My dog Eddie had been suffering with an upset stomach for several days and we took her to our vet for treatment, who prescribed the pencillin based anti-biotic Synulox. We were told to starve Eddie for 24 hours then start the anti-biotics. We did this. The next day, we were visiting my Grandparents, and Eddie jumped out of the car to run in to the house, when she somehow landed awkwardly and collapsed. She seemed to be in alot of pain and was unable to stand. Fearing that she'd broken her spine, we rushed her to the nearest emergency vet we could find. When we arrived, we were seen quickly and we explained what had happened and that we had only visited our own vet the day before for treatment for Eddie's upset stomach. The vet checked Eddie over saying that she couldn't feel a break or dislocated disc but would not be sure until an x-ray was done, unfortunately, she said, she was very busy and would not be able to do the x-ray until the next day, when Eddie was more stable and out of shock.

Although we were desperately worried and wanted to take Eddie home to our own vet, we agreed that it would be best for her to be hospitalized and given pain relief so her condition would stabilize and her treatment, whatever that may be, can begin as soon as possible. The vet took Eddie from us suggesting we come back in a couple of hours time.  So 2 hours later, we returned to the surgery and found Eddie in a cage still in alot of pain. When we asked why she was still in pain, we were told that she had only just be given painkillers. We were angry and upset that she had been left in pain for 2 hours and questioned the vet about it. She said that she had been very busy as another emergency had come in shortly after we had left and so she hadn't had time.  Eddie was drooling alot and was slumping against the cage door. We were distressed about this and asked the vet what was wrong with her. The vet said that the painkillers were mostly likely just taking effect and she was probably drowsy so it would be best if we left so she could get some rest.

It broke my heart to leave her but, my dad said, she was in the best place to be if something was to go wrong. Reluctantly I agreed, and the vet gave us her personal phone number for us to ring for updates on Eddie's condition. We took a little comfort in this and we went back to my Grandparent's house. The next day, I called the vet to ask about Eddie and she said that she was in alot less pain today and had had a seemingly comfortable night, so she wanted to sedate her and do the x-rays to find out what was wrong. The vet said she would call me back in a few hours and let me know what the x-rays say.

When I arrived a few minutes later, Eddie was unconscious on the table, still intubated from being sedated. The vet was very concerned, she said, because she had given Eddie the reversal drug to bring her out of the sedation 45 minutes ago and she should be awake by now. I started stroking and kissing Eddie and saying that it's ok because i was there and what a good girl she is. Gradually she started to come around and wake-up, and after nearly an hour she was sitting upright although still very groggy. The vet said it was a good sign and what a fighter she is. I sat with her for a few more hours until she was properly awake and back to her old self.

By this time the veterinery surgery was long closed and the staff were starting to go home. I asked the vet what would happen with Eddie, as there isn't a member of staff there all night, and I was still concerned about her heart stopping. The vet said that she would take Eddie home with her so that she could monitor her all night and as she was the only patient the vet would not need to return to the surgery, leaving Eddie alone, to check on other animals. So I kissed Eddie and said goodbye until tomorrow when, I was told I could come and see her as soon as the surgery opened. I called the vet during the night for an update and was told that Eddie was asleep and doing fine.

When I visited the veterinery surgery the next morning, the vet explained to me that because Eddie's heart had failed, she would need medication called Fortekor. I asked what it does and was told that it lowers the blood pressure and in doing so lightens the load on the heart. Eddie would need half a tablet a day for a month to start with. Later that day, I met the senior partner of the veterinery surgery who specializes in spine injury. He told me that he would be taking on Eddie's case and wanted to sedate her and do more x-rays that day. I told him I wasn't happy about Eddie being sedated again so soon after her heart failed and he told me that he would use a different sedative to the one used the day before. I asked what was different about it and he said it is an oxygen and sedative mixture that allows you to bring the animal round alot quicker if a problem arises and would not put a strain Eddie's heart like the other did which was an injected sedative. I said I wanted to see Eddie again before I make a decision.

I was allowed into the back of the surgery where Eddie was being kept and I sat with her for over an hour. She was, as the vet said, alot brighter today than she had been the day before and, aside from the fact that she couldn't stand on her hind legs, was her usual cheerful self who was happy to see me and couldn't stop wagging her tail. I decided that, as I wanted to take her as soon as possible, I needed to find out why she she couldnt stand but could wag her tail so agreed to her sedated again for the x-rays.  

I received a telephone call a short while later saying that Eddie was fine, she'd came out of the sedative successfully and didn't have any problems while she was under. The vet said that, having reviewed the x-rays carefully, there definitely wasn't any fractures in Eddie's spine or any slipped discs. He concluded that as she merely had concussion of the spine which, with painkiller and plenty of rest would heal in 2-4 weeks and she would be able to walk without any future problems.

I was delighted that Eddie was going to be ok and asked when I can take her home. The vet said he wanted to keep her for one more night and that she could be released for treatment with our own vet the next day. I called my own Vet to make arrangments for the next day, as Eddie had to be checked over by them before being discharged completely for home care. The next morning I went to pick Eddie up from the vets. She was chirpy and pain free and very happy to see me. She had never been away from me before and so was clearly glad that I hadn't abandoned her! The vet gave me her heart medication, Fortekor, her anti-biotics, Synulox for her stomach upset and her painkillers which were Rimadyl. He never mentioned any side-effects.

On the journey to our registered vet, I read the enclosed leaflets of both the Fortekor and the Rimadyl and only the Fortekor listed possible side-effects which were dizziness and fatigue. When we arrived at our regular veterinery surgery, our vet checked Eddie over and said that he had no objections with her being cared for at home and asked how her stomach was. I told him that Eddie was still suffering with diarrhea and I had the Synulox he had prescribed at home plus the Synulox the emergency vet had given me. He told me to continue with the course and to feed Eddie light meals such as steamed fish with rice until the diarrhea cleared up. He asked to see the heart medication and painkillers I was given and made sure I understood how much to give Eddie.

I took Eddie home and she was clearly delighted to be back with the family. Over the next 3 days, I gave Eddie her medication as per the instructions by the vet. She was slightly drowsy but she had been through alot over the past few days so I wasn't very worried about it. Eddie had been eating her fish and rice fine and with help had no problems going to the toilet, although her diarrhea hadn't completely cleared up yet.

At 10 pm on the evening of the 3rd day, Eddie started vomiting. Again, I wasnt particularly worried as she had eaten abit of grass from the garden when she had been taken out to go to the toilet, something she occasionally did and after vomiting was fine. Come the next day Eddie had vomited most of the night and seemed in pain. I telephoned the vet and was told to starve Eddie for another 24 hours and if she seemed in pain then to up her dose of Rimadyl by another 1/4 tablet, if there are any problems to call the emergency vet later or make an appointment to see the regular vet the next day.

By 8pm (the next night) Eddie was obviously in alot of pain and had started bleeding anally. I called the emergency vet who explained that it was probably nothing to worry and to bring her to the surgery tomorrow but to stop giving Rimadyl. I was confused by this as Eddie was clearly in need of pain-relief, so I looked Rimadyl up on the internet and found on Pfizer's website the list of side-effects caused by the drug and also that it should never be given to a dog suffering with gastric problems. Distraught, I called another local vet for advice and after explaining the situation, I was told that Rimadyl does have side-effects- anal bleeding being a serious one, and that it was my registered vets duty to give Eddie treatment asap.

I called my vet again and told him that I had found the list of side-effects on the internet and that Eddie had the symptoms. The vet told me that it's easy to read things on the internet and make a self diagnosis after misconstruing the facts. I explained that I had got a 2nd opinion and the other vet had agreed that it was very possible that Eddie was suffering the side-effects of Rimadyl and needed immediate treatment and I wanted him to see her. He said that he could see us the next at 10.45. At this point I was quite frantic and insisted he see Eddie that night. He eventually agreed to meet us at his veterinery surgery at 10pm.  

I rushed Eddie to the surgery but was made to wait in reception whilst the vet turned the card payment machine on and changed his clothes. After a 10 minute wait, he asked me to bring Eddie through to his office. I gently placed Eddie on the examining table and he asked again what the problem was. I explained that she had been vomiting the night before and most of the day, had started bleeding anally 2 hours before hand and was becoming quite agressive, having tried to bite my younger sister - something Eddie had never done before. I said that I think she was having a reaction to the Rimadyl as she had the symptoms stated on Pfizer's website. 

 My vet completely disagreed, saying that he has many patients on Rimadyl and has never had any problems with it before, so it most likely an infection. He tried to take Eddie's temperature but blood came out all over the table. He wrinkled his nose in dislike and complained that the blood smelled like faeces. He wiped the table and proceeded to take Eddie's temperature again. After a couple of minutes he removed the thermometer and turned away. I asked if Eddie had a temperature to which he replied slightly.

I asked what the treatment was and he said he would give an anti-biotic to start fighting the 'infection' and give Eddie something 'to settle her stomach'. He gave Eddie the two injections and asked me to wait outside in reception while he prepared my bill. I asked what other treatment he would give Eddie and he said that if I come back the next day at 10.45 he would start her on a steroid drip. I asked how serious Eddie's condition was and he replied that it was hard to say. I asked how long the injections he had just given Eddie would take to start working and he replied that no drug works just like that clicking his fingers. I said I know they start working immediately but will they start working quick enough to stop her anal bleeding, he said that they probably will but to expect a little bit more bleeding.

He clearly couldn't wait to get me out the door and seemed completely disinterested the entire time I was there despite charging me 125 for little more than 15 minutes work, most of which he was turning on machines and changing his clothes. Just before I left, I asked if Eddie was seriously ill enough to die and he said that anything's possible. Shocked, I returned home with Eddie and prayed that the drugs would take effect quickly.

By 3 am Eddie's anal bleeding had got worse and she was barking and crying constantly. I was extremely distressed and asked my father what we should do. He told me that all we could do was hope that the drugs that Eddie had been given would stop the bleeding and that the vet was right about leaving it until the next day for proper treatment.

At 5am Eddie had quieted down and was calmly sitting in her bed, she hadn't bled anymore for for nearly an hour and we were all quite relieved that the drugs appeared to be working. I sat with her stroking her head and talking softly to her about all the little adventures she'd had, and Eddie lay quietly beside me occasionally closing her eyes for a few moments. I allowed myself to relax slightly and started to feel quite sleepy myself, the events of the past 24 hours weighing on me greatly.

At 07.15 I noticed that Eddie's breathing had slowed dramatically, taking only a few breaths a minute. Panicking, I called my father. He come over and checked Eddie and said that it seemed that the last 24 hours had got the better of her and she was fading away. Distraught, my siblings and I tried to say our goodbyes all whilst still clinging to the hope that she would pull through.

Eddie died at 07.27.  

We buried her in the garden under her favorite tree.

I have researched Rimadyl more thoroughyl in the past couple of days since Eddie died, and have found that although it does work without problems for many dogs, giving them a new lease of life, certain factors have to be considered before it is prescribed. These include the fact that it is not suitable for dogs suffering gastric problems. Eddie had been suffering from diarrhea for a couple of days before being prescribed Rimadyl and although both vets were aware of this, neither mentioned possible side-effects.

I believe that both vets are guilty of negligence for failing to inform me of the possible side-effects and that my own vet is guilty of misconduct also. He has violated the professional code of conduct as stated on the Royal College of Veterinery Surgery.

It states: Vet Responsibilities to Patients:

Emergency cover means, at least, IMMEDIATE first aid and pain relief when on duty,to not unreasonably refuse to provide first aid and pain relief for any animal normally treated during normal working hours: (we had to ask vet twice to see Eddie and only after we told the vet we had sought a 2nd opinion, did he reluctantly agree to the see her)

After initial diagnosis of injury/disease and likely quality of life- make FULL and realistic assessment and offer options for treatment or euthansia based on welfare considerations: (the vet did not volunteer any information about the possible cause of her illness and would not consider that it could be a reaction to Rimadyl. I had to repeatedly ask questions about Eddie's condition and was given very vague answers and he never mentioned, even when asked how seriously ill Eddie was, options for euthanasia - which we would have considered if we had been given a full diagnosis of quality of life.)

Vet must not cause the patient to suffer by failing to maintain adequate pain control and/or relief of suffering: (the vet refused to give any pain relief until the next day saying that it would clash with the Rimadyl but would not explain how or why).

I want justice for my little Eddie and do not want another pet owner go through the heartbreak I have suffered, watching my darling fade away in front of my eyes because my vet didn't not take me seriously about the side-effects of Rimadyl and did not give adequate treatment that could have saved her life.

I am not blindly clinging to Rimadyl as being the cause of Eddie's death. I accept that it is possible that she may have had an infection, but the vet did not take any blood for tests or even examine Eddie properly, so how could he inject her with an anti-biotic without knowing what he was treating and if indeed that was how to treat it.

Joanne Russell

Kent. UK