| Complaint: | Complaint 22-48 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Shayne Garner |
| Premises: | Pet Doctor Tucson |
The complainants stated they took their dog in for her spay procedure and brought her home. They monitored the dog closely and there appeared to be no obvious complications. The dog seemed to be in pain the next day so they gave the pain medications prescribed. By noon her breathing had changed so the complainants called the "Vet ER" and were advised to bring the dog in. They started getting into the car but "her body arched back and shook, she stopped breathing, and died," noting the dog's "belly was blue and her gums were bloodless and white." The complainants say that they relayed this information when Pet Doctor called to check on the dead dog and they never heard anything back from them; the charge to their credit card showed up the same day. Despite repeated attempts nobody at Pet Doctor followed up with them.
Garner's response states that the complainants refused preoperative bloodwork prior to the spay. A medical alert is noted in the file stating that the dog had a genetic mutation making her more susceptible to certain medications but was otherwise normal. The spay procedure and discharge are discussed in detail and it appears that everything went well; the complainants were also provided with aftercare instructions. We learn that the complainants subsequently called in to report that the dog's "belly became swollen and turned blue, had trouble breathing, gums turned white, had a seizure and passed away." He states that the medical director, Nelson, was going to look into the case as soon as possible; later follow-up was complicated by the fact that one of the complainants who called wasn't listed as an owner of the dead pet. Garner also states that the clinic is swamped with calls; it's not an excuse, you understand, but they just don't have enough staff to deal with them all. Garner also notes that because Pet Doctor Tucson is a corporate business and a complaint was filed with the board, you can't just call up and say sorry to the complainants.
The Investigative Committee said that they felt the communication was very poor in this case, also wishing Garner had reached out to mention her sadness at the loss. As with many cases, the investigators appear to have taken their cues from the responding veterinarian, stating that when corporations are involved it's always a challenge to communicate. They also state that the "respondent's inexperience likely contributed to the failure to contact the pet owner" but that no violations occurred. They also wish someone had done a necropsy because the dog died so soon after the spay.
Pet Doctor Tucson has a bit of a rap sheet. In 18-17 a dog died in recovery after curious surgery to remove a blockage, while in another a dog dropped dead after coming back to the hospital with mysterious post-spay symptoms 18-33. There were also some other weird cases including at least one situation where investigations couldn't determine who had prescribed medications.
| Source: | April 4, 2022 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Shayne Garner | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Steven Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | May 5, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Nikki Frost |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Absent |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Nay |
| 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.