| Complaint: | Complaint 22-143 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Kathryn Mueller |
| Premises: | 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Chandler |
The complainant says that she took her cat to 1st Pet for an ear infection. They were apparently booked out for quite some time but eventually got an appointment moved up (the Findings of Fact also state that they were originally to go to the Mesa location but were sent to Chandler because of the workload). She warned not to give the cat any shots on the advise of the family vet because of prior incidents of anaphylactic shock from kitten vaccines. The cat was dropped off at 10 AM, with the complainant calling several times during the day and being told the cat hadn't been seen yet; a vet tech said the cat was comfortable because of Feliway cat pheromones added to the water.
The complainant goes on to say that Mueller finally called at 11 PM that night to tell her to come get the cat. When the cat came home we're told the cat hid and continued to hide until the end of May; other cats in the household refused to interact with him. He also lost a lot of weight, large clumps of hair, had problems jumping, and finally lost control of his bladder and stools. He was taken back to the family vet a month after the visit to 1st Pet and found to have lost control of his back legs and scratched large patches of hair off his head along with losing 25% of his body weight. The complainant felt euthanasia was the only option for his quality of life, and she attributes the decline to an antibiotic injection they did not authorize and a petroleum-based product in the water.
The fee charged by 1st Pet was also described as "ridiculous," stating that they never agreed to such a prolonged stay, nor did they bring the cat in for an emergency exam. She feels that the cat was observed because of the Feliway Classic being put into the water and Mueller having concerns about it (as it would have been incorrect to do so). The cat was also dispensed gabapentin that made the cat too sleepy so it was discarded. She concludes by stating that her cat came home a "neurotic mess" and that "Mueller says he had all these issues before being admitted, but nothing could be further from the truth. The only thing wrong with him was an external ear infection."
Mueller's response states the the cat presented at the Mesa location for hair loss on the right ear and above the eye; there was also "black stuff" thought to be from the cat eating another cat's feces. We're told the complainant said that the cat was wobbly, and on intake the cat had a 5 out of 5 score for fear, anxiety, and stress.
Since the cat was stable, the complainant was told to take him to the Chandler location that was less busy. There the complainant was offered an initial estimate that included bloodwork and injectable medication and she agreed. The cat was put in the feline ward with water, a litter box, and plug-in Feliway pheromones that are never added to the water. Due to delays, staff tried to contact the complainant with updates but were unable to; eventually she called and they offered to let her bring the cat back the next day, but she chose to leave the cat there.
Mueller finally did an exam and spoke with the complainant, though the exam was challenging because the cat was being dfficult. There was some crusting and hair loss on the cat but the ears appeared fine. Mueller also says the complainant was worried about the cat hiding around the house and thought it might be the result of her using a wheelchair. Mueller discussed the case with the complainant but noted the cat was too upset to draw blood; rather than sedate the cat, the complainant chose to take the cat home.
The complainant subsequently called 1st Pet to dispute some of the charges. In particular, it turns out that the earlier appointment they gave her was an emergency appointment (as opposed to the original appointment), leaving the complainant feeling misled. She later called back saying the cat was doing worse than before and said she would schedule a recheck examination. When the complainant called to note the cat had been euthanized, she also allegedly said that the family vet said it was the result of neurological problems and mistreatment; the 1st Pet manager quickly called over to the family vet and found out that he said no such thing. Mueller also relates that the complainant said she would make everyone know about how bad they did at 1st Pet by posting on social media, also sending communications to Mueller blaming her for the cat's death. She wishes the complainant had taken her advice and helped the cat.
The Investigative Committee noted that Feliway comes in a sealed container and can't be added to water. They also state that the cat's discharge instructions say to recheck in one week, stating their concerns that the cat wasn't seen by another veterinarian for weeks. They were worried about how long the cat was in the hospital before being seen, but they also note that emergency facilities are busy. Regarding the cat's hiding behavior, they say that even the smell of a veterinary clinic can make a cat hide. No violations were found.
| Source: | November 11, 2022 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Kathryn Mueller | Respondent |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Aye |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Gregg Maura | Aye |
| Justin McCormick | Aye |
| Steven Dow | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | December 12, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Robyn Jaynes |
| Seconded By: | Melissa Thompson |
| 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.