that it
needed to be repeated; they cleared the dog for surgery the next morning. He went to pick
up the dog and the dog wasn't breathing well or acting right; Kiesel allegedly told him
that it was the result of anesthesia. The dog vomited up water and refused to eat; Kiesel
allegedly told her to withhold food for 24 hours and that dogs can go 30 days without food.
The dog finally drank some water on a later date; the complainant subsequently noticed the
dog's tongue had turned blue. She called Camino Seco and was told that it was fine, but she
said she wanted the dog examined; an emergency clinic she had called said the dog needed to
be seen. The dog was subsequently hospitalized by Kiesel. When the complainant went back
to get the dog she says the dog was wobbling, disoriented, had a tilted head, breathing
hard, and didn't even recognize his own name when called. She also says that Kiesel gave
her two unlabeled bottles of medication and said he didn't want to bother with labeling
them. Kiesel said the dog was fine. The complainant didn't believe him and took the dog
to Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center; the staff there recognized
the dog because Kiesel had already brought the dog there himself. The dog was euthanized.
Kiesel's response tells us that the "sad affair" began with the dog eating panties. He
tells us the barium study was started and the dog vomited shortly after; an x-ray showed
barium was in the lungs and he called Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency
Center. He says they told him that there wasn't much they could do, but he wanted the best
for the dog so he took the dog there; the dog apparently stayed there for a day or two.
The dog came back breathing hard but otherwise okay; apparently the emergency clinic had
the dog on oxygen. He says that the head tilt the dog had was definitely not from the
panties so he told the complainant to take the dog to an emergency clinic. He doesn't think
the euthanasia happened because of the panties. He also says the unlabeled medication was
just a mixup.
The Investigative Committee actually threw the book at Kiesel, a known respondent from
several prior complaints. They say that the drug combination used for the barium study
was known to cause vomiting, hence a bad idea. They also question Kiesel's claim that he
didn't perform surgery; they cite photographs of an incision on the dog and records from
the emergency clinic. They also have concerns about unlabelled pills, falsified medical
records, and question whether Kiesel should be practicing veterinary medicine; they
suggest the Board require Kiesel to undergo an evaluation pursuant to ARS § 32-2234 (B).
The Board, in turn, found him guilty of several violations as well; rather than pulling
his license right away or ordering an evaluation, it appears they made him get a buddy
to check up on his clinic. They also wanted him to come up with a plan on how to shut
down his clinic and go out of business, but it looks like they gave him plenty of time
to do it; the order came down in 2022b but his website is still active as of
April 2023 (link).
ARS §32-2232 (3) Misrepresentation of services rendered - Complainant was charged for surgery on the dog that Respondent does not recall performing on August 5, 2020;
ARS §32-2232 (11) Malpractice, gross incompetence, and gross negligence in the practice of veterinary medicine and
ARS §32-2232 (22) Medical incompetence for: Administering xylazine then giving the dog barium shortly thereafter; Not assessing the effects of the barium aspiration; Misrepresentation of the dog's prognosis; Not performing blood work prior to surgery; No ASA status documented prior to surgery; Performing surgery on the dog when using the induction agent ketamine and xylazine only - not intubating the dog and maintaining on a gas anesthetic.
ARS §32-2232 (12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (1) failure to provide courteous verbal interchange by taking the dog to an emergency facility on August 3, 2020 and not informing the pet owner;
ARS §32-2232 (12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (9) for altering or making false statements on the dog medical record from August 5, 2020 through August 14, 2020;
ARS § 32-2232 (18) as it relates to AAC R3-11-502 (E) failure to provide the pet owner with discharge instructions following surgery on the dog and documenting in the medical record that discharge instructions were provided;
ARS §32-2232 (19) as it relates to ARS §32-2281 (A) (1) and (2) for dispensing medication to the pet owner without a prescription label and not documenting the medications dispensed in the medical record; and
ARS § 32-2232 (21) failure to maintain any medical record for the dog on August 11, 2020;
ARS § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to AAC R3-11-502: H (1) failure to obtain signed authorization to perform surgery on the dog on August 5, 2020; H (2) failure to examined the animal and record the results in the medical record prior to surgery on August 5, 2020; H (3) failure to monitor the dog while under anesthesia and document the heart rate and respiration rate every 15 minutes in the dog's medical record on August 5, 2020; L (4) failure to examine the dog and record the results in the medical record on August 4th, 5th and 6th, 2020; and L (9) failure to record the radiographs and the results of the radiographs in the medical record.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (12) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-501 (1) failure to provide courteous verbal interchange by taking the dog to an emergency facility on August 3, 2020 and not informing the pet owner.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (18) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-502 (E) failure to provide the pet owner with discharge instructions following surgery on the dog and documenting in the medical record that discharge instructions were provided.
A.R.S. §32-2232 (19) as it relates to A.R.S. § 32-2281 (A) (1) for dispensing medication to the pet owner without a prescription label.
A.R.S. §32-2232 (19) as it relates to A.R.S. § 32-2281 (A) (2) not documenting the medications dispensed in the medical record.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) failure to maintain any medical record for the dog on August 11, 2020.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-502 (H) (1) failure to obtain signed authorization to perform surgery on the dog on August 5, 2020.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) as if relates to A.A.C. R3-11-502 (H) (2) failure to examine the animal and record the results in the medical record prior to surgery on August 5, 2020.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-502 (H) (3) failure to monitor the dog while Under anesthesia and document the heart rate and respiration rate every 15 minutes in the dog's medical record on August 5, 2020.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-502 (L) (4) failure to examine the dog and record the results in the medical record on August 4th, 5th and 6th, 2020.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-502 (L) (4) failure to examine the dog and record the results in the medical record on August 4th, 5th and 6th, 2020.
A.R.S. § 32-2232 (21) as it relates to A.A.C. R3-11-502 (L) (9) failure to record the radiographs and the results of the radiographs in the medical record.
Penalties:
Probation (2 years)
Appoint practice monitor
Audit of practice
Written report to the Board from practice monitor
Written reports every quarter from practice monitor
Medical records review
Practice termination plan
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.