ComplaintsforWags & Whiskers, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  03/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We boarded both our dogs at Wags & Whiskers on 2/3 - 2/6. At 6 AM on 2/5, we got a call that one of our dogs had seizure like symptoms. Since this was early in the morning on the weekend, I had to wait until 9 AM to call the local vet to see what we should do. They said that if the dog is up and moving and seems to be okay, she should be okay to stay there. The boarding facility should just monitor the situation. We got another call stating she was acting weird again. The manager said they would only bring her to a local vet, none provided the 24 hour care needed for this situation. Since we are new to the area, we did not have anyone available to bring her to the nearest emergency vet, which is in Myrtle Beach. I explained this situation to the manager but they would not help and bring the dog to Myrtle Beach to receive the care she needed. We had to work with a local pet taxi to transport her to the emergency vet. When we returned from vacation, we picked our other dog up from their facility and noticed that night that he was not eating and seemed depressed. The next day he was vomiting all day and we had to bring him to the same emergency vet. They diagnosed him with pancreatitis, which in dogs is typically caused by the dog receiving a food or treat that is high in fat or something out of their normal diet and symptoms typically occur 24-48 hours, which would indicate that something happened while in the care of Wags & Whiskers. We consulted with VCA Palmetto, they recommend that we reach out to Wags & Whiskers and see if they can help with some of the Vet bills since the dogs were in their care when both situations occurred. I reached out to the owner, Jill, and see had a couple questions she wanted clarified by our Vets. I forwarded her the answers to her questions and she has continued to look for any reason to not accept even the slightest responsibility. We feel they should accept some responsibility for this since the dogs were in their care.

  Business response

  07/10/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/03/09) */ How are Rory and Ruxin doing since being with us? We hope all is well! I went through your questions and below are the answers to help the facility understand these disease processes a little better 1. Vaccine can always pose a risk for some adverse reactions including: Discomfort and local swelling and vaccination site, mild fever, decrease in appetite/ activity, and with Bordtella specifically mild coughing or a 'snotty nose; since it goes into the nasal cavity. The most serious vaccine reactions that have been noted by the AVMA (American veterinary medication association) is persistent vomiting/diarrhea, itchy skin or hives, swelling around the face or eye, or severe coughing. In my colleagues and my time in practice we have not seen a Bordetella vaccine cause a reaction with seizures. 2. Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is most commonly initiated by a high fatty food or treat that may be different from a patient normal diet. In my time in practice, I have seen it from dogs that were given table scraps at Thanksgiving/Christmas, new treats, or some breeds like terriers and Schnauzers are "predisposed" to this and can be set off very easily but new diet changes. Attached is a link to our VCA hand out about pancreatitis. 1. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/pancreatitis-in-dogs 3. Seizures are a big discussion as many things can cause them. Anything from a toxic substance (plants, organophosphate, pyrethrins) foods (especially with something containing xylitol which can cause hypoglycemia), to stress. Some dogs can also develop idiopathic epilepsy, which is basically a fancy way of saying we are unsure of what causes it. In older dogs a sudden onset of seizure (usually 10-14 years old) can mean an underlying meningioma or brain tumor pushing up on axonal structures and causing 'miss fires'. Other causes we can see with seizures is hypoglycemia (low sugar events) or if a patient is diabetic and has an insulin overdose. 1. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/seizures-general-for-dogs 4. This is a tough question to pin point because pancreatitis can be subclinical for a few days before clinical signs show. If I had to give my best guess I would say that based on my experience I usually see clinical signs anywhere 24-48 hours after the ' cause' but it could be anywhere up to 3-5 days before clinical signs. I understand your confusion, and I am sorry that Ruxin and Rory were sick. After reading the vet's notes, I feel that it confirms our initial conversation as to no one knowing what happened and at what time. We can only speculate. We only know for sure that both Ruxin and Rory became ill. I can only speak for what I know. While in our care, Ruxin, Rory, and all dogs are in an extremely controlled environment. All foods are kept in containers and separate from other dogs' food and items. Dogs do not have access to the kitchen area, and all dogs are fed separately in their own rooms. Dogs are not allowed to roam freely. When not in their own private rooms, they are escorted from their room to outside areas, which are highly controlled. No food, toys, or collars are allowed outside, as for Ruxin and Rory being given McDonald's or any other food besides their own. That did not happen in our care. I can not verify what happened while not in our care. Per the vet, the onset can be from 24-48 hours to 3 to 5 days. The notes also state, "The patient has a history of eating objects, but the client did not see him eating anything." I know there is nothing I can say to make you think otherwise. I can only say we have been caring for dogs for over 26 years. We are very structured in our routines and take extraordinary measures to control the environment for all dogs' safety, happiness, and well-being. Respectfully, Jill Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/03/10) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) The response that the business provided is a copy of the email we received from our Vet at VCA Palmetto and Jill's last email to us. They are still not accepting any responsibility for the fact that both our dogs had to go to the emergency vet while or directly after they were in their care.

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