Dog tooth - claim for vet negligence?

sunnyshiney

Morning,
Our dog went for her annual vaccinations in December.  She has great teeth for a 7 year old, but had some tartar on one premolar. We saw a locum vet who said she could remove it. She used 2 different tools and was extremely rough with our dog. I started to feel uncomfortable with how rough she was being and was about to ask her to stop when something pinged onto the floor and she said that it was the tartar. I didn't think anything of it, until a couple of days later, I checked her teeth only to find that her tooth was fractured with the pulp exposed (I read up this is painful) I took her back to another locum vet (usual vet on maternity) who said I could have it removed or leave it and let it rot (!) 
I took her to another vet for another opinion and they said she'd be in a lot of pain and recommended removal, which I did. I'm now just under £500 down from this fractured tooth caused by the vet. I wrote a complaint letter of which it took nearly 3 months for a reply which they deny causing her fracture. 
Would you recommend small claims court (I'd read that if you lose you pay the court fees - obviously don't want to do that) or is there a recommended no win no fee company? (Not sure they'd be bothered with what they'd class as a small claim) or any other options to reclaim under £500?Since I was waiting so long for the vet it's too late to claim insurance and I took out a new policy in February (due to policy renewal price being absolutely ridiculous,  but that's another story!)
Thanks 😊

sheramber

For any case you would need proof that it was caused by the locum vet. 
That would be difficult to prove as it could have happened in the two days before you noticed it.