Have any of you, had a vet misdiagnose and end up killing your dog, because of the wrong diagnosis@ treatment?

I had a Chihuahua named Gigi, who I was told had a certain form of Liver Disease! She passed away 2 weeks ago this Sunday! I also have another Chihuahua named Zoe, that I was also told had a certain form of Liver Disease! I just got back from taking Zoe to a different vet for a second opinion, and found out, that both Gigi and Zoe, have a form of Liver Disease, but it's not the type I was told it was, by my first vet, it's totally opposite! I can't really explain it! The new vet told me, that not only did that first vet misdiagnose Gigi and Zoe, with the wrong type of Liver Disease, but she provided them with treatment and medications, that were all wrong, and not at all effective! All these months that I had been shoving, a number of different prescribed medications down their throats, I come to find out, that they were the wrong medications, and none of them were helping neither one of my dogs! All the once a week vet visits, for months, were not necessary! The prescribed diet that the first vet put them both on, and that I was syringe feeding both of them, for the last 3 months, every 3 hours, 24/7, only made their digestive systems a lot worse, than what they already were! The new vet told me, that if the first vet would have had the right diagnosis in the first place, that Gigi would have been alive today and pretty much back to normal! She died for absolutely no reason or for reasons that could have easily been avoided! Right now, my husband and I are fuming at the first vet, because Gigi died for nothing and unnecessarily suffered in the process! Each and every time, Gigi was obviously going downhill, we were at the vet and I had asked the first vet, if we should consider putting her down, because I did not think it was fair that she had to suffer anymore, but she always told me, that she had a new treatment she wanted to try, before she even considered putting Gigi down. Everytime I asked her if Gigi even had a chance at survival, she would bring my hopes up by telling me that she would be fine, but it would take a few months to get her back to normal, to continue what I'm doing at home, giving her, her medication and being that she was a vet, I trusted her advice, and her advice killed Gigi! Hopefully, it's not too late to save Zoe! My husband and I are already heartbroken over the loss of Gigi, and then to find all this out today, we are both now fuming. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? Is there any kind of action, that I can take against the first vet, so she can pay for killing Gigi and not do the same thing to another innocent dog? Gigi was only 2 years old, with a whole life ahead of her and now she's gone!!! My husband and I are both so ---- pissed right now, it's not even funny!!! What would you do, if this happened to you?

2008-08-23T09:21:54Z

Would you please do me a great big favor and Star this question? Thanks!

2008-08-23T09:38:57Z

This is Gigi!
http://i38.tinypic.com/6y0ete.jpg

Chetco2008-08-23T20:26:15Z

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I am so sorry for the loss of your Gigi.
You can file a complaint with your state's board of veterinary medicine.
Something similar happened to my dog.
I get too angry when I talk of it..

The last I heard, the vet that killed my dog was losing her practice, as she couldn't get insurance because of so many other lawsuits and complaints.
Here are some guidelines on dealing with veterinary malpractice>
http://judymyers.tripod.com/tfaq.html
This pertains to laws and procedures concerning vet malpractice>
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/qvusvetmal.htm

Thank you for sharing the picture of Gigi. She is so pretty and sweet.

Anonymous2016-04-10T01:08:28Z

Well, not so much misdiagnose as just pointing us in the wrong direction. Our Jack Russell had a cough - she was thirteen at the time, and we thought that it might be kennel cough. When my husband took her to the vet, the lady vet said that she didn't think that it was a virus or infection - but still sent my husband away with about £50 worth of antibiotics! She also suggested an X-Ray (about £80 for the anaesthetic alone) which I cancelled - what would we do - restrict her exercise? She is always taken out on the lead otherwise she eats any other animal around! Shame that the vet we trust isn't there anymore.

wishnuwelltoo2008-08-28T03:28:08Z

We moved two years ago. I have fired 7 vets since then. I still can't find a vet with a brain. I am now more paranoid about going to the vets than the dogs are. I am just glad I don't own a gun. It is like an epidemic of stupidity out there all of a sudden. Don't get me started. I am sorry about Gigi, and I hope Zoe will be o.k.

I luv Pets2008-08-23T10:41:52Z

Medicine isnt an exact science. Just like Human Doctors make mistakes. Vets do it too. I would ask the 2nd Vet his honest opinion if the first vet was in the wrong at all. Be sure though FIRST they dont have a personal beef between them. Then get a 3rd vets opinion. Also I would call a University and get a specialists take on it. With something as serious as liver disease your dogs should have been at least recommended to a Liver Specialist. I have watched your questions and these liver Diseases your dogs were diagnosed with were quite severe they should have been seen by a specialist. A VET is a all around doctor. He has to look at so many things and so many cases. Its not often a vet is a specialist at any one thing. So it IS easy to mis-diagnosed very complicated ailments. I would be angery like you if my dog was so poorly treated and I do think this first vet will need some repercussions. Its bad practice to do what she did. So first gather some evidence, then get some possible testimonials. Then go after her if you think you have a case.
I have had a Horse, and a dog mis-diagnosed by a elderly, town favorite, vet and had him pay for his mistakes.

Rosalie2008-08-23T18:50:46Z

I'm so sorry for what you have been through - it's hard enough when you must care for a seriously ill pet, only to find out the treatment was the wrong one.

It would do some good for other animals to make a complaint to the veterinary board. If you do have proof - a necropsy or other evidence, and the cooperation of the second vet, you could probably sue for damages, but it isn't a sure thing that you would win - unless there was something really blatant, there's a lot of technical information that the judge would have to wade through to see the problem.

But leaving it up to the vet's colleagues would mean some sort of disciplinary action - the mere fact that there was any kind of inquiry would probably mean plenty to them.

I hope that helps some... I'm really sorry.

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