On Thursday, May 29, 2025, I took my 10-year-old male Yorkshire Terrier mix, named King, to…read moreLuv-N-Care Animal Hospital to receive teeth cleaning with possible tooth extraction under anesthesia by Dr. Kimberly Hunt. King was dropped off at approximately 8:30 am to have the procedure and was informed that it would be completed by 3 pm. When I did not receive a phone call from Luv-N-Care, I called the clinic at 3:52 pm and was told that it would be about an hour before he would be ready to be picked up. After not hearing from the clinic after an hour, I drove to the hospital and arrived at 5:54 pm. I was told that they were finishing up with him, and I was escorted to the examining room. King was brought in a few minutes later, and I noticed a choker leash on his neck. When I arrived home with King, I noticed that King had a consistent cough, and I called their office at 6:35 pm, but the answering service picked up. I received a phone call from Luv-N-Care on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 1:43 pm to check on King, and I stated that he had a cough. I was told that the cough is normal and to call back if it gets worse. I called back the next day, on Saturday, May 31, 2025, and informed the clinic that King was still coughing and I was concerned about his breathing. I was told that he was intubated and probably has a sore throat, and if he is having issues, to bring him in on Monday. On Monday morning, at approximately 8:30 am, I took King back to Luv-N-Care because he was still having a cough and was having trouble breathing. A different veterinarian examined King, she said she had heard fluid in his lungs, but she could not provide further care because their X-ray machine was not functioning. I immediately took King to another Animal Hospital and arrived at 10:11 am.
At the other Hospital, the veterinarian assessed King and determined that King had significant breathing problems, and the fact that he is stretching out his neck was a worrisome sign, as this is associated with a higher risk of respiratory arrest and death. The veterinarian ordered a Chest Xray. The xray showed severe pulmonary infiltrates (fliud on his lungs); the diagnosis included atypical aspiration, which usually occurs from choking, head trauma, or electrocution. It was recommended, for humane reasons (suffering from dyspnea), that euthanasia would be appropriate as he could not guarantee survival even with oxygen in the hospital.
The final diagnosis was Severe pulmonary infiltrates, Suspect secondary to tracheal collapse exacerbated by intubation, he basically was drowning due to injury from their exacerbation.
This loss of King has been very traumatic for our family. I truly believe that they were negligent in their care for our baby, King.
I only spoken with Kimberly once on the phone, she said that she would contact the veterinarian from the other hospital and call me back to discuss but she never did.