| Complaint: | Complaint 22-62 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Abbie Reidhead |
| Premises: | Holbrook Veterinary Clinic |
The complainant begins by stating he's never known a less compassionate and seemingly incompetent veterinarian than Reidhead. He states his dog was diagnosed wth megaesophagus and was told by Reidhead that he'd have to figure it out; he also states all of this was discovered when his dog aspirated prior to a procedure at the clinic. He wonders if the care at the clinic led to the dog aspirating, particularly as the dog never had this issue at the next clinic he went to. More importantly, however, he believes that Reidhead had an unduly pessimistic attitude toward his dog's future and didn't seem to care; he states that his new vet clinic actually seems to want to help the dog and provided advice on how to manage the condition. He wonders if Reidhead's history with the animal shelter makes euthanasia her go-to treatment, would like someone to look into her practice, and reimbursement of fees for the visits where Reidhead provided no useful information.
Reidhead states that the dog had a history of vomiting but needed spayed; she states that she had her concerns and eventually discovered the dog was not vomiting but regurgitating. After additional workup she was able to diagnose megaesophagus from x-rays, though she also suggested a second opinion to ensure nothing was missed. She spent a lot of time explaining the situation to the complainant, but when asked how he was to hold the dog vertically for 15 minutes after feeding, she stated he'd have to figure it out, perhaps by using a special chair; she believes this is where the misunderstanding occurred. She also offered to trial some medications but felt the complainant was more concerned about getting a spay done as the dog had been very sick during a previous cycle. She states that her affiliation with Holbrook Animal Control Shelter is irrelevant, but that with her assistance the facility is now a no-kill shelter; in addition, she never recommended euthanasia for the dog.
The Investigative Committee said that it was a potential miscommunication issue. No violations were found.
| Source: | May 5, 2022 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Abbie Reidhead | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Robert Kritsberg | Absent |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Steven Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | June 6, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Melissa Thompson |
| Seconded By: | Robyn Jaynes |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Absent |
| 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.