Update on Boo-Boo's Case and Chickster's Fits

HI YOU ALL!!! *big hugs* I am so sorry I've been gone for so long. So many things have been going on here!!

First of all let me say that Chickster is doing very well. We stopped the prozac and have discovered that the main issue with her fits is attention. She is more active than we ever truly realized and is still really a kitten in a lot of ways, so I have been spending as much time as possible playing with her. She also gets upset when she wants to go to bed and I am in front of the computer. She can only stand so much of that, so when I get into the bed, her fits stop and she comes up and purrs and sleeps. These are the main things I've noticed. In fact, after stopping the medication, her fits really have lessened. She still has NOT hurt herself, and I should be taking her back to the vet soon, but with all that has been going on here at home I am unable to do this as of right now. But do not worry, she is in great health and having much fun.

As for Boo-Boo, I FINALLY received a letter today in the mail from the Vet Board. The vet who prescribed Amforal for Boo's diarheaa, which I still believe worsened his kidney problems, was not judged for what he did. They said Amforal, if injected, harms the kidneys, but orally is not absorbed by the intestines enough to hurt any organs. They dismissed that part of the case.

The vet who tore up Boo's mouth, on the other hand, received a stern letter of caution from the Board. Of course I wanted a higher level of discipline to be handed down, but I will live with the caution letter. It will always be in his file, anyway.

I finally feel like this is closed. I made my case very well, thanks to all of you helping me and providing me with all the information I needed. There were 7-9 points the Board made in the letter, the biggest of which was the vet not doing the gingival flap (sewing up the gum) after removing it, which they really got him on. I was happy to read that.

So, I am storing these letters away in Boo's huge file and I feel much more at ease now. I still can't stand driving by the place but what can you do.

I have 2 female ferals, too, and the outside unneutered male Boca who we have to keep an eye on with his big boy spraying and getting into scraps. He and Chickster don't get along so it's been a ride.

There has been so much going on here lately with my job, finances and health (minor) issues that I just have not been able to get here. I am so sorry to have left you worrying about any of us and please forgive me for my absence and not keeping you guys up to date.

I really do from the bottom of my heart appreciate all you have done for me, all of you, and hope you and yours are well. <3 The letter left me relieved but a little depressed about Boo, it still hurts, so I am going to go lay down and rest and calm down.

But thank you all again. I love you all dearly.

Thank you so much for the update. I'm glad you have closure on Boo's case. I'm thrilled to hear Chickster is doing well without any medication. I guess she'll keep you hopping, but she is worth the extra work after all, special girl that she is.

I HAVE worried about you, and am glad to know, relatively speaking, things are well with you and yours.

Love and hugs!

Mods, please move this to another spot if it is better located there. I'm in a tizzy and I didn't really think where to put it. A good tizzy though.

I wanted to give some extra info directly from the letter provided by the Board. They dismissed the claim about the Amforal given by the younger vet, disagreeing with me that it harmed Boo's kidneys or harmed anything. That was a slight loss but if the Board believes it, then maybe it's true.

The big win for me is the following, directly from the letter (Little long, be prepared):

To The Vet from the Board:
Decision of the Committee on this Investigation:

1. Prior to the extraction of tooth 304 on 1/6/10, you should have taken radiographs of the tooth and surrounding area or offered the owner a referral to another facility for radiographs.
2. Prior to the procedure on 1/6, you should have performed properative blood work before administering anesthesia to Bubba. The cat had an elevated BUN level in 3/09, which indicated the need for properative blood work. It is possible that Bubba was in the initial stages of renal failure at this time.
3. You fialed to documkent succidiently the extent of Bubba's dental disease. Board Rule requires that all pertitent medical data be included in a patient record.
4. There is no signed anesthetic consent form in the medical records. The records are incomplete without this information. Reviewing such a consent form with the owner would have provided prime opportunity to discuss and insist on preoperative blood work.
5. The Committee has concerns with your use of meloxicam at the dosage you used during the surgery, given that Bubba was possibly in the beginning stages of renal failure. Again, properative blood work would have indicated that you should not use meloxicam.
6. You erred when you did not perform the gingival flap, or at a minimum, discuss the procedure with the owner. While you may have assumed she did not want to pay for the surgery, that decision was hers. You also should have discussed with her the risks and benefits of the procedure. It was improper for you to have made the decision to forgo the flap without the owner's input.
7. The Committee obtained a review of Bubba's dental radiographs from a board-certified veterinary dentist (My new vet) who concluded that a portion of the root of the canine tooth was present in the mandible, and that an andjacent incisor appeared to have been damaged during the extraction. The veterinarian noted that the radiographic appearance of this tooth is consistent with the advanced tooth reabsorption.

Based upon the foregoing findings, the Committee has voted to issue you a letter of caution pursuant to Board Rules. (Board rule states "IF no probable cause is found, but it is determined by the Committee that the conduct of the accused party is not in accord with accepted professional practice or may be the subject of discipline if continued or repeated, the Committee may issue a letter of caution to the accused party stating that the conduct, while not the basis for a disciplinary hearing, is not professionally acceptable or may be the basis for a disciplinary hearing if repeated. A record of such letter of caution shall be maintained in the office of the Board.)

Below they add:

By copy of this letter the Committee expresses the sympathy of the Board to (my name, the owner ) for the loss of Bubba.


So, I have to say I am thrilled with the 7 points the Committee brought up, especially the meloxicam and flap, and while it is not as harsh a punishment as I had hoped, it is still something.

So there you go, just letting you guys know exactly what the Board came up with. I am glad I went through with this, surely.

Thank you all for your support, cheers, compassion and love, vibes and prayers for Boo-Boo and us. It is so appreciated I just cannot express it in words.

Thank you Otto! Yes she keeps us up and moving but it's a good thing. She's just not a lazy lap cat! Boca also gets her going sometimes, they just dislike each other and he needs neutering, but.. anyway, Things are going well! Thank you!!!

I am SO glad to hear from you again, and learn that you are safe and sound, and that Chickster is doing so well! . That's wonderful news that she is off those meds.

And although that Vet didn't get disbarred or whatever the term is, at least he was severely reprimanded, which is something at least. So now you can start to put it behind you and know that you did what you could to get justice for poor Boo, may he rest in peace .

I've missed you!

Sally

Aw thanks! I've missed you and everyone too! Yes, everyone is safe and sound. Chickster woke us all up last night by chasing a moth until she knocked a load of things off a dresser and caused a horrible domino effect, even knocking over a telescope I have in my room. She is ok, but it goes to show me that she's got such a hunting instinct nothing can stop her.

I hope things are well with you and yours, glad to be back, have to catch up on everything!

Oh hun, I'm just so pleased to hear about Chickster I can't tell you! Sounds like she's going to be a handful for a while - but it'll come with lots of smiles!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As to Boo.... it may not be all we wanted and hoped for, but it's JUSTICE for Boo! The old vet was NOT happy to get that letter, and I am soooooo proud of you for reliving all that pain as much as you had to in order to see it through for him.