What do I do if my vet done expensive surgery that didn't fix the problem?

smilinirish

I'm not sure if this is the correct sub for this but please redirect if it isn't.

I have a pet who has just returned home after some reasonably complex surgery. This was to correct seizure type episodes she was having. After being home for one week it's becoming apparent that the seizures have not been fixed. I spent over £4,000 of my own money and an additional £1000 claim on insurance to cover the costs of tests and surgery to correct this specific issue. This is after spending over £1000 on physio appointments.

What options if the problem hasn't been fixed? An obvious misdiagnosis that has resulted in such huge costs and also trauma to my dog is not something I feel I can just let slide.

Savvy_Sue

I guess you start with a second opinion. You say this is an 'obvious' misdiagnosis, but maybe it's not? Maybe the diagnosis is a reasonable one, even if it's not the right one? What does the current vet say? (I am not a vet ...)

sheramber

I am sorry your dog is still suffering and understand you are upset by this but I  agree with SavvySue.

The fact that it didn't stop the  'episodes' does not necessarily  mean the diagnosis was wrong , or the treatment  not correct.

It sounds as if your dog has a complex problem.

What did your vet tell you were the chances of the operation being successful?

Have you spoken to your vet about the episodes still occurring and why it may not have been successful?

Could it be that it has helped but not completely cured?

You need to have a meeting with your vet.


There is never a guarantee that an operation, or any treatment.  will be successful.

A friend got a new knee  2years ago and is now unable walk any distance,  cannot drive and is in constant pain.

The new knee just doesn't work but nothing can be done

Before you can do anything you need to establish

1 what was the diagnosis, 

2 what are the treatment options for it

3 was the operation the best option or perhaps the only option  available.

4 Only another vet could advise if the treatment given was appropriate or not but , unless it is obvious negligence , it is very difficult to get a vet to speak against another vet.


Another point is if the insurance company had thought the operation was not appropriate they would not have paid out.
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Undervalued

Medicine is not an exact science. "Wrong" in medicine is not necessarily the same as being negligent or incompetent.

So the question is, might another vet of the level of competence and expertise that you could reasonably expect have come to the same conclusion? 

Was this a reasonable course of treatment to have tried in the circumstances?

Hindsight never fails.

The person that never makes a mistake never makes anything.

PennyForThem_2

This is going to sound harsh:

You have tried your best - but this is an animal - yes, you see it as a member of your family and want to do what is right. However some health problems cannot be fixed - true in humans as well as animals.  

If the animal is suffering should you subject the animal to more stress trying to fix maybe an unfixable problem?  Let go.

sheramber

The OP didn't raise concern that the dog is suffering. There are many dogs living who take fits. They are not necessarily suffering. It is usually more upsetting to the owners than the dogs.

The OP is concerned that a significant amount money has been spent  under the impression that is would cure the dog. That hasn't happened.

TBagpuss

Sherember is right - - the starting point is to review the information you were given beforehand about the changes of full sucess, and then to talk to the vet about the fact that your dog is still getting fits.

There are very few situations where any medical person can give a diagnosis with 100% certainty, and fewer still where you an guarantee a specifcic outcome. 

Even for very routine things, there will be a small proportion of cases where something goes wrong, or where the normal treatent isn't effective. 

You can of course, after having reviewed the information you have and spoken to your vet, arrange to see adifferent vet for a second opinion, but it may very well be that the rality is that your dog was unlukcly, and that the vets did everything right.

It would be approaite to speak to the vet urgently in any event - while it sounds most likely that the current situation is because the treatment wasn't sucessful, it's also possible that the current seizures may have a differnet cause such as a reacttion to  medication.