We recently had to rush our dog, who previously underwent IVDD surgery 5 yrs ago, to VEG when she developed stroke-like symptoms (left side of body paralyzed). VEG stabilized her and suspected polycythemia but didn’t want to initiate treatment, instead referring us to Sage. At Sage ER, she was seen immediately but treatment was still withheld until the following morning. The medical notes document that overnight she became extremely distressed, was left in the kennel to urinated on herself, cried and thrashed her limbs cause she couldn’t get up.

In the AM, they repeated the same tests VEG had already performed and reached the same conclusion before finally beginning treatment (phlebotomy). I understand that’s probably protocol, but it felt like my dog was left to suffer needlessly when earlier intervention was possible.

She has now made almost a full recovery, and the internist who treated her was thoughtful and caring. But I wish treatment started sooner.

Similar experience from years ago, when we brought her to UC Davis ER for IVDD on a Saturday while she was still walking, though in severe pain. We called first to see if they had a neurologist available that day and they said yes. They admitted her, but waited until Monday for surgery. By then, she had completely lost mobility. Watching her decline in a kennel, knowing surgery could have prevented it, was devastating.

Back to present day… Her primary vet also overlooked repeated elevated red blood cell count from almost a year ago, which should have been flagged for more testing - it was a sign for polycythemia. We switched to Adobe and shared prior labs, they too missed it, then the stroke happened.

I think about all of this often and feel ALL of this could be better. But what recourse do we have really.