Dr. Meredith Hayden at Powell Animal Hospital: Our Happy Bulldog Walked In, But Never Came Home
We are heartbroken and devastated to share our tragic experience with Dr. Meredith Hayden at Powell Animal Hospital (PAH) on August 20, 2025. Our beloved 10-year-old English Bulldog, Macy--our sweet companion who brought endless love into our lives--had a known history of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), including an elongated soft palate, as noted in her PAH records. We brought her in that day for mild symptoms--snoring and her bark sounding different. She was wagging her tail, full of energy and affection, when we walked into PAH with her. In our opinion, what followed was a tragic series of negligent decisions that shattered our world, leading to her rapid decline and the agonizing decision to euthanize her the next day at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center (UTVMC).
Dr. Hayden recommended thoracic radiographs (chest x-rays) to check for possible aspiration pneumonia, which we agreed to. However, Macy was sedated with a cumulative dose of butorphanol (1.8 mL total, approximately 0.77 mg/kg) and dexmedetomidine (0.46 mL, 10 mcg/kg). According to veterinary guidelines from organizations like the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), based on our research, brachycephalic dogs like Macy require careful airway management during sedation, including readiness for intubation to prevent respiratory complications. In our strongly held opinion, the sedation protocol used here was excessive and inappropriate for her breed and condition, as it exceeded typical recommended ranges (butorphanol usually 0.1-0.4 mg/kg) and contributed to severe respiratory depression without adequate safeguards being put in place.
Post-sedation, Macy's condition deteriorated so quickly it felt like a nightmare unfolding before our eyes. She became oxygen-dependent, with saturation levels only stable at 94-97% on supplemental oxygen. We had to carry her out on a stretcher less than two hours after arriving--she walked in full of life but left in critical distress, her spirit fading in ways that haunt us still.
At UTVMC, Macy received intensive care, including intubation, but despite the best efforts of the vets at UTVMC, her condition worsened and we made the agonizing decision to euthanize her the next day on August 21, 2025, holding her as she slipped away forever.
We filed a formal complaint with the Tennessee Department of Health's Veterinary Board (Complaint No. 202504054) against Dr. Hayden. They opened a file and forwarded it for investigation. After investigation, they closed the case on November 20, 2025, stating it "did not rise to the level of public discipline. Therefore, the complaint has been closed, but the record will remain on file in this office." While no formal action was taken, we interpret this phrasing as potentially leaving room for some internal handling (notice the key wording of "did not rise to the level of public discipline," with the record on file for future reference. We also pursued a claim with Dr. Hayden's insurer, Steadfast Insurance Company (Claim No. 9410761945), but they denied liability (shockingly) on January 16, 2026, asserting the care was appropriate based on their review.
We are writing this review because we feel compelled to warn other pet owners, especially those with brachycephalic breeds, in hopes of sparing them this unbearable grief. In our opinion, Macy's death was preventable and resulted from inadequate risk management during an unnecessary sedation, and negligence on the part of Dr. Meredith Hayden. Dr. Hayden can rebut this review and our opinions in it, but what is clearly not up for dispute is that we walked into PAH with a beautiful and sweet dog that was full of life on 8/20/25. Less than 2 hours later we carried her out on a stretcher, raced her down to UTVMC on oxygen in the back of our car, and she never recovered--leaving a void in our hearts that nothing can fill. If you are considering this vet for a high-risk pet, please think twice and seek a second opinion. Our hearts are broken, and we would not wish this soul-crushing pain on anyone.
King and Christine Moon read more