Family Pet clinic Group of Hospitals

Family Pet clinic Group of Hospitals

6724 Mid-Cities Blvd.

North Richland Hills, Texas 76180

www.familypetclinicofnrh.com

817-788-2525 Phone

817-788-5575 Fax

 

 

Mr. Billy Johnson,

 

On February the 28th at 7:50 AM I called your clinic in NRH, I first spoke with Pam the receptionist who promptly connected me with your senior veterinarian technician Jason. I spoke with Jason in length regarding Charlotte’s gestation day of 65 and counting. Jason gave me pricing on a caesarian section, IV fluids with anesthesia, hospital care, recovery and antibiotics for a total of $433.71. Jason wanted me to bring in Charlotte at 8:15, which was right after I hung up the phone. I arrivedat 8:15 promptly waited until 9:00 when I was introduced to Dr. Donna Bell. Attempting to examine Charlotte Dr. Bell was concerned she was putting Charlotte in undo stress and stopped the exam (only a rectal temperature was performed). I was instructed to take Charlotte home and watch her for signs of active labor.

 

On March 01st I arrived at the clinic at 07:30 at which time I waited patiently for the senior veterinarian technician to arrive. Jason informed me at 7:50 that Dr. Bell had an emergency with her son and would not be in until 11:30 that afternoon. I was concerned that charlotte would need attention before the arrival of Dr. Bell at 11:30. Jason assured me that the other doctors on staff would be helping out during Dr. Bell’s absence.  At noon I left work to visit Charlotte at the veterinarian clinic during my lunch hour. Dr. Bell was still not at the clinic. I did visit with my Chihuahua Charlotte and Jason for about 20 minutes. Jason told me that Dr. Bell would call me before the caesarian section surgery. At 2:40 Dr. Bell called me with pricing of 800.00 I told her that was not the price I had discussed with Jason yesterday. Dr. Bell told me that the price she was giving me included the hysterectomy of my Chihuahua Charlotte. I explained to Dr. Bell that I didn't have that amount and we agreed to spay Charlotte at a later date. Dr. Bell assured me that she would call be immediately after the surgery.

 

At approximately 4:00 PM I received a call from Dr. Bell and Jason that Charlotte was doing well and to come pick her up.  I arrived at 4:45 at which time Dr. Bell wanted to review the Invoice priced at a grand total $696.97. I looked at the Invoice and was speechless. I explained to Dr. Bell that these charges were not approved prior to treatment. Dr. Bell explained to me that she would be a negligent veterinarian not to perform all the testing that was done and that everything that was done was necessary. I again told Dr. Bell that these charges were not approved prior to the care of Charlotte.

 

 

1.     Exam/Office Call  33.64

2.     Complete blood count CBC  30.07

3.     Chem 12 Biochemistry profile 60.41

4.     Propofoll injection  47.16

5.     Sevoflurane Maintenance 56.18

6.     Canine cesarian section 298.20

7.     Injectable Buprenex 25.35

8.     pulse oximeter monitoring 31.45

9.     IV fluid 35.00

10. EKG 36.81

11. Hospital professional care 12.27

12.  Hospital nursing care 10.59

13. Day Hospital care9.87

14.  Rimadyl 25 mg 13.00

 

My invoice grand total was 696.97 payable at time of services rendered. I had already provided a credit card number to the receptionist Pam prior to the pick up of Charlotte earlier that day. The amount permitted was $433.71 to be charged this total was discussed with Jason on February the 28th at 7:50 AM. Dr. Bell informed me that no adjustment was going to be made on the Invoice. I wanted to break up the charges on two separate cards. This would be done after I left because the other card I was talking about was at my home. The administrator said that if I did not give him permissionto change the original card that he was going to call the police for theft of services.

 

I was so upset when I left the veterinarian’s office I left without Charlotte’s bed, toys and medication. I have yet to receive a call as to how my Chihuahua Charlotte and her babies are doing. I did receive a letter in the mail that Charlotte is no longer welcome as a patient. As for Charlotte’s post op care I guess I will need to retain another veterinarian. It has always been my understanding that when you have surgery that post-op care is all-inclusive.

 

Charlotte has had trauma from her care at ‘The pet clinic” She is suffering from multiple ligature marks from under her neck which no one has had an explanation for. Charlotte hasn't been the same little girl since I brought her home. I have always given her kisses on the face and neck now she is terrified someone is going to restrain her by her neck. I have taken several pictures of my three pound Chihuahua Charlotte’s neck for your review they can be viewed by clicking the link below.

 

Thank you,

 

Bianca M.  Marcuccino

Marcuccino@aol.com 

 

http://journals.aol.com/marcuccino/animal-abuse/

Raisins, grapes, even in small amounts, can kill a Chihuahua

Raisins, grapes, even in small amounts, can kill a dog

Thursday, May 17, 2007

By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

		Online only For more news you can use about pets, read Pet Tales Journal

A tiny box of raisins almost killed a 16-pound border terrier named Casey.

The dog's family is sharing her story because they don't want other dog lovers to go through days of agony, like they did, when veterinarians thought the dog would die.

This is one of those it-could-happen-to-anyone stories.

Unbeknownst to family members, Casey rifled through a backpack left by the front door and scored an unexpected treat, a 1 1/2-ounce box of raisins. "We found the empty box" with little dog teeth marks, said Renee Very, of Mt. Lebanon, but no one gave it a second thought. The family didn't realize that a treat that is so healthy for people could be deadly to a pet.

Casey vomited several hours later, but there was still no apparent cause for concern. Casey didn't seem to be ill, and dogs do occasionally vomit. Mrs. Very, a registered nurse, kept an eye on her.

The next morning, there was evidence that Casey had vomited again during the night. But she was, for the most part, her usual happy, frisky self. The family went to a youth baseball game at noon.

When Mrs. Very mentioned the vomiting and the pilfered raisins, friends sounded the alarm. People at the baseball game had heard that grapes and raisins can kill pets.

It was Saturday afternoon. Why is it that children and pets tend to become ill or have accidents on their doctors' days off?

As a precaution, the family took Casey to an emergency veterinary clinic in the North Hills. Blood tests indicated Casey was in acute renal failure. Her kidneys were shutting down.

Approximately 18 hours after she ate the raisins, Casey was hooked up to IV lines. She was getting activated charcoal to flush out poisons and fluids to flush out her kidneys.

"They were not very optimistic," Mrs. Very said.

After two days and nights in the emergency clinic, Casey's kidney readings had improved. She spent another day in her own vet's office. And then she came home.

"I was a basket case," Mrs. Very said. "She was not herself."

Veterinarians prescribed a prescription dog food and, by Wednesday, five days after eating the raisins, Casey was almost back to normal.

"The veterinarians said people often bring dogs in 72 hours after they've eaten grapes or raisins," Mrs. Very said. Many of those dogs die. "Coming in 18 hours probably saved her life."

Warnings about grapes and raisins have been around for several years. Veterinary toxicologists have been unable to figure out why these fruits have been killing dogs in recent years because many people, in years past, have used grapes and raisins as healthy treats with absolutely no ill effects. It's still unclear whether these fruits are potentially toxic to cats and other animals.

From April 2003 to April 2004, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center got 140 calls about dogs that had eaten varying amounts of raisins or grapes. More than 50 of those dogs developed "clinical signs" ranging from vomiting to kidney failure. Seven of the dogs died.

Updated figures are not available but, undoubtedly, the number of raisin and grape poisoning calls are on the rise as more people learn about the danger.

Several years ago, the warnings indicated that large amounts of grapes or raisins could be harmful, especially if a dog was old or had chronic health problems.

Casey is 4 years old and had no chronic illness. An ounce and a half is not a "large" amount, not even for a small dog.

I didn't realize that a dog that had eaten grapes or raisins could be dying even if, like Casey, it appeared to be fine. If you go to the Google search engine and type in "dogs eating grapes," you'll get lots of hits, including veterinary sites.

Some of those sites advise calling your veterinarian if your dog eats grapes or raisins. Some of the sites suggest you go to a veterinary clinic even if your dog is not exhibiting signs of illness or distress.

If you are concerned about anything your pet, or a person, has eaten, call the Pittsburgh Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital at 1-800-222-1222. The call is free.

They might have to refer you to the ASPCA, 1-888-426-4435, which has access to veterinary toxicologists. Those calls cost $55.

Tags: Chihuahuas and grapes and raisins