chloe and pups doing fine gaining weight every day
saw the main vet this afternoon, no vet bill to pay and they are giving us £800.00 for the loss of the pup and something as a good will gesture

Well done, and enjoy the little family.

Great News.
Did they tell you what was going to happen to the vet involved? It certainly deserves more than a slap on the wrist.

BTW How did this turn into an argument about the anatomy of the Basset Hound? Regardless of which breed was involved it doesn't excuse what happened and the seriousness of the matter.

Is that £800 plus vets bills  and the vet struck off???
Or £800 plus vets bills so you go away and keep your mouth shut and dont report him to the authoritys!!!!
Lea :)

I think if you mentally applied the necessarily length of leg you would find the neck proportions rather troubling :-)

> However, either way you look at it, whether it is the spinal ratios or simply because it is a large dog, this is a long dog.

Both of ours have had, & have regular imput with a well respected chiropractor & not once amongst our talks or for that matter with the orthopaedic specialist has it ever been mentioned that the cervical, thoracic or lumbar vertebrae are different to that of any other large breed, just closer to the ground - bas et -  rather low. If you disregard the long tail & the head held low, their backs even in a 'long' basset are no longer than other dogs mentioned. The structure of the large deep chest and bent (sorry do not know the correct term) front legs makes the neck look longer than it is. But as mentioned we all look at things differently or as we want to see them, so please that Chole & pups are doing well.

> BTW How did this turn into an argument about the anatomy of the Basset Hound?

Because in some eyes they are over long and I can only surmise that there is a larger area for the vet to miss pups!

> Because in some eyes they are over long

I certainly did not say over long.  As someone who has owned a somewhat similar breed I do not see long as a negative, necessarily, when not too exagerated that is.  The breed standard itself says long so I am not sure why anyone has taken issue with it.

> I can only surmise that there is a larger area for the vet to miss pups!

Precisely.  As I say, however, having owned a somewhat similar achondroplasic breed alongside my cockers I know which abdomen looks the easiest to explore :)

>The structure of the large deep chest and bent (sorry do not know the correct term) front legs makes the neck look longer than it is.

That rather ties in with my view of their anatomy doesn't it? :)

i have spoke to the vet who did the operation and he could not say sorry enough and was very upset about it
we have 4 dogs and have always used this vet for the past 15 years and not had any trouble, i think it was just a very unfortunate accident but happened to our dog.the vet told us that this only happens between 6 to 8 times a year over all the vets in the country

Has he sacked the vet in question????
I trust my vets implicitly, but if something like this happened I would want to know that I wasnt just being paid off and the Vet was discaplined in a major way!!!
(I got a vet at the practice I go to that lasted one day. I knew more than him!!!!! The practice manager employed him, the staff 'cherry picked' who he would see. They knew me enough that I wouldnt take any crap and I didnt!!!!! He was sacked the next day!!!)
Lea :)

Really glad you have a health dam, a lovely litter and peace and trust seems to have returned to your relationship with your vet. I was furious on your behalf but vets are human and if they admit their mistakes and offer restitution that is the best thing all round after all that is the ONE mistake that human vet will never make again.

I could have sworn you said you spoke to the main vet?????
Lea :)

6 to 8 times a year! I cannot believe when they have a dog on the table that they can make the mistake even once. What if she hadn't passed that first pup, you and they would never have known there were two pups in there dying off. Once the pup dies off inside then all sorts of infections could come about and you could lose your bitch. I am really shocked that they don't quite get the real seriousness of it. Yes, they are paying for the mistake but that is so you won't take the matter further. Glad to know that your girl and pups are okay though.

what would you suggest alison

> I am really shocked that they don't quite get the real seriousness of it.

What makes you think they do not get it?  We have been told the vet was very upset.

I'd say this is one vet who will double and triple check all C sections in future. 

Being disciplined by the practise (they will probably get the costs docked out of their wages), and compensation and refund to the OP is a good outcome.

The way I feel Brainless, I would have been very cross to start with but once I had had an apology from the vet concerned and recompense made I would accept that I make mistakes, we all do and that those who don't don't make anything. Live is a learning curve and that is one vet that has learned and is prepared to make sure the client is not out of pocket. He will be disciplined by his practice and I would leave it at that.

Like all of us humans we all make mistakes as we are not perfect .

So long as they have given enough assurances that the vet in question is sorry, they have done lessons learnt which remedial training/ procedures are put in place and enough (I say this with a view that the sue culture is not considered here ) reasonable monetary compensation is paid then it should be put to bed.

The vet shouldn't be sacked unless he is proves to be grossly negligent or is in a current disciplinary process where this was the final misconduct thing they have done. I guess the poor vet like so many vet that are learning goes over this again and again and will never make the same mistake again .

Brainless I don't they would have money docked out the wages for a mistake as that would be against employment law I would suspect :-) I however as owning my own company have liability insurance that would cover me or mt companies employees against this sort of thing :-)

I am so sorry for what has happened but we all make mistakes - everyone in all walks of life -  it is the way that they are dealt with it that makes the difference.  The vet is very upset for his error (as anyone would be) & the head (main) vet has apologised, it doesn't make things right but they have admitted the error and responded correctly.

Im glad to hear bitch and pups are doing well and you have had an outcome from the vets that you are happy with.
Sadly, vets (however good their qualifications) can make mistakes and sadly it was you that suffered. However, it sounds like this mistake will never be made again and the surgery didnt waste any time in apologising and giving you some compensation. It does sound as though they are genuinely sorry.

This is why I'm glad I'm not a vet! The worst thing that happens if I make a mistake is that the wrong goods are booked in at the office, or the wrong piece of hair gets clipped off if I'm grooming. :-) So glad mum & pups are doing well and they have apologised and compensated.

Perhaps they should double check with an X-ray before they sew the bitch up?

> Perhaps they should double check with an X-ray before they sew the bitch up?

I think a thorough physical check would be preferable.  I would not want my bitch to lie there under anaesthetic any longer than she had to.

Also imagine the extra cost of x-rays added to the c-section!

I would feel that the cost of an x ray could be justified if it ensured pups and bitch were safe, however, as it is a rare occurance to leave pups in the bitch after completion of the c-sec i would assume that an x ray is not performed as a routine course of action.

I was really shocked to hear that this mistake happens 6 to 8 times a year and so spoke to my Vets when my bitch had her stitches out on Friday and to another Vet who visited (from a completely different practice) to see the pups yesterday and have got the same answer. They say a Vet would have to be very negligent to make that sort of mistake.

Hi Chris,

We have just had a similar problem - what was the outcome of yours i.e. with the vet and fees etc? Would be interested to hear any feedback Thanks