Overdose given to dog by vet

Sezzler

Hi all,

Just after some advice really so this doesn't happen again to other dog owners.

Anyways, our pet shih tzu has recently gone into the vet to have an operation on her leg. The op went well and when we picked her up we were given some pain meds that she needed to be given for the next two weeks. When we picked up the meds we were told the shih tzu was now 6kgs and her meds had been calculated accordingly.

So anyways roll on a week after she has stopped the meds we take her back for a check up only to be told we had been given the wrong amount of meds.... we'd been given the meds for a dog weighing 11kg !!!

The vet just brushed it off and said our little girl would be fine but im really worried that it may have caused some damage. I also dont want this sort of thing to happen again so im planning to write to the vet but I was wondering if there are any governing bodies I could also write to ?

candygirl

OMG that's almost double the weight:eek::eek:so am presuming the meds were double the dose:eek::eek:I'd deffo complain in writing:mad::mad:

purple.sarah

Here is a link to information on where to complain:
I am unhappy with my vet's performance/ the fees. What can I do?

I would also get your dog to another vet ASAP to be double checked for damage in case the original vet is covering their tracks. I hope she is ok.

Sezzler

its any damage im most worried about.. i mean how can the vet say oh she'll be fine on such a whim without doing tests

Edit: I would also be a bit miffed at having to fork out for tests at another vet.. grumble grumble

purple.sarah

Sezzler wrote: »

its any damage im most worried about.. i mean how can the vet say oh she'll be fine on such a whim without doing tests

Edit: I would also be a bit miffed at having to fork out for tests at another vet.. grumble grumble

I know what you mean about tests at another vet but it is best to know about any damage, leaving it could cost you more later.

You could push the issue with your vet and insist on them doing tests. I am also concerned that they seem to be ignoring it.

Croatoan

Though I'm not a vet it's likely that if there were no ill effects while taking the meds, then, as the vet said, there's probably no harm done. The vet will already know the medication given and the consequences of any overdose, so there'd be no point in doing tests if there's nothing to test for however worried an owner may feel. As an example if I took a double dose of paracetamol there'd be little point getting tests done unless, however unlikely it might be, I became ill.
As it was the vet who informed you of the error, it's also unlikely they're trying to cover it up. I personally wouldn't be concerned at all.
You can of course insist on tests (though as a I say, there may be nothing to test for) but you might be causing your pet more damage/stress than any overdose. And you may, rightly imo, be asked to pay for them if the vet, who is the professional after all, decides there is no need to have them.
As an aside, speaking as a nurse (human), the usual thing to do after a known medication error is to monitor the patient for a period of time to see if they're OK. "Tests" would only be run if a doctor agreed there was a good reason for running them. Although it can be argued that any medication error is serious, the vast majority of errors will not cause any harm.

Whether you should officially complain about the error itself is your decision. I think I'd like to know how the error occurred just to be sure it won't happen again. But I don't think I'd be writing to the authorities unless the error had made my dog ill or worse.

sock-knitter

taking double the amount of paracetamol can cause liver damage or even kill someone, especially over a couple of weeks,
i'd be insisting tests were done

Sezzler

i mean short of writing letter is there anything else I can do really ??? i dont want to just leave it, and although putting the dog through tests isnt great how else can i tell if there is an long term damage ?

Nod_Off

I would write to the vet explaining that you aren't happy and ask them to do a blood sample free of charge to determine whether there has been any damage to her liver or kidneys.

Sagz_2

Have you tried to find the product data sheet on-line? It may give you some indication of the effects of over-doseage.

Or you could call the maker of the drug and ask them for a data sheet, and maybe discuss the effects of the dose your dog received.

Hope little dog is ok x

gettingready

When my daughter was little, our then GP prescribed for 4xthe normal dose of a medication but the pharmacist picked on that while dispensing the prescription.

Since then I always double check (humans or pets) what doctors writes with what it says on the leaflet. ALWAYS.

Was there a leaflet with the medication?

Hope your dog is ok....