Harvey's RCVS complaint

[Ruthyjones89]

Hi everyone,

Just want to update those who are interested. Poor Harvey is still suffering with his left eye. His right eye has now had the all clear and just scar tissue which very slowly is decreasing!

Unfortunatly his left eye is still quite bad. He has now had another change of anti-biotics, 3-4 times a day for 2 weeks. We are hoping this is going to help! He has already had a bacterial test done and they can confirm it is not an infection, he has also had his eye scrapped slightly to see if this encourages new growth!

Even with his horrible ulcer.. harvey is still a happy and cheeky little man - he's now 8 months old & this was him tonight!



This is a cracker!!!!

 

[Meggles]

Just read this all the way through, I remember the initial thread and I'm so happy to read Harvey is on his way to getting the justice he deserves. I forgot how young the poor chap was! Such a little fighter, you've got a tough cookie on your hands there :lol: He wouldn't be where he is without his wonderful human to help him

 

[Apache]

I hope Harvey's eye starts to improve soon x

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Well guys, as promised but very delayed I have finally seen the response from the vets in question!

To say the very least I am absolutely FUMING!!!!!!

They have made it sound like they have done nothing wrong & there is nothing to say Harvey broke his first or the 2nd leg their!! All of them are sticking together & even lying to what actually happened. Saying that I could have even damaged his leg getting him out of his carrier after returning home from the appointment before realising he was limping & took him straight back! I was in absolute tears reading all these complete lies to cover themselves. As you can imagine, I am now going out of my way to bring these b******* down!

They have even been in touch with a specialist they won't tell me who, but have said the following;

'Baby rabbits that are kept indoors from 10-12 weeks could loose 20% of their skeletal calcium and become very prone to fractures!'

My rabbits have never been kept stuck in a single cage, instead always had access to our lounge, and I believe this is a load of **** but please.. Any advice on this comment really appreciated?!

Xxx

 

[Jack's-Jane]

Well guys, as promised but very delayed I have finally seen the response from the vets in question!

To say the very least I am absolutely FUMING!!!!!!

They have made it sound like they have done nothing wrong & there is nothing to say Harvey broke his first or the 2nd leg their!! All of them are sticking together & even lying to what actually happened. Saying that I could have even damaged his leg getting him out of his carrier after returning home from the appointment before realising he was limping & took him straight back! I was in absolute tears reading all these complete lies to cover themselves. As you can imagine, I am now going out of my way to bring these b******* down!

They have even been in touch with a specialist they won't tell me who, but have said the following;

'Baby rabbits that are kept indoors from 10-12 weeks could loose 20% of their skeletal calcium and become very prone to fractures!'

My rabbits have never been kept stuck in a single cage, instead always had access to our lounge, and I believe this is a load of **** but please.. Any advice on this comment really appreciated?!

Xxx

Sounds as though they are not going to make things any easier for you Have you consulted a Solicitor ?

The issue about indoor Rabbits relates to the potential of Vitamin D deficiency, Vit D aids calcium absorption and thus bone mineralisation.

http://www.sciencenewsline.com/articles/2014040916240024.html

 

[Jack's-Jane]

duplicate post

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Hi Jane,

Thanks so much for this; well I didn't get Harvey until he was 9.5 weeks old, was always kept in an outdoor hutch so we also had him outside, until about 1 week later when it started getting too cold during the days, we made the choice to bring them inside. This would make him almost 11 weeks old. They always had the windows & curtains open, but do you think this could have affected him in any way?

Hope you're okay xx

 

[Tracy]

I'm really sorry to read this, it is absolutely disgraceful. Sadly I am not surprised at the response of the vets as I have had a similar experience regarding a complaint to the RCVS regarding two rabbits. I had so much proof, detailed photographs, witnesses, clinical reports from my own vets who had to perform emergency surgery to save both the rabbits' lives, I thought our case was watertight. The Clinical Director of the practice concerned admitted their failings to me in a meeting I had with him, then lied through his teeth (and got others to lie for him) when I took it to the RCVS. He and the so called 'vet' responsible for the mess got away with it completely. Two years on, it still makes me angry and upset.

I'm sorry that I can't offer any advice regarding Harvey's case and the calcium issue, but don't give up. Give it your absolute best shot, if you don't get the outcome you want then at least you know you will have tried. I really hope you can have a successful result to this.

Contacting a solicitor as Jane suggests would be a good idea.

 

[hoppetylop]

As you know I had a HUGE problem with the same vet.I also complained.They should not be allowed to go anywhere near rabbits.

Im fuming for you.I know how you feel and how infuriating they are.Im so sorry you are being treated like this.

Sorry,rant over.They are

 

[Tracy]

As you know I had a HUGE problem with the same vet.I also complained.They should not be allowed to go anywhere near rabbits.

Im fuming for you.I know how you feel and how infuriating they are.Im so sorry you are being treated like this.

Sorry,rant over.They are

Two separate cases against the same vet. :shock: Surely the RCVS have to take action against this person.

 

[Crunchie]

I'd hoped for a much better outcome to Harvey's complaint given how obvious it was that his injuries were caused by poor handling. We also had a bad experience with a vet and didn't get much of a response from the RCVS. Like Tracey the vet we had lied blatantly about things. We began to doubt her ability so we enquired about being referred to the state of the art vet school. She tried to discourage us from doing so (we were told the other practice would charge us s £1,000 referral fee which we later found out was bull-plop) and we had several witnesses to this. On our bunnys report though she recorded that she'd suggested we get a referral but that we refused which was total nonsense.

She also told us she'd used a particular treatment that we've since found out no good vet would use. She didn't record it on Roly's record and later denied she'd used it even though she told myself, my partner and my mum that she had.

After a day of our rabbit being in her care we begged her to phone the vet school for a telephone consult but by then it was too late. A well-known vet from the vet school even backed her up by saying the treatment she gave was correct even though it was completely different to what the vet school would have done with a bunny presenting with those symptoms.

To rub it in my face even more I've since found out this vet was dismissed from a previous job with the PDSA for alleged gross misconduct. She threatened to take them to an employment tribunal but the case was "settled" at the last minute with her recieving a £100k bung. Enough money to start her own out of hours service (the hours and pay are better this way). This info is all freely available on google.

However the vet I used at the time has ditched them in favour of another service so I'm not sure if that was a logistics thing or if they've maybe had other complaints.

 

[ImoT]

I don't have any advice except contact a solicitor! This is utterly disgraceful and I am also fuming for you! If there has been more than one complaint against them surely the RCVS has to do something?!

 

[hoppetylop]

They really are terrible,and so arrogant.The head vet was on TV the other month.I actually felt quite sick.

They told me lies too,my poor rabbit suffered dreadfully in their hands.They promised the world and delivered Id like to say more but I cant.

I really am so sorry you are going through this awful ordeal.Im only a pm away if you need to vent.

 

[Santa]

As you know I had a HUGE problem with the same vet.I also complained.They should not be allowed to go anywhere near rabbits.

Maybe I'm getting confused but I thought it was a different vet - I thought the vet you had a huge problem with was the vet who this bunny was referred to in order to fix the problem caused by the original vet?

I'm really sorry - but not surprised - that this is the response you've had. I would still pursue it as you plan to with the RCVS. Even if they aren't found in breach, it will at least have given them a shock and hopefully made them improve their practices in the meantime. I wish you the best of luck x

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Hi all,

Thanks so so much! Really sorry, hoppylop but with regards to the actual complaint & mishandling, it's not the vets we we're discussing, this is just where Harvey currently is undergoing treatment for his eye ulcers. As soon as he is okay or if his latest operation turns out to be unsuccessful, we are moving him to justforpets in Newbury.

The actual vets in question are a much smaller vets based in Berkshire. I can't really go into much detail, but I am completely picking their statements apart. Suppose one good thing is that a couple of them have slipped up on the tiniest of details and I'm being sure to highlight these..

But one thing is she has said is she doesn't recall him actually stamping, which is one plus point for us as this is the one suggestion they initially kept saying to me, although I always knew he didn't. now they are going down the avenue he must have had weak bones!! Which is a load of ****..

I would love to get a solicitor involved but with all the money recently spent on Harvey we are pretty much skint. I have however spoken to citizens advice & got a statement off another specialist vet saying those type of fractures could be consistent with being forceful! I am getting a statement from the referral vets as at the moment, the vet in question is actually insinuating that the second fracture was done by either me as or the referral centre. As he seemed fine on his right leg and had no signs that it was also broken!!

Sorry I can't really say much more as it winds me up just thinking about it, but I am fighting this all the way.. My little man needs justice for what she did to him! And I really do appreciate all your support and help with this xxx

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Yes Santa you are right, sorry looks like I was busy typing my essay when you commented!!

It was my initial vet who broke Harvey's legs, and after doing so he got referred to the current vets he is still at. Being honest they were brilliant with Harvey's legs, however the attitude since then has changed towards me and this is what may have caused the confusion sorry.

Xxx

 

[Ruthyjones89]

On a lighter note, for the first time today my little man has just jumped on our windowsill.. Very naughty I know, but was such a magic moment as its the first since breaking his legs he's actually jumped on something over 2ft! he obviously knows everyone on here is supporting him!

Now the worry kicks in again... :lol: especially as he only had an eyes operated on Wednesday!





But of course it was all hard work;


Xxxxxx

 

[hoppetylop]

Hi all,

Thanks so so much! Really sorry, hoppylop but with regards to the actual complaint & mishandling, it's not the vets we we're discussing, this is just where Harvey currently is undergoing treatment for his eye ulcers. As soon as he is okay or if his latest operation turns out to be unsuccessful, we are moving him to justforpets in Newbury.

The actual vets in question are a much smaller vets based in Berkshire. I can't really go into much detail, but I am completely picking their statements apart. Suppose one good thing is that a couple of them have slipped up on the tiniest of details and I'm being sure to highlight these..

But one thing is she has said is she doesn't recall him actually stamping, which is one plus point for us as this is the one suggestion they initially kept saying to me, although I always knew he didn't. now they are going down the avenue he must have had weak bones!! Which is a load of ****..

I would love to get a solicitor involved but with all the money recently spent on Harvey we are pretty much skint. I have however spoken to citizens advice & got a statement off another specialist vet saying those type of fractures could be consistent with being forceful! I am getting a statement from the referral vets as at the moment, the vet in question is actually insinuating that the second fracture was done by either me as or the referral centre. As he seemed fine on his right leg and had no signs that it was also broken!!

Sorry I can't really say much more as it winds me up just thinking about it, but I am fighting this all the way.. My little man needs justice for what she did to him! And I really do appreciate all your support and help with this xxx

Im sorry Ruthyjones89 I had misunderstood and thought the vet I was talking about was the one who caused you the problems-sorry about that.

Its upsetting for you though and im sorry youre having this hassle.I didn't mean to intrude so much on your thread.

 

[hoppetylop]

Maybe I'm getting confused but I thought it was a different vet - I thought the vet you had a huge problem with was the vet who this bunny was referred to in order to fix the problem caused by the original vet?

I'm really sorry - but not surprised - that this is the response you've had. I would still pursue it as you plan to with the RCVS. Even if they aren't found in breach, it will at least have given them a shock and hopefully made them improve their practices in the meantime. I wish you the best of luck x

Sorry Santa-had wires crossed with Ruthyjones.The referral vet did the damage tho-the original vet just did the referral.

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Hey, no problem at all hoppetylop!

Sorry for confusing you xxx