Amazon Animal Hospital almost killed our dog Clearwater Florida
Prior to surgery, we were aware Amazon Animal Hospital's cost for an ear crop procedure ($700) would be more costly than other veterinary hospitals in our area. They informed us that our pets health and safety is their primary concern and "We monitor your pet with state-of-the-art equipment to minimize the risk of anesthesia." We opted to pay a higher fee for the ear crop procedures and understood we were purchasing a higher standard of care and the fee was inclusive of all subsequent visits and treatments relating to the procedure. "If we prefer the ear croppings be performed properly and we want the puppies to be safe during the surgery, then we will pay the extra cost."
On 7 February 2008 we took Rush and Veda to Amazon Animal Hospital for ear crop procedures. Later that afternoon, we received a phone call from the hospital informing us that Rush's heart stopped beating "for no apparent reason". However, they were able to perform cardiac arrest resuscitation and were successful in doing so.
We were informed the puppies would be given a test prior to the surgery to determine how they would react to the anesthesia. Since, Amazon Animal Hospital did not inform us that Rush or Veda didn't do well on the test, we assumed the puppies would be fine under anesthesia. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Our puppy's heart stopped beating and he had to be brought back to life. Instead of the doctor accepting responsibility for what happened in the operating room, he charged us $378.40 to resuscitate our puppy. We believe the physician was negligent by failing to adequately monitor the puppy's vital signs and allowing the situation to progress to a "CODE" situation.
On 8 February 2008, the puppies were scheduled to be discharged. Upon arrival at Amazon Animal Hospital we were told Veda could not be discharged because her sutures had come out. This is important to note because it illustrates the Veterinarian's inability to adequately monitor our pet while under their care. If her sutures were not remaining intact while under the physicians care, then how could they expect them to remain intact following discharge? Veda was re-sutured and our puppies were discharged that evening.
For a procedure quoted at $1,500 we were billed $2,053.24.
The apparatus designed to serve as the base of support and to hold the ears in an upright position consisted of a disposable plastic cup with the top half of the cup cut off. This was placed on top of the puppies head with one piece of tape attaching it to each ear. The sutures were exposed with no bandaging to protect them from infection or trauma. Within three hours of being home, the plastic cup had come off the male puppy's head. We took the male puppy back to the animal hospital the next morning to have the apparatus reattached. Dr. Carvajal did not reattach the cup. He indicated the apparatus was no longer needed because his ears were standing upright on their own.
Over the next few days, we were beginning to notice the male puppy's ears were beginning to "fold over" and were developing folds causing them to not stand upright.
On 11 February 2008, both puppies were returned to the hospital. Several of Veda's sutures had come out for the second time and the apparatus designed to hold her ears in place had come off. Veda was returned to the operating room and sedated for a second time in less than a week. Dr. Carvajal replaced her sutures and cleansed her wounds. We were charged over $300.00 for this corrective procedure. At this same visit we requested that the doctor place taping around the puppies' ears to help mold them into an upright position and to avoid further folding. Rushs' ears were also cleaned and taped. As a medical professional, Dr. Carvajal should have been aware the ears would require taping as a part of the procedure. Veda's sutures came out because Dr. Carvajal left them exposed.
Additionally, he recommended the puppies remain sedated 24/7 for the next 10 days to ensure the sutures remain in tact. Keeping a puppy sedated with tranquilizers for 10 days and nights following a common ear crop procedure, is unheard of. We charge the physician with negligence by failing to properly perform the surgery and bandage/suture their wounds to promote healing.
On 16 February 2008: Rush was taken back to the veterinarian's office for a third time since the surgery. The taping on one of his ears had completely come off. Dr. Carvajal cleansed his wounds and re-taped his ears. He also informed us that his ear was infected at the site of the suture. We were charged $41.40 for a "treatment progress evaluation" and $27.50 for additional tranquilizers.
On 21 February 2008: Rush and Veda were finally scheduled to have their sutures removed. During the examination, Dr. Carvajal informed us that both puppies' ears were infected for a second time despite having been on antibiotics and multiple visits made back to the hospital for wound cleansing, etc. Suture removal was included in the original $700 fee.
The final cost for the ear cropping procedure, multiple visits and treatments came to a grand total in excess of $3,000, twice as much as originally quoted. We are requesting a refund for Rush's surgery due to negligence and mishandling of the procedure. In consideration of the above referenced circumstances, we believe this is only fair.
On 6 March 2008 an attempt was made to retrieve all of Rush and Veda's medical records from Amazon Animal Hospital. A red flag was made on our account and the office assistant was instructed not to discharge any medical records. We were merely given a "history report" with no record of the puppies' lab tests, post-operative photos, detailed notes on all visits made, nor the dosage of administered drugs, etc. The multiple charges made to our account were also withheld. A $29.00 fee was presented to us for inadequate and incomplete information.
David
Tampa, Florida
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Lene
St. petersburg,Florida,
USA
Oh Please. Amazon is horrid
#3Consumer Comment
Mon, April 20, 2015
Back in 2003 my older cat had hypoglycemia. I brought him to Amazon and spent at least five hundred dollars. The cat was ok when I left, but he became hypoglecimic again. I WAS GIVEN no instructions should the cat get sick again. It was Sat. and the dr wanted to leave.
I took the cat to the emergency vet who told me that Amazon should have NEVER EVER released him. That they should have kept him and monitored him. I was not told anything by Amazon. Nothing. Nada. I was so angry at Amazon for the vet wanting to get on with his weekend and to hell with my cat. Seems people with older pets love the laser therapy for their pets but this man was negligent in my case. The emergency clinic on Belcher Rd. testified to that. Cat ended up being hospitalized for 2 days. He did make it. Again it was stated that in NO way should the cat have been released. The vet is negnigent. I will never forget this horror story.
Amazon Animal Hospital Management
Clearwater,Florida,
U.S.A.
Rebuttle and proof of "no wrong doing" to this atrocious accusation that Amazon Animal Hospital almost killed a dog.
#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, April 13, 2009
To Consumers and Clients of Amazon Animal Hospital
I have just become aware that this outlandish report which was filed against the company that i not only work for, but that i manage, named Amazon Animal Hospital in Clearwater Florida.
The following is a word for word transcription from the Better Business Bureau between our Animal Hospital and the client who has made these accusations.
I am only sorry i did not find this sooner. I only ask that before you judge us from these accusations that you hear both sides of the story.
We have been in business for over 25 years and have an excellent reputation and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to call us or email us.
We have photo and video evidence to back everything you will read below.
RECEIVE BUSINESS RESPONSE :
To whom it may concern,
Regarding the allegations made by Mr. Zubic against our highly reputable establishment, Amazon Animal Hospital.\par 1/21/08 Ms. Zareva was given the initial estimate on the phone by our client care coordinator Ms. Finn approx. 2.5 weeks prior to their surgery appointment. (at this time no mention of micro chipping ever took place)
When Ms. Zareva originally made the appointment she made sure to let Ms. Finn know that she had been quoted $1300-$1500 per dog at another establishment for the ear crop surgery alone, and the only reason i remember this detail was because Ms. Finn pointed this out to Dr. Carvajal and i while we ate lunch on the same day.
So when Mr. Zubic writes "we were aware that Amazon Animal Hospital's cost for an ear crop procedure ($700) would be more costly than other vet. hospitals, he is not being at all honest.
Not only is Mr. Zubic falsely accusing Amazon Animal Hospital of negligence, but he is trying to tarnish our good reputation as a pillar in our community by sending threatening letters saying that he and "several other" will be picketing our establishment in the near future, he has already printed several lies in certain web based groups. He has also threatened us with purchasing web addresses in close proximity to our own as to further slander our good practice.
AUTHORIZATION FOR MEDICAL AND/OR SURGICAL TREATMENT:
I hear by authorize and direct the veterinarian of AMAZON ANIMAL HOSPITAL to perform the above procedures and additional diagnostics, pre-anesthetic screening and/or treatment procedures as deemed advisable or necessary for my pet.
The nature of the procedure(s)has been explained to me and no guarantee has been made as to the results or cure. I understand that there may be risk involved in these procedures, and I hereby release Amazon Animal Hospital and its veterinarians from any liability that may arise from the use of anesthesia for my pet.
I agree to pay, in full, for services rendered, including those deemed necessary for medical or surgical complications or unforeseen circumstances. The above estimate of charges for presently planned procedures is only an approximation, and the final bill may be greater or less than this estimate.
All services rendered by Amazon Animal Hospital are strictly cash or credit card and must be paid before the animal can be released.
I have read and agree with the above conditions of Amazon Animal Hospital.
Each of these hospital admission forms was read and then signed by Ms. Zareva on 2/6/08 and every other time the puppies were dropped off for our care.
Mr. Zubic writes "They informed us that our pets health and safety is their primary concern and we monitor your pet with state-of-the-art equipment to minimize the risk of anesthesia."
This is 100% true that is why Dr. Carvajal was able stabilize Rush when he went into respiratory arrest, had it not been for the monitors that Rush and Veda both were hooked up to for their surgeries, we may not have been able to react quickly enough, and given CPR and the proper injections to stabilize Rush.
Mr. Zubic would have you believe, Rush's heart stopped beating "for no apparent reason" due to our negligence, what Mr. Zubic fails to understand is that when you are dealing with an animal that is under anesthesia, it is never 100%, just like in human medicine, if Dr. Carvajal had not performed CPR and given the proper injections to Rush, the outcome may have been much different.
We do not lose animals under anesthesia because of our stringent pre-surgical testing and our close monitoring of patients while under anesthesia, our track record speaks very highly of the type of medicine we practice at Amazon Animal Hospital.
I made sure to call Ms. Zareva shortly after Rush was stabilized by Dr. Carvajal and his staff, and explained the situation in detail, Ms. Zareva said she understood and was very happy that we had "saved" her puppies life. I told her we would be doing Veda next and she said to go ahead, had there been any question regarding negligence on our part, would we have taken the time to call the owners.
Our charges reflect the work that was done by Dr. Carvajal in the operating room not only for the surgery but the unforeseen fact that Rush went into cardiac arrest. SEE SIGNED HOSPITALIZATION FORMS (I agree to pay, in full, for services rendered, including those deemed necessary for medical or surgical complications or unforeseen circumstances.)
Mr. Zubic also points out that "We were informed the puppies would be given a test prior to surgery to determine how they would react to the anesthesia" we have well documented and signed hospitalization forms for each puppy declining both pre-surgical blood wk. & electrocardiograms which were both explained to Ms. Zareva by Ms. Finn when dropping off Rush and Veda.
When Mr. Zubic writes "Since, Amazon Animal Hospital did not inform us that Rush and Veda didn't do so well on the test, we did not do the test because they were not included in the original estimate and each dog would have been approx. $130.30 more and Ms. Zareva declined this excess cost. All this has been very well documented in both signed hospitalization forms for Rush and Veda.
We take digital photographs of every surgery we do to keep in the patient hard file, we not only took photographs of Rush and Veda's surgery before and after, but also took photographs and video of each of the follow up visits as well.
Each photo and video shows just how dirty the bandages and e-collars had gotten at home. We almost knew what was going to be under the blackened bandages before we removed them, all this is also well documented, to say that we did not do our jobs properly is ludicrous. The maintenance was just not given at home, Mr. Zubic also states that "Several of Veda's sutures had come out for the second time in less than a week. Dr. Carvajal replaced her sutures and cleansed her wounds. We were charged over $300 for this corrective procedure."
Veda's sutures did not just "come out" as you wrote, they were ripped out and then caked with dirt, and therefore infected and we had to "cleanse her wounds" at this point, the site of the incisions in Veda's ears were swollen because dirt and bacteria was allowed to enter the site.
Furthermore Mr. Zubic claims that the dogs were sedated 24/7 for 10 days following surgery, again totally false, we provided Ms. Zareva and Mr. Zubic with medications to be able to calm the dogs down, because obviously they were getting at each others ear dressings and bandages and sutures, we also explained that this was not going to sedate the dogs , but only calm them down. It is obvious by our video footage and photography that neither dog was ever sedated when presented to us even though the owners said they had given the pills to calm them down, we had to fully sedate w/ IV induction when they came in on 2/11/08 we also had to redo the bandages on Rush that were black with dirt and also had to replace a now useless protective head e-collar on Veda that was so chewed and ripped up that it now had sharp pointy edges, on top of being filthy with dirt and grime.
Ms. Zareva agreed to take new one. \par Finally, Mr. Zubic states " The final cost for ear cropping procedure, multiple visits, and treatments came to a grand total in excess of $3,000", yet another false statement on top of many other false statements in his report.
The total money spent by Mr. Zubic on Rush and Veda since the 2/6/08 surgery has been $2,560.18 and this can be verified any number of ways.
As you can see Mr. Zubic is very inaccurate in his depiction of our services, Dr. Carvajal's negligence, and ethical treatment of Rush and Veda, as well as the charges incurred and paid by Mr. Zubic.
Furthermore if there are any more threats by Mr. Zubic we will not hesitate to call our States Attorney who is a dear friend of Dr. Carvajal's and file lawsuit against Mr. Zubic and Ms. Zavera for slander and defamation of character, if one picketer so much as shows up on our steps, the matter will then be settled in a court of law.
If you have any further inqueries please dont hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely
Juan Carvajal
Hospital Administrator.
BBB REVIEWS CONSUMER REBUTTAL TO BUSINESS RESPONSE :
To whom it may concern:
Our goal is to ensure humane treatment and care of all animals. Our intentions were never to personally attack Dr. Carvajal or Amazon Animal Hospital but simply to inform the public and other potential patients of our experience. The following is submitted for consideration:\par \par * It is quite evident the consent forms are only in place to protect the business. What protection is in place for the patient (puppies)? It is one thing to require consent forms but quite another to fully take advantage of their purpose.\par * It is recommended the Better Business Bureau require Amazon Animal Hospital to supply all medical records (pertinent to this case) including photos and videos validating claims of filth and grim as evidence the puppies were not properly cared for.\par * It is recommended the Better Business Bureau investigate Amazon Animal Hospital for negligent medical practices and practices relating to excessive treatment charges.\par Thank you in advance for your favorable consideration,\par Ervin Zubic/Carley Zareva\par April 3, 2008
RECEIVED BUSINESS' REBUTTAL RESPONSE :
To whom it may concern,
The statement below has been our mission for the past 18 years and we believe Mr. Zubic intends to tarnish this with inaccuracies, untruths and most of all threats. Amazon Animal Hospital's mission is to contribute to the health and longevity of your beloved pets by providing them with the newest and best medical and surgical treatment available to veterinary medicine, while establishing an honest and trusting long term relationship with you. Serving Tampa Bay for over 18 years.
Each veterinarian and team member is deeply committed to the health and well-being of your pet. We love animals as much as you do!
Our professional affiliations include the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Pinellas County Veterinary Medical Society, Pinellas Animal Foundation, Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), and FVMA Internationals Committee Member (1995-2004).
It is quite evident that throughout this process, Mr. Zubic is personally attacking both Dr. Carvajal and Amazon Animal Hospital, through his threatening letters and his inability to see the facts or the truth.
The allegations regarding treatment and cost of Mr. Zubic's and Ms. Zareva's dogs Rush and Veda are both highly inaccurate and false.
We would also like to address Mr. Zubic's statement below.
"It is quite evident the consent forms are only in place to protect the business. What protection is in place for the patient (puppies)? It is one thing to require consent forms but quite another to fully take advantage of their purpose."
I assure you that the hospitalization forms that Ms. Zareva signed with each visit were supplied to us by AAHA,the American Animal Hospital Association of which we are members of and have been for some time.
We can also assure you that most/if not all animal hospitals will have such a form to not only protect the animal, but our staff and doctors, as well as the hospital.
* It is recommended that the Better Business Bureau carefully study the allegations made by Mr. Zubic to our establishment.
This includes Mr. Zubic's threatening letter claiming he is or has purchased 2 web sites in close approximation to our own web sites name, www.amazonanimal.com, in order to defemate and slander our good name and over 18 years of service provided to the animals and people of this community without any complaints raised against us. \par 18+ years.\par Also present are the threats of picketing in front of our establishment with signs reading "Amazon almost killed our puppy", this behavior shows a lack of moral/honesty that has been present throughout this case on the part of Mr. Zubic.
* It is recommended that Mr. Zubic end his dispute with Amazon Animal Hospital at once.\par * It is recommended that the person in charge of this case at Better Business Bureau call us if they have any further inquiries regarding this matter. \par Our staff members and friends will be monitoring the web daily for any evidence of Mr. Zubic's threats.
Any further action will be taken by our attorney's with highly corroborative evidence against any and all claims made by Mr. Zubic.
Sincerely
Juan Carvajal
Hospital Administrator
Amazon Animal Hospital
April 4, 2008
If you have any questions regarding these false allegations against our animal hospital i invite you to call or email me in this matter.
Sincerely
Juan Carvajal
Hospital Administrator
Amazon Animal Hospital