I brought my 10 yr. Old collie, Winston, to see Dr. Talbot-Valerio of Family Vet Services. Winston's symptoms were: appetite loss, lethargy, depression, and head pressing, and his blood work showed elevated liver enzymes. Dr. Talbot assured me the blood work meant nothing, and insisted he Winston's symptoms were due to 2 abscessed teeth.
Winston went in for surgery July 31 to have 2 teeth removed. The nutjob pulled 7 teeth, and kept my boy under anesthesia for an hour and a half. Then she wouldn't let me pick him up that night because he couldn't walk, and was having trouble coming out of the anesthesia. Her exact words were, "I do not want to be liable if anything should happen so I will not let you pick him up tonight."
The next day (Thursday) when I called, she finally called me back at 12:30, and said I could get Winston at 2pm, and in the meantime she was going to give him fluids to flush the anesthesia out. She told me it could take up to 4 days for the anesthetic to wear off. I brought him home, and he ate some soft food, and slept the rest of the day. I thought he'd be o.K.
The next day (Friday), he still couldn't get up by himself, and I had to help him walk, he was eating less, and was lethargic. When I called to tell Dr. Talbot this, she said he was "lazy" and to coax him to his water bowl when he wanted a drink.
Saturday, I called Family Vet Services again to report that Winston was in the same condition. Dr. Talbot never bothered to return my call. I started putting the pieces together, and realized that she did not have him on i.V. Fluids after his surgery, and waited until the next day to give him fluids for one hour only. Something didn't seem right.
Sunday, Winston's condition took a turn for the worst. He had abdominal swelling, was jaundice, wasn't eating, drinking excessively, increased respiration, etc. We rushed him to the emergency hospital where he was admitted in critical condition. As the Dr. Said, "his liver was twisted like a pretzel." He was diagnosed w / primary liver failure, and secondary kidney failure. He was put on fluids, given vit K injections, and plasma transfusions because his platelet count was low. Despite the treatment, by Tuesday Winston's condition was grave. The vet called to tell me he wouldn't make it through the day, and I should put him to sleep. I rushed to the hospital to see my boy jaundice and barely breathing. I was forced to euthanize him.
Dr. Talbot was on vacation that week, but when she returned, she denied having done anything wrong. She said it wasn't necessary that Winston be put on fluids the night of his surgery, etc.
I reported her to the NJ State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and the complaint is pending w / the Dept. Of Law. I have also reported her to the BBB, but she ignored the complaint. Dr. Talbot is a sick, arrogant woman, who killed my innocent collie. She needs to have her license revoked for killing my dog. She ruined his life and mine.
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