Imagine this: you take your dog to Fetch Clearwater, a specialty care cancer and emergency clinic, trusting that your beloved animal will receive the highest standard of care. But then, the unimaginable happens. Your dog's life and stabilization are potentially jeopardized due to what you believe is a profound failure to act, a failure to provide appropriate treatment, a failure to provide or even offer supportive care, and no recommendation for hospitalization. When you file a formal complaint, hoping for justice, the system that is supposed to protect you and your dog seems to close ranks and sweep your concerns under the rug.
This is what happened to my dog Talia. I approved every single diagnostic and treatment Dr. Rachel Pratt recommended that could be performed same day. I even asked for ADDITIONAL tests to be run (Vitamin D and GI specialty test).
Total calcium levels were so high that they were unreadable. According to Merck Veterinary Manual "Total calcium concentrations exceeding 15-18 mg/dL may be associated with systemic clinical signs that can be life-threatening. Goals of acute treatment of hypercalcemia include relieving symptoms, allowing diagnostic evaluation, and preventing death."
Read that quote from Merck Veterinary Manual again, calcium levels so that the "Goals of acute treatment of hypercalcemia include ... PREVENTING DEATH"
Her ionized calcium level was 2.06 mmol/L. Today's Veterinary describes emergent care for hypercalcemia as "Emergent care for hypercalcemia may be necessary in patients with total calcium levels [over] 18 mg/dL and/or ionized calcium levels [over] 1.6 mmol/L in conjunction with severe clinical signs."
According to veterinary literature both recorded calcium levels indicated an emergency that was life threatening.
The diagnosis, hypercalcemia of malignancy. The recommended treatment by Dr. Rachel Pratt, to send Talia home with bags of fluid to be administered (by me) at 600 ml every other day. When I directly asked Dr. Rachel Pratt if ANYTHING ELSE could be done to lower Talia's calcium levels, besides SubQ fluids her answer was "no".
$3,011.02 later my dog left Fetch Clearwater in worse condition than when she walked in the door. Cost was not a barrier, I asked for additional bloodwork, I asked her if ANYTHING ELSE could be done. Dr. Rachel Pratt never offered or provided any meaningful form of supportive care, never recommended hospitalization, and sent Talia home with fluids containing calcium. Dr. Rachel Pratt's lack of action in what was a life threatening emergency I whole heartedly believe cost Talia her chance for stabilization.
When a doctor fails to properly administer potentially life saving treatment, it can't get any worse could it? Well it does. Because Dr. Rachel Pratt sent Talia home with fluids that contained calcium, the very mineral that was life threateningly high. Fluids directly contraindicated for her dire condition.
Based on the documented laboratory values, published veterinary literature, and the care that was and was not provided, I believe the treatment Talia received fell far below accepted standards of veterinary care and raises serious concerns for potential negligence or malpractice. I brought Talia to Fetch Clearwater for emergency treatment, spent SIX hours in their clinic, refused no treatment or diagnostics that could be offered that day, and still she was sent home without any supportive care being administered in clinic (besides a shot of Convenia) and with fluids directly contraindicated for her condition. read more