| Complaint: | Complaint 22-142 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Barbara Batke |
| Premises: | Yavapai Emergency Animal Hospital |
Veterinary board member Nikki Frost is one of the owners of Yavapai Emergency Animal Hospital along with respondent and AzVMA Director Barbara Batke.
The complainant's dog was sent to Yavapai Emergency Animal Hospital for immediate bladder stone surgery. We're told that the dog had a severe infection and multiple bladder stones (compared to a sack of marbles). He was told that the dog did well and that the dog should be ready to go home in the morning. The next morning he was told they wanted to keep the dog until she urinated, which she had not as of yet.
The complainant called back later that day and rather than getting an update was told he owed the hospital an additional $2000 (on top of the previous $6000) for exceeding the hospitalization time limit. He called the police and his primary vet for direction, noting that the dog would never urinate while in a kennel. After what he describes as "several hours of back and forth negotiating, charges and aggravation" he came to get his dog that evening. He walked the dog and she urinated "for what seemed like several minutes making a very large puddle." We're told that the hospital administration also reduced the original bill. Eleven days later the dog went back to the primary vet where an x-ray found a very large stone; the complainant says that the vet said it was unlikely for such a stone to grow to that size since the surgery, leading to concerns it was missed during the surgery. The dog's looking at continued treatment and possible surgery.
Batke's response says she never examined or provided care to the dog, but she has reviewed statements from her staff and veterinarians regarding the matter. We're provided with a history on the dog including the surgery, which was actually performed by veterinarian Marian Frost. Frost is said to have spoken with the complainant and told him that "hundreds" of urinary stones were removed, but some sand and grit remained after the surgery; the overnight veterinarian, Kress, noted the dog was still straining so a catheter was put in to allow the dog to urinate. Paige Jackson subsequently took over the care of the dog and despite going outside every four hours on a run with turf and gravel, the dog didn't urinate. Jackson spoke with the complainant in the afternoon and discussed continued hospitalization or discharge; the complainant elected to discharge the dog.
Per follow-up calls, the dog was doing well. It appears that after the complaint came in at YEAH, Batke called up the primary vet at High Country Pet Clinic to investigate the situation. Batke calls into question the complainant's timeline and reporting of the events, stating that according to the conversation she had, the clinic didn't find a bladder stone until months later; there are no radiographs and the ultrasound she received had no date. (The Findings of Fact seem to suggest that a 1 centimeter bladder stone was found two weeks later via ultrasound, but that the veterinarian who found it couldn't speak as to whether it was forgotten or had formed that quickly.)
The Investigative Committee said that Batke had no involvement in the case. She was the responsible veterinarian for the premises and the medical records were in order, however there "were concerns regarding the care and treatment of the dog." The committee is also described as "satisfied" that another complaint was opened regarding their concerns over the treatment of the dog. No violations were found.
| Source: | November 11, 2022 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Barbara Batke | Respondent |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Roll Call: | |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Steven Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | December 12, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Jim Loughead |
| 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 | Absent |
| 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.