Posted on 08/13/2020 12:25:37 PM PDT by Red Badger
SUNSET, Utah - A woman said a veterinarian mixup cost her dog her life.
When Ziggy started having breathing problems and difficulty keeping food down, Andrea Martinez acted quickly.
“It kind of scared us, and so we took him to the vet around 9 p.m.,” she said.
They went to a Davis County animal hospital and learned he’d need surgery, a bit pricey, but Ziggy is part of the family, she said.
“He was our baby. It was daughters best friend, my dog’s best friend. It was ours. Money wasn’t an issue,” she said.
They left Ziggy and say they were told they’d get a call after surgery later that night. It came at 2:30 in the morning. Ziggy didn’t make it.
“He kept beating around the bush about it, but he was saying it like I should’ve known,” Martinez said.
Groggy and confused, Martinez said she was put on hold.
"Then he got back on there, and he apologized and said, “I’m so sorry that this happened. We got confused and ended up calling another dog’s mom,” Martinez said.
As she understands it, they got permission to put her dog down - from the other Ziggy’s owner.
“They were still in the middle of surgery when they called the other person asking, ‘It’s going to be more expensive. It’s going to be a more extended surgery. Do you want to continue it or do you want to let him go?’ They chose to let him go,” Martinez said.
Ziggy was in bad shape, and its hard to say what his life would’ve been like if the vet had been given approval to keep trying.
“I just wish we wouldve had the say, I wish we wouldve been able to say we tried everything that we could have,” Martinez said.
The vet has been very apologetic, she said, waiving their bill and giving them a nice urn a plaque and a Christmas ornament with Ziggy’s paw print.
“She said there is no making it right, but this is what we can do to show that they are sorry," Martinez said.
The veterinarian hasn’t responded to requests for comment.
How sad for the family. Sounds like there was confusion, having more than one Ziggy, needing surgery.
If it happened to one of my daughter & son-in-law’s dogs, the vet would also have been put down before the sun rose...
I would sue that vet to the end of eternity. They should have their license to practice revoked. There is no sense for that level of neglect and stupidity.
I don’t know what I’d do, but I would be outraged........
My wife’s cousin took her little fluff ball doggie to a groomer and the dog died that night. They suspected the groomer gave the dog an overdose of benadryl to sedate him to groom him, but couldn’t prove anything...................
Let's just say the damages exceed a 2 dollar ornament
Same here if it happened to one of my girls. I had to have two old dogs put down a couple of years ago. Hardest thing I have done but my Vet doesn’t do it until you sign paperwork and they want you there when they do it. They want you there for the first shot that is is strong sedative but ask if you want to leave before the second shot. They don’t do it over the phone or without paperwork signed.
I get that some people get really attached to their pets (I do, too), but sheesh, it’s a dog. Have a good cry and move on.
“A woman says a vet put her dog to sleep by mistake...”
Vet should be put to sleep on purpose.
I had a dog die under anesthesia. He was in to get his ear sewed up after a fight. Part Chow Chow and evidently they tend to not do well when put under. Told the vet I wanted to see him. Went there and a vet assistant poked her head out the door and started apologizing to someone else about “their loss”. I spoke up real quick and said, I think you mean me. Other people were freaking out. I had already been notified by phone.
It’s sad, but my pragmatic side says this was a good outcome. Dog was likely going to die anyway, and they would either have spent the extra money on useless surgery, or said no, and felt bad about it.
now they are not to blame for their dog, they did all they could for him, and it didn’t cost them anything.
I went to pick up meds for our fur babies this morn and saw a mother and daughter crying then carrying their baby out....they had to have it put down. I started crying because I know the pain they’re going through. We have 4 senior dogs and we’re dreading the day they leave us. They’re our life......they comfort us and I’m thankful we can afford the best of care for them.
The dog probably would have died anyway. I can’t believe the amount of money people spend on their dogs. I knew a guy whose dog ate rocks and sprinkler parts Xrays showed. He paid 3500 to have the dog cut open and the stuff took out. After the dog recovered it ate more sprinkler parts. That was the end of the dog.
Isn’t it funny how people who own pit bulls think their dog is so sweet until it rips the face off of a toddler? Then other pit bull owners say it’s not the dog it’s the owner. Why do we never hear of beagles or german shepherds ripping the face of off toddlers? Would they blame the owners?
No kidding.
There are some sick people on this thread.
Our vets use the animal’s first name along with the pet parent’s last name. So that if there two Fidos, Fido Smith and Fido Jones don’t get confused. It’s an excellent idea.
That was a big mistake.
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