| Complaint: | Complaint 22-124 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Benjamin Savard |
| Premises: | Raintree Pet Resort and Medical Center |
The complainant came home from a teeth cleaning procedure at Raintree and had problems. He was too sore to be picked up on his sides and couldn't lay down; he'd pace around and wake up repeatedly in the middle of the night. They took the dog back to Savard and they could heear the dog yelp through the door. Savard told him the dog had a problem with the alcohol used with the EKG leads. We're told that Savard "barely examined" the dog. The dog came back for laser therapy and other treatments and weeks later another vet, Ikard, admitted that the dog had sustained burns from a warming sheet; they were told it had malfunctioned and was going to be thrown out. They finally took the dog to another vet (McKague at Cochise Animal Hospital) who noted "scarring on lateral thorax and abdomen over 50% of body." (This latter statement is missing entirely from the Findings of Faact, instead we're told that McKague actually said the dog's wounds were 95% healed; they mention scarring but omit the amount.)
Savard's response details that the dog was difficult to handle and was given drugs to deal with the problem. The initial response details the dental, which was said to have gone uneventfully. When the dog presented with skin lesions and pain, he found "mild areas of superficial dermatitis" at the same locations where EKG leads had been attached during the dental. He notes that it was mild and that the dog was prescribed medications. On a follow-up visit Ikard noted symmetric skin sloughing and red skin; she ascribed it to a reaction to something used during the dental. Cold laser therapy was initiated. The dog was sedated at a future visit to debride the wounds. The complainant continued to receive free care at the clinic but eventually chose to go elsewhere. He states that at one point during the follow-up visits with Ikard a manager discovered one of the "Hot Dog" warming blankets had expired and was thrown out; he's not sure if that was the one used on this dog, but he emphatically states he had no issues with whatever blanket he used during the procedure.
The Investigative Committee seemed to be overall very favorable about all this, though they did have to ding Savard for having an expired blanket; they go so far as to say that it was the blanket used on the dog. The Board rounded it down to a Letter of Concern regarding the use of expired supplies.
Thermal burns from warming pads during dentals show up in more than a few complaints on file; sometimes it can be a lot worse than just burns (21-06) and in several cases they die. Click through the site and read our headlines to find more.
| Source: | October 10, 2022 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Benjamin Savard | Respondent |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Roll Call: | |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Absent |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Steven Seiler | Absent |
| Violations: | |
| ARS ยง 32-2232 (12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-502 (D) for using an expired thermal device on the dog. | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | November 11, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Craig Nausley |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Nay |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Absent |
| 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.