ALERT! - Dr. Thomas writes on the top of Stempy's records that the records from previous vet contained no notes of his prior stone history. THIS IS NOT TRUE.  How else would she be able to prescribe his prescription diet without ever having seen Stempy if it was not in his previous records that she required us to provide?

ALERT! -  Dr. Thomas repeatedly failed to record dispensing his PRESCRIPTION DIET in his patient records. This happened almost weekly from September 2003 to September 2005.

ALERT! - Note that Dr. Thomas NEVER AGAIN follows even her own protocol, established here, of taking a radiograph for future diagnostic events to confirm the presence of stones.

ALERT! – Upon Stempy being scheduled for surgery, we informed Dr. Thomas of two prior episodes / seizures that Stempy had experienced in his past. This was the first time we had mentioned this to any vet as we were concerned that the anesthesia might cause problems. Dr. Thomas responded “Oh really?” She FAILED to make ANY notes about this in his records and later on denied any knowledge of this event.  We vividly remember telling her and consider it a  GRIEVOUS ERROR on her part to not have notated this in his files.   

ALERT! – Hill’s Prescription Diet g/d is NOT formulated to prevent ANY stones. U/d is formulated to prevent Calcium Oxalate stones. C/d is formulated to prevent Struvite stones. S/d is formulated to dissolve Struvite stones. Stempy was on g/d for the remainder of his life, which was the WRONG diet completely. If the stone removed on 11/03/03 was indeed Struvite, then surgery was not necessary as she had flushed the stone back to the bladder. S/d could have then been prescribed to dissolve the stone. If the stone was Calcium Oxalate like we believe, Stempy should have been on u/d since this date. He was not.

ALERT! – According to other veterinary experts (see attached), it is essential that a postoperative radiograph is performed to verify removal of all stones. This WAS NOT done. We consider this to be a GRIEVOUS ERROR.

ALERT! – According to other veterinary experts (see attached), medical management, dietary modification, and constant monitoring are all necessary objectives of postoperative care and a follow-up urinalysis is needed every 3 months. Dr. Thomas performed ONE follow up urinalysis on 11/14/03, 11 days post-surgery. She NEVER AGAIN performed, or recommended, ANY of the necessary objectives of postoperative care for his condition. This is a most 

         GRIEVOUS ERROR

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas altered and/or falsified Stempy’s records for this date. Evidence can be seen by the fact that she has written notes down to the side of an entry made in his records on 11/14/03. She leads us to believe that these comments were made on 11/03/03. That is not possible since the entry on 11/14/03 could not have been there on 11/03/03.

ALERT! – The urinalysis AGAIN showed Calcium Oxalate crystals. It is noted in his records that there were NO STRUVITE crystals in this urinalysis. Even with the results of this urinalysis, Dr. Thomas did not question the findings of 11/03/03. No changes were made or recommended to his prescription diet, despite Calcium Oxalate crystals AGAIN in his urinalysis. These inconsistencies should have alerted Dr. Thomas of the extreme importance of constant monitoring and of a possible error in her finding of the stone on 11/03/03 to be Struvite. No future monitoring was recommended or done. We feel that this was another 

          GRIEVOUS ERROR on her part.

ALERT! – Despite Stempy’s prior bladder stone history, Dr. Thomas FAILED to do a urinalysis or a radiograph. We feel that this was yet another GRIEVOUS ERROR on her part.

ALERT! – Another opportunity to perform a urinalysis is not done by Dr. Thomas. Stempy remained on Hill’s Prescription Diet g/d, the WRONG diet. We consider this to be a 

         GRIEVOUS ERROR.

 ALERT! - Another opportunity to perform a urinalysis is not done by Dr. Thomas. Stempy remained on Hill’s Prescription Diet g/d, the WRONG diet. We consider this to be a 

          GRIEVOUS ERROR.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas FAILED to take a radiograph. Her own protocol, established on 11/01/03, was not followed. Dr. Thomas noted in Stempy’s records on this day that a radiograph was discussed being done on 3/14/05. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Dr. Thomas NEVER mentioned doing a radiograph.

ALERT! – According to other veterinary experts (see attached), detection of crystalluria in a urinalysis is not synonymous with the presence of uroliths (stones). Crystalluria often is present in absence of uroliths. Conversely, uroliths can be present without concomitant crystalluria.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas noted in Stempy’s records that we had discussed doing the dental work on 3/12/05, along with a radiograph. THIS IS JUST SIMPLY NOT TRUE.  As mentioned above, a radiograph was NEVER discussed. We did not even mention anything at all about dental work UNTIL HE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SURGERY ON 3/14/05. This is yet another example of Dr. Thomas falsifying Stempy’s records. We feel that this false information was added after the fact, as in after Stempy passed away in September 2005. We feel she added these false comments to try to cover up her negligence.

ALERT! – Upon returning to pick Stempy up from surgery, we were told that the stone was no longer there. Dr. Thomas claims she took a radiograph and that there were no evidence of stones. We were NEVER shown this radiograph, much less any radiograph. All that Dr. Thomas did was the dental work. This was secondary to what he was there for. Dr. Thomas had originally seemed bothered to have to do the dental, as if she did not have time. It is amazing to us that somehow the stone had magically disappeared and that all that Dr. Thomas had to do was the dental work. Why was surgery scheduled if it was not needed? Looking back, we now feel that Dr. Thomas did not have or want to spend the extra time to do both procedures. Stempy suffered the consequences.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas is supposed to be the professional. She should know that stones can be present without concomitant crystalluria. (see alert above on 3/12/05)

ALERT! – Despite Stempy’s prior history of stones and us telling her that he was unable to go to the bathroom the night before, Dr. Thomas still FAILED to take a radiograph. Her own protocol, established on 11/01/03, was not followed. We consider this to be a GRIEVOUS ERROR.

ALERT! – No urinalysis was done. His records state they were unable to get a sample, yet Stempy was sent home with a catheter in place. They could not get a sample after passing the catheter?

ALERT! – Despite Stempy’s prior history of stones and despite the fact that she was having extreme difficulty passing a catheter, Dr. Thomas still FAILED to take a radiograph. Her own protocol, established on 11/01/03, was not followed. If she had taken a radiograph, she would have known, as we later found out, that she DID NOT flush the stone to the bladder. Instead, as we found out after his surgery, she had lodged the catheter to the stone…..to the point where she was unable to remove the catheter herself when Stempy came back for surgery. We consider this to be a GRIEVOUS ERROR

 ALERT! – Despite Stempy wearing a catheter, Dr. Thomas felt she was too busy to schedule his surgery for Monday, 9/26/05. He was instead forced to wait an additional day for surgery on 9/27/05.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas did NOT perform a cystotomy. Instead, a PERINEAL URETHROSTOMY was performed without our knowledge and without our permission. At least, that is what Dr. Thomas writes in Stempy’s records that she performed. According to other veterinary experts  (see attached),  a urethrostomy is when a permanent opening is made to allow any further stones to pass without causing an obstruction. This is not what was done. Stempy was cut from his anus to his scrotum in order to reach the lodged stone. Maybe she did a urethrotomy? According to other veterinary experts (see attached), most veterinarians will perform a cystotomy, however, many prefer to refer animals in need of a urethrotomy, urethrostomy, or nephrotomy to a surgical specialist. Had we known that she was instead going to do this more serious procedure, we would have sought a second opinion. Dr. Thomas did NOT have permission to do this surgery. She was only granted permission to do a cystotomy. The reason this procedure was even necessary was because of Dr. Thomas’ FAILURE to take a radiograph on 9/24/05 to locate the stone and forcing the catheter to the point of lodging it to the stone. If this was an emergency procedure in which she could not take the time to contact us first, then why was this emergency procedure DELAYED from 9/24/05 to 9/27/05??? (Hmmmm….no radiograph on 9/24?…catheter on dog on 9/24 but could not get a sample?…..Stempy is made to wait three days wearing a catheter?….something sure is wrong with this picture…)Upon returning to pick Stempy up from surgery, the first thing out of Hope’s mouth (an employee of Dr. Thomas) was that THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN DR. THOMAS’ 20+ YEARS OF BEING A VET THAT SHE HAD TO MAKE A CUT LIKE SHE DID THAT DAY ON STEMPY. We were in shock by this statement. NO ONE EVER EVEN CALLED US TO LET US KNOW HIS CONDITION, AS THEY HAD AFTER HIS FIRST SURGERY, NOR DID THEY CALL US TO ASK PERMISSION TO DO THE URETHROSTOMY. When confronted with this information, Dr. Thomas denied this being her first time. Why else would Hope say this if she was not just repeating what Dr. Thomas had said? THE STONE WAS DETERMINED TO BE CALCIUM OXALATE.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas has falsified Stempy’s records in recounting the events of this day. What she told us on 9/27/05 when we were there picking up Stempy is NOT what is written in his records. She told us that as she was getting ready for surgery, she was unable to remove the catheter. She then, FINALLY took a radiograph. While looking at the radiograph, Stempy was placed back in a cage, WHERE HE HIMSELF REMOVED THE CATHETER. This is what Dr. Thomas TOLD US occurred on 9/27/05. In his records, she writes that a radiograph was done first thing. NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT SHE TOLD US. In his records, she writes that the catheter was left in and then removed during surgery. NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT SHE TOLD US. She is obviously falsifying his records to cover up her negligence. We could sense guilt in her demeanor when we were picking up Stempy post-surgery. Now we know why. We still have never seen ANY radiograph.

ALERT! – According to other veterinary experts (see attached), it is essential that a postoperative radiograph is performed to verify removal of all stones. THIS WAS NOT DONE.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas assumed that we just wanted a different pain medication for him. She gave him a shot, prescribed a different pain medication and sent us on our way. No radiograph or any other type of test was done. If all we wanted was a different pain medication, we would not have even bothered to bring him in. We could have got a different pain medication without bringing him in with us.

 ALERT! – Dr. Thomas falsified Stempy’s records on this day. She states our complaint was “Not sleeping and restless.” That is incomplete. Our complaint was EXTREME PAIN, not sleeping, & very uncomfortable. Dr. Thomas fails to record the shot she gave Stempy on this day. This is a “mystery shot.” We do not know what she gave him.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas assumed that we just wanted a different pain medication for him on the first visit. She gave him a shot, prescribed a different pain medication, and sent us on our way. On the second visit, she did not even bother to glance at Stempy. We wanted her to closely examine him. She had left a FOURTH different medication in THREE days for him at the front counter…she would not even come take a look at him…when it should have been obvious to her that we were back again because WE KNEW something was wrong. He was in EXTREME pain!!! We left with the impression that she had just prescribed his fourth pain killer in 3 days. Dr. Thomas had instead prescribed Acepromazine. She FAILED to tell us that this was a tranquilizer with NO pain killing abilities….remember we had stated he was in EXTREME PAIN. She FAILED to tell us of the dangers of this drug. Acepromazine is NEVER to be given to a patient with a prior seizure history. Also, Acepromazine is not recommended to be used in Brachycephalic breeds, such as the Shih Tzu. No radiograph or any other type of test was done on either visit this day. If all we wanted was a different pain medication, we would not have even bothered to bring him in. We could have got a different pain medication without bringing him in with us.

ALERT! – The last medication, Acepromazine, that Dr. Thomas prescribed for Stempy is one that is known to lower the seizure threshold in dogs with a previous seizure history. She prescribed this medication despite us telling her on 11/01/03, prior to his first surgery, about his two previous episodes / seizures that he had experienced. When confronted with this on 9/30/05, Dr. Thomas seemed puzzled and appeared like she didn’t remember this. We thought surely she had written this CRUCIAL information down in his records. She had not. We were not aware of the risks of ANY of the FOUR different medications in THREE days that she had put him on. She gave us NO information sheets / brochures or informed us of any potential dangers on any of the four medications which would have alerted us of any risks. We consider this to be a  GRIEVOUS ERROR

ALERT! –  Dr. Thomas writes in Stempy’s records that the Acepromazine was prescribed for anxiety. She NEVER told us that is what it was for. We had told her he was in extreme pain. Why, then, would she take him OFF of pain killers and give him a tranquilizer that has NO PAIN KILLING EFFECTS??? We thought the Acepromazine was yet another pain killer. We consider this to be a GRIEVOUS ERROR.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas writes in Stempy’s records that he was eating, drinking, and urinating fine. That is not what we told her. She was told that he had ate a little bit, drank a little bit, and he had “dribbled” some urine when trying to urinate. We would not describe that as doing “fine.”

 ALERT! – Dr. Thomas writes in Stempy’s records that in the pm we called for a different medication. That is incorrect. This was in fact when he was AGAIN BROUGHT IN to the clinic for his second visit of the day, around 2:00pm. Dr. Thomas was so bothered that we were bringing him in again, she left the Acepromazine at the front counter and would not come see us or him. We called again AFTER this about 5:00pm, as Stempy was becoming more uncomfortable, and begged to bring him back in again as his condition seemed to be deteriorating. Carmen (another employee of Dr. Thomas) DENIED US SERVICE AND TOLD US “NO, DO NOT BRING HIM BACK IN.” She said that “…we needed to give it more time, that he would be in pain for another 3 or 4 days.” Stempy passed away the next morning. THIS IS A MOSTGRIEVOUS ERROR. UNFORGIVABLE.

ALERT! – We informed Dr. Thomas of the dosage we had given Stempy. The prescribed dosage was for ¼ tablet every 12 hours. He was given ½ tablet total in 8 to 9 hours. Dr. Thomas said that 1 full tablet is actual dosage for a 10 lb dog, so that there was NO WAY we could have overdosed him. This is NOT what she wrote in his records.

ALERT! – Dr. Thomas states in Stempy’s records that the seizure history was history after the fact. WE BEG TO DIFFER. We are 110% positive we told her and we remember vividly exactly when and where we told her and what her response was. She was the ONLY vet we had ever told. SHE MADE A GRIEVOUS ERROR BY NOT NOTATING THIS IN HIS FILES. We thought that she had tested or accounted for this ever since his first surgery in 11/03. Dr. Thomas needs to do a much better job of LISTENING to her clients as she was obviously not listening to us. That is inexcusable.

ALERT! – She denied us his records and told us that short of a subpoena, she would never give us his records. We left without his records.

return to top

Stempy had a problem with bladder stones. This is a condition that needs to be monitored and managed. There is much more to managing this condition than just a diet change.  (Read this at VeterinaryPartner.com  to learn about Stempy's condition.) Stempy was already on a prescription diet from his previous vet due to a previous problem with stones. This was dealt with by his prior vet nonsurgically. We changed vets in the Fall of 2003 because we never saw the same vet twice at our old clinic. We wanted a vet who would get to know our dogs. It was then that we made the worst decision of our lives in our choice of a new vet. 

Dr. Ann Thomas - Rodeo Drive Veterinary Hospital (aka Rodeo Dr. Vet Rodeo Dr Veterinary Hospital Canine & Cat Corral , Rodeo Drive Animal ) - was a solo practitioner close to home. We had started buying Stempy’s prescription diet from Dr. Thomas in September 2003. Since Dr. Thomas had never seen Stempy, she required us to provide his records from his previous veterinarian in order to dispense his prescription diet. (*-Note that in Stempy’s records from Dr. Thomas, she claims that his previous records contained no mention of his bladder stone history. If that is the case, then what in the world was she doing dispensing a prescription diet to Stempy without ever seeing him? Isn't that a failure to establish a vet/patient relationship?) Dr. Thomas sold us Stempy’s prescription diet several times before doctor and patient ever met.

Stempy met Dr. Thomas (aka  Ann K Thomas DVM Ann Thomas DVM Ann K. Thomas DVM Ann Thomas, DVM Ann K. Thomas, DVM Ann K Thomas, DVM Dr. Ann K. Thomas, DVM ) , of Rodeo Drive Veterinary Hospital (aka Rodeo Dr. Vet Rodeo Dr Veterinary Hospital Canine & Cat Corral  Rodeo Drive Animal ), for the first time under adverse circumstances. In November of 2003, Stempy had a urethral obstruction (Dr. Thomas and the Texas Vet Board need to read and reread and STUDY this link on urethral obstruction and this link on canine retrograde urohydropropulsion: a standard of care ) caused by a bladder stone blocking his urethra. This is a medical emergency.   Of course, all we knew at the time is that Stempy couldn’t go pee and he was very uncomfortable. Dr. Thomas was able to wash the obstruction back to his bladder. As she should, she took radiographs to see the stone, and she did a urinalysis. Based on the urinalysis, she changed his diet. She sent Stempy home wearing a catheter to wait a few days for a cystotomy to be performed. We informed Dr. Thomas of a few seizure-like episodes Stempy had experienced in his past because we were worried it would cause problems with his anesthesia. Dr. Thomas responded to this information by saying, “Oh really.” (Dr. Thomas denies this conversation ever occurred – we remember it vividly) Stempy had his cystotomy and recovered well from surgery. Based on lab results, Dr. Thomas again changed Stempy’s diet. Stempy had one additional urinalysis at one post surgical follow up appointment that contradicted the lab results and her again changing his diet. She paid no attention and should have changed his diet again, but did not...she left him on a diet not even formulated for bladder stones and had him on this wrong diet for the remainder of his life.

From our extensive research after Stempy’s death (also see Consider page of this website), we learned that Dr. Thomas did not follow proper protocol starting with this very first surgery. Dr. Thomas failed to take post surgical radiographs after the cystotomy to verify removal of all stones. Dr. Thomas failed to recommend quarterly urinalyses to monitor his urine. This is a MUST for bladder stone patients as many patients form new stones in the future. Dr. Thomas failed to recommend twice yearly radiographs. This is a MUST with the goal being to catch new stones forming while they are small enough to be removed non-surgically.

(Read for yourself - many examples /recommendations from veterinary professionals prove Dr. Thomas did not follow normal protocol: click here,  and here,  and here,  and here, and here, and here)

There were several opportunities to recommend a urinalysis or radiograph to us to monitor Stempy’s condition. Dr. Thomas never recommended anything.  (See Timeline page of this website.)

In March of 2005, Stempy again had a urethral obstruction. We were not sure that is what it was at the time. Dr. Thomas failed to take radiographs to ensure her diagnosis. She again washed the stone back to the bladder to relieve the obstruction. A cystotomy was scheduled for the following week and Stempy was sent home wearing a catheter again. When we went to pick up Stempy post surgery, somehow the stone had magically disappeared, so no cystotomy was performed. We were never shown radiographs to back up Dr. Thomas’ claim. No future monitoring was recommended or performed. 

Dr. Thomas ONLY had permission to perform a cystotomy - nothing else. She did NOT perform a cystotomy. She had lodged the catheter to the stone with the forceful catheterization she had performed. She was unable to remove the catheter. She told us that Stempy, himself, removed the catheter, although this is not what she wrote in his records.She performed an unauthorized procedure which she said was a perineal urethrostomy. This is not the procedure she performed, as admitted by the board. SO SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW  WHAT SURGERY SHE PERFORMED? WAS SHE JUST MAKING STUFF UP AS SHE WENT ALONG? Her own vet tech stated she had NEVER performed that type of surgery before. She cut our little boy from his anus to his scrotum - a NINE cm incision - and NO NEW permanent or temporary opening was made - as would be expected with a urethrotomy or a urethrostomy. Remember - we had ONLY authorized a cystotomy. THAT'S IT. NOTHING ELSE. As previously mentioned, three days before this unauthorized surgery, Dr. Thomas had failed to wash the stone back to the bladder and had instead lodged the catheter to the stone. She would have known this if she would have taken a radiograph three days earlier when he was brought in. Instead, Stempy was either still obstructed for those three days or she had damaged his urethra and/or  bladder when she attempted the forceful catheterization.  Read this link on urethral obstruction and this link on canine retrograde urohydropropulsion: a standard of care again. Instead of referring us to a specialist, Dr. Thomas tried to fix her own screwup.  If Stempy was in an emergency situation the day of surgery, then SHE is the one who put him there with her FAILURES three days earlier. INEXCUSABLE. Are these not violations? COME ON!!

Stempy was in extreme pain post surgery. We took him back to her EVERY DAY post surgery. Stempy was not eating and was only dribbling urine. She never properly examined him. She just kept changing his pain medicine. Then she gave us a tranquilizer with no pain killing abilities (Acepromazine) and led us to believe it was yet another pain killer. This tranquilizer lowers the seizure threshold and is not recommended for brachycephalic breeds. 

Greg & Cindy Munson

(Visit all the various pages of this website for detailed information of the aforementioned events.)

• View / Sign Stempy's GuestBook!
• Visit Stempy's VoteCaster
• Visit/Post in Stempy's GuestMap!

• General Disciplinary Information
• Disciplinary Records

• TSBVME Official Complaint Form
• TSBVME Complaint Information

• Suki's Story
• Romi's Story
• Toonces' Story
• Bo Bo Bear's Story
• Rajah's Story
• Usdi's Story 
• Pocket's Story
• PB's Story
• Asproolee's Story
  
• Toby's Story
• Tia's Story
• Mishka's Story
• Luke's Story
• Fluffy's Story
• Toasty's Story
• Alex's Story
• Lucy's Story
• George's Story
• Creamy's Story
• Angel's Story
• Bishop's Story
• TooTles' Story

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