| Complaint: | Complaint 21-145 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Bernard Mangone |
| Premises: | Palm Glen Animal Hospital |
The complainant tells us that their cat went in for a dental with the agreement that any teeth with problems would be pulled; it appears that somehow it was determined to pull all the remaining teeth to avoid future surgeries. The cat continued to have problems while eating and the complainant initially assumed it was just the stitches; the cat also had a UTI and the gagging and other problems stopped while the cat was on antibiotics. Once the antibiotics ran out the cat got worse and eventually had to go to an emergency vet (Erdman at Phoenix Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center according to the Findings of Fact); it was allegedly found that the cat had several broken roots with exposed nerves that had been left behind as well as a mass growing in her throat. The emergency vet apparently recommended euthanizing the cat (!) but the complainant thought the cat's life had value; they continued with antibiotics to get a second opinion and was later referred to a dental specialist. The complainant says the cat has been suffering for two months getting the tooth problems resolved and she wonders what this is doing to her cat's quality of life.
Mangone's response notes the dental procedure and states that it was done out of concerns for stomatitis. He states the cat recovered well from the procedure but the complainant later had concerns about the cat contracting a UTI at the clinic. He says that she refused to bring the cat back in for a recheck. He also says that he had discussed stomatitis with the complainant and that "she told us that she had also done research into the disease on her own, as all owners should" (I assume this is supposed to impugn her in some fashion but that just seems like common sense regardless of anything else?). He says that she continued to turn down rechecks and evaluations; he allegedly offered a second opinion at another veterinarian and that they'd pay for any care if the vet found they were at fault, but she didn't take him up on the offer. He says that after speaking with the dental specialist they terminated all ties to the complainant as she was abusive and profane.
The Investigative Committee said there were no violations and that stomatitis is a tough problem to deal with.
(This is an interesting one to read through the Findings of Fact, not so much for Mangone but for all the veterinarians involved. The cat was said to have a non-pathologic heart murmur when Mangone did his exam but Jucan at Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists recommended a full cardiology workup because of concerns about the cat being a candidate for anesthesia. The "mass" that Erdman noted at Phoenix Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center and allegedly suggested euthanasia for was subsequently found to be inflammation.)
| Source: | November 11, 2021 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Bernard Mangone | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Absent |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | December 12, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Bernard Mangone | Respondent |
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | 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.