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Poor Dog - Very long, sad and gross. (Without exaggeration.)
WARNING: DON'T READ IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH!!!
One of the off-topic threads reminded me of this - When I worked at the vets, we had a older dog brought in with a broken foot. Please bear in mind, the owners looked wealthy, lived in an expensive area and outright bragged about their wealth at one point to the Head Nurse.
The patient was a large, 13 year old, permanently outside dog that had tried to jump the fence and gotten caught by his back paw. Apparently he'd been found when the family got home in the late afternoon, had been crying all day but no one checked why, assuming that he was just lonely. They brought him in the next day instead of taking him to the Pet E.R. The bossman worked on him and managed to fix up his paw instead of having to amputate it. He explained to the family how to care for the dog properly, gave them a wound care/antibiotics sheet and told them to come back in 3 days for a follow-up.
The vet nurse at the desk when they paid reminded them how to look after the dog and that it was VERY IMPORTANT to keep the dog inside, to give the dog his medication and also, when the dog was going outside to do his business, to wrap the leg up past the cast in plastic wrap and then put a bag over it. Take that off again when the dog is back inside, use a fresh lot every time and don't let the dog run! "Yup, yup, sure." they said.
They came back 2 days later, complaining that the dog was off his food and the paw was smelly. Bossman cut the cast off to see what was wrong. The idiots had left the dog out in record rainfall with a cast on that had gauze and cotton wool inside it. Yeah, it had swelled and cut off the blood supply. It was also terribly infected and they admitted to 'forgetting' the dogs meds. Bossman said that he could save the dog by cutting the leg off at the knee, and the dog should be able to recover pretty well, considering the dog was still in a stable condition. Owners said that they would think about it and left the dog with us. Head Nurse called them that afternoon and they said "We're still thinking about it, but don't you dare give him anymore treatment than we've already authorised." Which was nothing.
Next day: The paw was black past the ankle and the owners said the same thing and were annoyed with being asked. So, the only treatment was antibiotics and sedatives that the bossman was giving the dog to keep him comfortable and not putting on their bill.
Next day: The leg was black to the knee with the same answer from the owners and the same minimal treatment as they wouldn't sign the dog over or allow an operation.
Last day: The whole family descended on the surgery with much weeping and lamentation. "If only we could have saved you!" the kids howled as the parents paid the bill without complaint, signed over the dog to be destroyed, refused to say a decent good-bye or be there for the dog when he was being put to sleep. They left, in a choking cloud of expensive perfume/cologne and piled into a new-looking luxury car.
The worst part is, that dog was in excellent condition except for the broken paw. No arthritis, no heart disease, no kidney issues, no skin problems, no cancer, no ear problems; nothing! He was even a sweetheart right to the end. The bossman was incredibly angry, as were the rest of us. That dog had at least another 2-3 years left in him! If they'd just followed the instructions, their 'beloved pet' wouldn't have died in a strange place with someone he barely knew cuddling him.
Edited to add: Yes, the RSPCA were contacted because of the duty of care laws.
One of the off-topic threads reminded me of this - When I worked at the vets, we had a older dog brought in with a broken foot. Please bear in mind, the owners looked wealthy, lived in an expensive area and outright bragged about their wealth at one point to the Head Nurse.
The patient was a large, 13 year old, permanently outside dog that had tried to jump the fence and gotten caught by his back paw. Apparently he'd been found when the family got home in the late afternoon, had been crying all day but no one checked why, assuming that he was just lonely. They brought him in the next day instead of taking him to the Pet E.R. The bossman worked on him and managed to fix up his paw instead of having to amputate it. He explained to the family how to care for the dog properly, gave them a wound care/antibiotics sheet and told them to come back in 3 days for a follow-up.
The vet nurse at the desk when they paid reminded them how to look after the dog and that it was VERY IMPORTANT to keep the dog inside, to give the dog his medication and also, when the dog was going outside to do his business, to wrap the leg up past the cast in plastic wrap and then put a bag over it. Take that off again when the dog is back inside, use a fresh lot every time and don't let the dog run! "Yup, yup, sure." they said.
They came back 2 days later, complaining that the dog was off his food and the paw was smelly. Bossman cut the cast off to see what was wrong. The idiots had left the dog out in record rainfall with a cast on that had gauze and cotton wool inside it. Yeah, it had swelled and cut off the blood supply. It was also terribly infected and they admitted to 'forgetting' the dogs meds. Bossman said that he could save the dog by cutting the leg off at the knee, and the dog should be able to recover pretty well, considering the dog was still in a stable condition. Owners said that they would think about it and left the dog with us. Head Nurse called them that afternoon and they said "We're still thinking about it, but don't you dare give him anymore treatment than we've already authorised." Which was nothing.
Next day: The paw was black past the ankle and the owners said the same thing and were annoyed with being asked. So, the only treatment was antibiotics and sedatives that the bossman was giving the dog to keep him comfortable and not putting on their bill.
Next day: The leg was black to the knee with the same answer from the owners and the same minimal treatment as they wouldn't sign the dog over or allow an operation.
Last day: The whole family descended on the surgery with much weeping and lamentation. "If only we could have saved you!" the kids howled as the parents paid the bill without complaint, signed over the dog to be destroyed, refused to say a decent good-bye or be there for the dog when he was being put to sleep. They left, in a choking cloud of expensive perfume/cologne and piled into a new-looking luxury car.
The worst part is, that dog was in excellent condition except for the broken paw. No arthritis, no heart disease, no kidney issues, no skin problems, no cancer, no ear problems; nothing! He was even a sweetheart right to the end. The bossman was incredibly angry, as were the rest of us. That dog had at least another 2-3 years left in him! If they'd just followed the instructions, their 'beloved pet' wouldn't have died in a strange place with someone he barely knew cuddling him.
Edited to add: Yes, the RSPCA were contacted because of the duty of care laws.
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