Late last year I bred from my Rhodesian Ridgeback.As a result of very poor veterinary care a number of the pups died and our dog required a hysterectomy.Met with the Medical Director from the practice and he conceded to the shortfalls in care.Took advice from a lawyer and still considering legal action.Has anyone been through a similar situation.If so what was the outcome.

Can you be more specific about `poor veterinary care` so we can get a better idea what the negligence was?

if it is poor veterinary care, perhaps you should be thinking BVA?

The RCVS would be the people to lodge a formal complaint with. Best not to put details on the net in case it prejudices your case.

Repeated phone calls to our veterinary practice during whelping between 10am and 7pm.During which we expressed concern about the length of time between births and gave accurate clinical features.At no point advised to bring our dog to the surgery or offered home visit despite stillborn pups.When surgery closed no information relayed to the out of hours service.When we called they knew nothing about us.Next morning called the practice and spoke to another vet.Advised to bring Ruby in immediately.She diagnosed probable uterine inertia.Emergency cesarean carried out resulting in hysterectomy and dead pups.We are not first time breeders although we do not consider ourselves experts.We put our trust in the experts and feel badly let down.We fully understand the potential problems associated with dog breeding but this could have been averted.A traumatic experience for my family.Medical Director acknowledged the care was not up to standard.He stated that his practice and the out of hours service would be making changes.My partner feels that I should let it go and move on.Unfortuneatly I am not the type who can.Ruby had gone through a dreadful time but rallied remarkably well and was a superb mother to four pups.We thankfully now have a beautiful bitch pup to enjoy.I know it is an emotive subject but good sound practical advice would help.Thanks

Very upsetting for you. I hope you have now moved on to another vet?

Technically the RCVS is the governing body and you make the complaints to them. However, I am not at all happy with them after helping a friend with a complaint about her Vets which resulted in her bitch dying at the Vets. The bitch had been taken in with a piece of bone stuck in her anus and she was covered in blood when we got her body back. In my opinion she haemorrhaged when on the table due to being left in their kennels for 4 hours before being dealt with and still the RCVS backed the Vets with their lies. So I wouldn't let it go though if i were you as you already have the Medical Director acknowledging lack of duty. You could have been in the same situation and lost Ruby , so yes, I would definitely go further with your complaint. Very good luck, and am so glad to hear that Ruby is still with you.