I wish I could say that i have come to terms with Tintin's death on 3rd December but that is not the case. He was let down by the vet hospital where he had the original surgery when they sent him home telling me and my vet that he was eating - their review of his case proved this was not the case. The breakfast he did not eat was probably the first time he was given ordinary feed with his meds added and he did not eat it. If we had known this we would have called it sooner as an emergency, the vet would probably have come out that same day he came home. But we were given incorrect information and on the 2 1/2 days he was home we managed to get him to eat some food and some meds but never 100%. A week after surgery he was dead.
By the time he was referred to vet school in Edinburgh where he received every care, he was probably dead donkey walking. Instead of finding hyperlipaemia, the head vet and his staff found a displaced colon and impaction colic as well as tubing damage to his esophagus. Despite their best efforts, the colon did not go back into place and he would not eat or drink and did not poo. Basically his system was completely shut down. Had he gone on a drip instead of being sent home, he would have had immediate support and also the displaced colon and colic could have been discovered sooner. The treatment might have worked or we could have gone for colic surgery but by the time that became an option in Edinburgh he had already had 5 days of fluids only and would probably not have recovered. And donkeys have a poorer post colic surgery survival rate than horses anyway. We lost Big Ears after colic surgery, came back some night and she was pts at hospital - she was diagnosed within 12 hours of her colicking as she was ok at night in colic next morning and in hospital an hour later so she had every chance. The vet hospital also did not offer full cover at weekends - this was not known - so he would have had to be moved on the Friday anyway to continue his care which is am strange way to run an equine hospital. Both hospital are 1 1/2 hours from us and Tintin had never travelled since 2011 and then in an air sprung commercial lorry with his friends when we moved house.
He was 24 I had him 17 years he had another 10 ahead of him as he was fit and healthy his only bugbear was the sarcoid and donkeys do not die of sarcoids. The review process showed how sloppy the systems were, no pre admission letter send in advance but given to me when he was checked in day before surgery. It did have clauses in such as not using products on him, and fortunately none were but would have been good to know. And it did mention risks etc and I might have queried it further and gone for the non general anaesthic option which had less good outcomes but would not have killed him. His discharge notes which were completely lacking in detail, his own records at the hospital were inaccurate as his not eating WAS NOT RECORDED AND WHEN I RANG IN AND ASKED THEY RANG ME BACK AND SAID YES HE WAS EATING WELL. So there were multiple times this error could have been discovered and action taken as I could have taken him straight up to Edinburgh if required.
We tried to negotiate an 'amicable' settlement but have failed to do so arguing with a company which had a turnover of £450m last year over £450! So am trying to decide what to do next as so far we have only discussed their fees, not the other invoices from the second hospital and my own vet. It has also strained relations with my own vet as they are all mates. So next steps go to RCVS Mediation Service - only if the other party agrees - complain to RCVS already made in principle and they say they will investigate or go legal which is complicated and costly.
Money won't bring Tintin back. Any money that we do recover will go to Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Sanctuary in Marakesh in memory of Tintin. I have paid 50% of his original bill and 100% of the others. His original bill was higher than the estimate and we were offered that they would reduce it back to what had been quoted. We agreed we would pay that in full but wanted the vet hospital to donate the balance of £900 to a charity of our choice as it is also offset against corporation, so costs nothing. They refused to do it and then offered to do half. So our loss is valued at £450 which is an insult to a wonderful friend who I miss every day. He was valued at around £3-5K as he was a big poitou type donkey, over 14hh and similar to an American Mammoth donkey, Finding another one is pretty impossible and anyway would not buy just one as donkeys like donkeys. He was our last donkey and that is the thing that really hurts as we probably won't have another one.
This is the third time this has happened to me, Mouse donkey, Sasa and now Tintin. I appreciate that vets make mistakes but it is ironic that the surgery was fine, good job done, the aftercare was just awful (like Mouse) and while they have put in protocols following his death, I don't actually believe that the culture has changed as their communications continue to be sloppy. Tintin's Law is as follows:
It was so sad that he was not buried at home with Aimee, Ferguson and Vodka and his old pals Molly and Rose, and Leo. He would not have cared about Sapphire but he was mates with them all and he should be up there with them.
By the time he was referred to vet school in Edinburgh where he received every care, he was probably dead donkey walking. Instead of finding hyperlipaemia, the head vet and his staff found a displaced colon and impaction colic as well as tubing damage to his esophagus. Despite their best efforts, the colon did not go back into place and he would not eat or drink and did not poo. Basically his system was completely shut down. Had he gone on a drip instead of being sent home, he would have had immediate support and also the displaced colon and colic could have been discovered sooner. The treatment might have worked or we could have gone for colic surgery but by the time that became an option in Edinburgh he had already had 5 days of fluids only and would probably not have recovered. And donkeys have a poorer post colic surgery survival rate than horses anyway. We lost Big Ears after colic surgery, came back some night and she was pts at hospital - she was diagnosed within 12 hours of her colicking as she was ok at night in colic next morning and in hospital an hour later so she had every chance. The vet hospital also did not offer full cover at weekends - this was not known - so he would have had to be moved on the Friday anyway to continue his care which is am strange way to run an equine hospital. Both hospital are 1 1/2 hours from us and Tintin had never travelled since 2011 and then in an air sprung commercial lorry with his friends when we moved house.
He was 24 I had him 17 years he had another 10 ahead of him as he was fit and healthy his only bugbear was the sarcoid and donkeys do not die of sarcoids. The review process showed how sloppy the systems were, no pre admission letter send in advance but given to me when he was checked in day before surgery. It did have clauses in such as not using products on him, and fortunately none were but would have been good to know. And it did mention risks etc and I might have queried it further and gone for the non general anaesthic option which had less good outcomes but would not have killed him. His discharge notes which were completely lacking in detail, his own records at the hospital were inaccurate as his not eating WAS NOT RECORDED AND WHEN I RANG IN AND ASKED THEY RANG ME BACK AND SAID YES HE WAS EATING WELL. So there were multiple times this error could have been discovered and action taken as I could have taken him straight up to Edinburgh if required.
We tried to negotiate an 'amicable' settlement but have failed to do so arguing with a company which had a turnover of £450m last year over £450! So am trying to decide what to do next as so far we have only discussed their fees, not the other invoices from the second hospital and my own vet. It has also strained relations with my own vet as they are all mates. So next steps go to RCVS Mediation Service - only if the other party agrees - complain to RCVS already made in principle and they say they will investigate or go legal which is complicated and costly.
Money won't bring Tintin back. Any money that we do recover will go to Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Sanctuary in Marakesh in memory of Tintin. I have paid 50% of his original bill and 100% of the others. His original bill was higher than the estimate and we were offered that they would reduce it back to what had been quoted. We agreed we would pay that in full but wanted the vet hospital to donate the balance of £900 to a charity of our choice as it is also offset against corporation, so costs nothing. They refused to do it and then offered to do half. So our loss is valued at £450 which is an insult to a wonderful friend who I miss every day. He was valued at around £3-5K as he was a big poitou type donkey, over 14hh and similar to an American Mammoth donkey, Finding another one is pretty impossible and anyway would not buy just one as donkeys like donkeys. He was our last donkey and that is the thing that really hurts as we probably won't have another one.
This is the third time this has happened to me, Mouse donkey, Sasa and now Tintin. I appreciate that vets make mistakes but it is ironic that the surgery was fine, good job done, the aftercare was just awful (like Mouse) and while they have put in protocols following his death, I don't actually believe that the culture has changed as their communications continue to be sloppy. Tintin's Law is as follows:
- General admission letter to be sent by reception prior to surgery rather than relying on Practice Manager who was on holiday before Tintin’s surgery
- Request for history from client’s own vet practice if referral case
- Morning medication, oral medication should be given at 7am and then confirmed at rounds (8.30am) if this has been eaten. This is particularly important for a horse/donkey going home soon after rounds so contingency treatment can be planned
- Generic donkey discharge notes to be sent with all donkeys emphasising the importance of eating and receiving medication following discharge home
It was so sad that he was not buried at home with Aimee, Ferguson and Vodka and his old pals Molly and Rose, and Leo. He would not have cared about Sapphire but he was mates with them all and he should be up there with them.
