In Memory of Stempy
"In life we loved you dearly. In death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a place no one could ever fill."
Stempy - 1999 - 2 years oldJuly 17, 1997 - September 30, 2005; align=Stempy - 1999 - 2 years old
We firmly believe that Stempy was a victim of VETERINARY NEGLIGENCE & SUBSTANDARD CARE that resulted in his preventable death at the hands of BAD vet
ANN THOMAS, DVM ~ RODEO DRIVE VETERINARY HOSPITAL ~ MESQUITE, TEXAS
THE COMPLAINT

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  • Complaint Text 
  • Timeline
  • The Acepromazine Factor
  • Medical Records
  • Alleged Violations
  • Prior vs. Alleged
  • Additional Information
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Music is: "Mission: Impossible"

(Approximately 90% of ALL consumer veterinary complaints alleging malpractice and
reported to State Boards are DISMISSED! Truly Mission: Impossible)

THE COMPLAINT


Complaint Text

Below is the text of our original complaint we mailed to the Board. All of the facts and evidence were included as attachments and are included on this website on the other pages. This website is our complaint in online form for all the world to see. It truly is Mission: Impossible to get the Texas Vet Board to hold guilty vets accountable. Why does the Board protect vets, not pets?


TEXT OF THE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT MAILED TO THE TSBVME

OUR 8 YEAR OLD AKC CHAMPION-SIRED MALE SHIH TZU, STEMPY, PASSED AWAY ON 9/30/05….THREE DAYS AFTER SURGERY PERFORMED BY DR. ANN THOMAS FOR BLADDER STONES. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT HIS DEATH WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE NEGLIGENT CARE AND/OR LACK OF CARE PROVIDED BY DR. THOMAS. THIS NEGLIGENCE CONCERNS ALL ASPECTS OF STEMPY’S CARE DATING BACK TO NOVEMBER 2003, WHEN DR. THOMAS SAW STEMPY FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR BLADDER STONES, AND CULMINATES IN STEMPY’S UNTIMELY AND PREVENTABLE DEATH ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005. ATTACHED YOU WILL FIND A TIMELINE OF EVENTS OF THE NEGLIGENT CARE PROVIDED STEMPY BY DR. THOMAS, ALONG WITH SEVERAL PROMINENT VETERINARY OPINIONS REGARDING THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF UROLITHIASIS IN CANINES. ALSO ATTACHED ARE A COPY OF STEMPY’S RECORDS WITH DR. THOMAS THAT REINFORCES OUR CLAIM OF SUBSTANDARD AND NEGLIGENT CARE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN OUR MINDS THAT DR. THOMAS PROVIDED SUBSTANDARD CARE, AND AFTER REVIEWING THE AFOREMENTIONED ATTACHMENTS, WE FEEL THAT YOU, TOO, WILL COMPLETELY AGREE WITH US THAT THE CARE WAS SUBSTANDARD AND NEGLIGENT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.

---- GREG AND CINDY MUNSON.

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TIMELINE

(PREPARED BY: GREG & CINDY MUNSON)

(SEPTEMBER 2003 TO OCTOBER 2005)

 
NEGLIGENT / SUBSTANDARD CARE - DR. ANN THOMAS, DVM ~ RE: STEMPY MUNSON

 
 

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2003
We started buying Stempy's prescription diet (Hill's Prescription Diet c/d) from Dr. Thomas, which we bought every 7 to 10 days. As Dr. Thomas had never seen nor examined Stempy, she stated she needed his previous records in order to dispense the prescription diet. We brought in Stempy's records, which included his bladder stone history, from his previous vet, on our second visit in late September 2003. We also made 2 to 3 visits to Dr. Thomas in October 2003 to purchase the prescription diet.

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.


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2003
Stempy was brought in physically to Dr. Thomas FOR THE FIRST TIME as he was having trouble going to the bathroom.
DONE – Radiograph

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.

DONE – Urinalysis – From these results, Dr. Thomas formulates the stone to be Calcium Oxalate and changes Stempy’s diet from Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d to Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d. Dr. Thomas “flushes” the stone back to the bladder and sends Stempy home with a catheter in place and schedules a Cystotomy for 11/03/03.

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.   


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2003
Dr. Thomas performed a Cystotomy. She reported the stone to be Struvite. After 2 days of being on Hill’s Prescription Diet u/d, Dr. Thomas changed Stempy’s diet to Hill’s Prescription Diet g/d and exchanged the remaining u/d.

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.


FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2003
Stempy was brought in to Dr. Thomas to have his stitches removed.
DONE – Urinalysis

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.


MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2004
Stempy was brought in to Dr. Thomas because we felt he was constipated. Note that these symptoms are also common in a dog that is straining to urinate.

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.


TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2004
Stempy was brought in for his annual vaccinations. Dr. Thomas informed us that Stempy needed some dental work done sometime in the near future.

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.


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2004
Stempy was brought in for a nail trim.

 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.


SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2005
Stempy was brought in to Dr. Thomas as he was again having trouble going to the bathroom.
DONE – Urinalysis. This did not show crystals in his urine. Dr. Thomas did note that his bladder was distended. Dr. Thomas “flushed” the obstruction back to the bladder and sent Stempy home with a catheter in place. Surgery was scheduled for 3/14/05.

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.


MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2005
Stempy was brought in to Dr. Thomas for surgery. When we brought him in for surgery, we told Dr. Thomas that since Stempy would be under anesthesia anyway, to go ahead with the dental work that needed to be done that she had told us about 8/10/04.

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.


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2005
Stempy was brought in to Dr. Thomas as he was again having trouble going to the bathroom. He was able to finally urinate just before we took him to Dr. Thomas, but we still felt it necessary to take him in.
DONE – Urinalysis. No crystals were detected.

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.


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2005
Stempy was brought in to Dr. Thomas as he was again having trouble going to the bathroom. Dr. Thomas hit an obstruction while trying to pass a catheter. Dr. Thomas FORCED the catheter to pass and ASSUMED she flushed the stone back to the bladder. Stempy was sent home with a catheter in place and a cystotomy was scheduled for 9/27/05.

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.


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2005
Stempy was brought in for surgery; a cystotomy. Dr. Thomas told us that if anything different from his first surgery had to be done, she would notify us first to ask permission. We left with this understanding and were told that she would be doing the same surgery as 11/03/03, a cystotomy.

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.


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2005
Stempy was brought in to Dr. Thomas as he was in extreme pain and had been unable to sleep. We felt that something was not right and wanted Dr. Thomas to examine him.

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.


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2005
Stempy was brought in to Dr. Thomas twice on this day as he was in extreme pain and had been unable to sleep. We felt that something was not right and wanted Dr. Thomas to examine 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.


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2005
Awoke to find Stempy lifeless. Rushed him to Dr. Thomas’ office. Efforts to save him were to no avail. Dr. Thomas could give us no explanation for his death. We took him home and buried him on the side of our house.

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.


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2005
We requested Stempy’s records in person from Dr. Thomas.

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.


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2005
We were contacted by Dr. Thomas’ insurance company regarding our claim for the first time. They told us that Dr. Thomas was in error by not providing us the records. The records were then faxed to us unsolicited from Dr. Thomas’ office after the phone call from her insurance company. On 1/12/06, Dr. Thomas’ insurance company denied our claim. We feel it was denied due to the falsified records submitted by Dr. Thomas. We plan to appeal.

NOTE: Stempy was an 8 year old AKC CHAMPION sired Shih Tzu. He had 41 champions in his 5 generation pedigree.

The average lifespan for a Shih Tzu is 14+ years, with many living up to 18 years and beyond.
He was truly a once in a lifetime dog. He was robbed of, at least, close to half of his life.
We loved him dearly and miss him more than words could ever say!

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THE ACEPROMAZINE FACTOR

Stempy had experienced, on two prior occasions several years ago, what can best be described as a seizure. These occurred  a few years apart from each other and both occurred while he was sleeping. While this concerned us, we were able to get him to “snap out of it” rather quickly on both occasions. We had never reported this to a vet until November 1, 2003….when Dr. Thomas told us that Stempy would require surgery.  This was going to be the first surgery….of any kind…ever…..for Stempy. Knowing that Stempy had his seizures while sleeping, the thought of anesthesia scared us to death. To us, this was the most important piece of information we had, if he required any type of surgery. We discussed this with ourselves before ever arriving at the vet, and how this was crucial information if surgery was required. Once Dr. Thomas told us he would need surgery, we immediately told her exactly what we have stated above.

 
  Our biggest, number one, primary, main, chief, overall most important pre-surgical worry and concern was him having a seizure while under anesthesia. For Dr. Thomas to even dare to suggest that we never told her about his seizure history, well….that is utterly appalling, extremely insulting, and frankly….unbelievable, unacceptable, and unforgivable…..and that is before compounding our disbelief with the fact that she failed to record this crucial information in Stempy’s records.

  
It is absolutely without question that Dr. Thomas was told on 11/1/03 and responded by showing some concern with the statement, “Oh really.” We were under the impression that she had taken this into account from this point forward. It is shocking, and makes us sick to our stomach, to find out that she did not.

  
While there is no “official” cause of death (whatever the cause – it was triggered by and because of the 9/27/05 surgery), we think he may have had a seizure in his sleep again, induced by acepromazine that should have never been prescribed. Besides, we told Dr. Thomas on both 9/28/05 and 9/29/05 that Stempy was in extreme pain and discomfort. Acepromazine is a tranquilizer, it has no pain killing effects. He was taken completely off of pain killers when she put him on acepromazine…..why? Hoping we would leave her alone by tranquilizing our dog without informing us? Either that, or another example of Dr. Thomas not listening to her clients. Again, he was in extreme pain and discomfort. Her employee, Carmen, even denied us service by refusing to allow us to bring Stempy in for a third visit on 9/29/05 at 5:00pm …..even after being informed of his deteriorating condition. Again, unbelievable….unforgivable. We know our dogs well. We knew something was not right, we took him back to Dr. Thomas every day after his surgery and communicated our deep concern about this and his extreme pain. She chose to either not believe us, or to ignore us, or just plain not listen to us. We would not have agreed to use acepromazine, had we known it was not a pain killer, and especially if Dr. Thomas would have told us of the seizure risk with this drug.

  
Her dishonesty in recounting the events in Stempy’s records is extremely alarming and very disturbing. Please help to restore a small part of our faith in your profession by holding Dr. Thomas accountable. There are so many different violations, the punishment administered by the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners should be both swift and severe. Please…..for Stempy, God rest his soul.
 

Greg and Cindy Munson

MEDICAL RECORDS

Click each thumbnail to enlarge

               

                

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ALLEGED VIOLATIONS

VIOLATIONS CHRONOLOGICALLY AND INDIVIDUALLY

1. RECORD KEEPING – 9/03 – 10/03 Failure to maintain complete and accurate patient records (records from other veterinarian were provided AND contained his prior stone history, despite Dr. Thomas’ claim otherwise).

2. RECORD KEEPING – 9/03 – 9/05 Failure to record dispensing prescription diet. (multiple)

3. RECORD KEEPING – 11/1/03 Failure to notate crucial information in patient records.

4. STANDARD OF CARE – 11/03 – 9/05 Prescribed wrong prescription diet and never made any adjustments to prescription diet after 11/03.

5. STANDARD OF CARE – 11/3/03 Failure to take postoperative radiographs to verify removal of all stones.

6. STANDARD OF CARE – 11/03 – 9/05 Failure to provide or recommend medical management, dietary modification, and constant monitoring, and a follow-up urinalysis is needed every 3 months, which are all necessary objectives of postoperative care for this patient’s condition.

7. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 11/3/03 Falsified and/or altered patient’s records.

8. STANDARD OF CARE – 11/14/03 Failure to make adjustments to patient’s prescription diet despite the presence of Calcium Oxalate crystals in urinalysis.

9. STANDARD OF CARE – 2/16/04 Despite patient’s prior history, Dr. Thomas failed to perform a urinalysis or radiograph.

10. STANDARD OF CARE – 8/10/04 Despite patient’s prior history, Dr. Thomas failed to perform a follow-up urinalysis or radiograph or make adjustments to patient’s diet.

11. STANDARD OF CARE – 11/16/04 Despite patient’s prior history, Dr. Thomas failed to perform a follow-up urinalysis or radiograph or make adjustments to patient’s diet.

12. STANDARD OF CARE – 3/12/05 Failure to conduct sufficient and timely diagnostics, such as a radiograph, despite patient’s prior history, and despite the fact that stones can be present without concomitant crystalluria in the urinalysis. She did not follow her own protocol, established on 11/1/03.

13. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 3/12/05 – 3/14/05 Falsified and/or altered patient’s records.

14. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 3/14/05 Failure to show client radiograph to verify her claim that the stone had disappeared.

15. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/10/05 Failure to conduct sufficient and timely diagnostics, such as a radiograph, despite patient’s prior history, and despite the fact that stones can be present without concomitant crystalluria in the urinalysis. She did not follow her own protocol, established on 11/1/03.

16. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/24/05 Failure to conduct sufficient and timely diagnostics, such as a radiograph and a urinalysis, despite patient’s prior history. Dr. Thomas claims they could not get a urine sample, yet patient was sent home with a catheter in place. She did not follow her own protocol, established on 11/1/03.

17. UNAUTHORIZED TREATMENT – 9/27/05 Failure to obtain client’s permission to perform a Perineal Urethrostomy. We are not positive that this is the procedure she performed…but it is what is noted in his records. According to the medical definition of a Urethrostomy, this is NOT the procedure Dr. Thomas performed, nor was it a Cystotomy.

18. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/27/05 Depriving the client of the option not to proceed so that client could seek a second opinion.

19. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 9/27/05 Failure to follow client instructions and breach of verbal agreement.

20. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 9/27/05 Falsified patient’s records in recounting the events of this day.

21. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/27/05 Failure to take postoperative radiographs to verify removal of all stones.

22. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/28/05 Failure to adequately examine patient at client’s request when informed
of patient’s extreme discomfort.

23. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 9/28/05 Falsified patient’s records in recounting the events on this day.

24. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/29/05 Failure to adequately examine patient, twice on this day, at client’s request when informed of patient’s extreme discomfort.

25. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/29/05 Failure to properly advise client of the potential dangers of Acepromazine when prescribed for the patient. This was the FOURTH different medication in THREE days that Dr. Thomas had put the patient on.

26. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/29/05 Prescribed Acepromazine to patient despite being informed by client on 11/1/03 of patient’s two prior seizures.

27. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/29/05 Knew or should have known of a notation that should have been in patient’s records from 11/1/03.

28. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/29/05 Denied client’s request for a third visit on this day, even though client informed Dr. Thomas’ office on the phone at 5pm of patient’s deteriorating condition. Patient passed away the next morning, 9/30/05.

29. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 9/29/05 Falsified patient’s records in recounting the events on this day.

30. STANDARD OF CARE – 9/30/05 Dr. Thomas did not give or offer an explanation, or even venture a guess, as to the patient’s cause of death.

31. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 9/30/05 Falsified patient’s records in recounting the events on this day.

32. HONESTY, INTEGRITY, FAIR DEALING – 10/13/05 Dr. Thomas refused to provide client with a copy of patient’s records. Dr. Thomas stated that a subpoena would be required to obtain the records. Client left Dr. Thomas’ office without the patient’s records.

NOTE: There may be more violations that have yet to be uncovered. We trust that the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners will thoroughly investigate all aspects of this complaint and bring to light any additional violations. ---Greg and Cindy Munson.

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PRIOR VS. ALLEGED

 PREVIOUS OFFICIALLY REPRIMANDED VIOLATIONS OF OTHER VETS   

VS.  ALLEGED VIOLATIONS AGAINST ANN K. THOMAS, DVM

TEXAS BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS - RELATED VIOLATIONS AND CASE HISTORIES OF OTHER OFFICIALLY REPRIMANDED VETERINARIANS

ALLEGED VIOLATIONS SUMMARY AND COMPARISON / DR. ANN THOMAS, DVM - RE: STEMPY MUNSON

Docket #

Date

Violation

Summary

Date

Violation

Summary

 1997-06 1997-15 2002-59 2004-02 2001-06 2001-19 2003-23 2004-30

6/12/97 10/2/97 10/17/02 2/19/04 6/21/01 10/18/01 10/16/03 10/13/05 

Record Keeping

Failure to maintain complete and accurate patient records.

see 9/03 - 10/03     notes

Record Keeping

Failure to maintain complete and accurate patient records (records from other veterinarian were provided).

1992-23

10/22/92

Standard of Care

Failed to properly advise client of the potential dangers of Mitaban when prescribed for the client’s animal.

9/29/05

Standard of Care

Failure to properly advise client of the potential dangers of Acepromazine when prescribed for the client’s animal.

2002-50 2005-17 2004-04 2003-35 2001-18 2004-14

10/17/02 2/17/05 2/19/04 10/16/03 6/21/01 6/9/05

Standard of Care

Failed to conduct adequate diagnostic testing.

2/16/04 3/12/05 9/10/05 9/24/05

Standard of Care

Failure to conduct sufficient and timely diagnostics

1988-08

2/4/88

Standard of Care

Failed to adequately examine a dog and take x-rays.

9/28/05 9/29/05

Standard of Care

Failure to adequately examine patient on 3 visits in 2 days after client informed Dr. Thomas of patient's extreme discomfort.

1996-11 1996-13 2002-53 2005-48

6/13/96 6/13/96 10/17/02 6/9/05

Unauthorized Treatment

Failed to obtain client permission.

9/27/05

Unauthorized Treatment

Failure to obtain client permission to perform a Perineal Urethrostomy.

2005-29

6/9/05

Standard of Care

Failed to investigate cause of death.

9/30/05

Standard of Care

Could give no explanation or clue to client as to why patient passed away.

2000-09

10/5/00

Honesty, Integrity, Fair Dealing

Altered patient's records

11/3/03 3/14/05 9/27/05 9/29/05 9/30/05

Honesty, Integrity, Fair Dealing

Falsification and/or Alteration of patient's records.

2002-51

6/9/05

Honesty, Integrity, Fair Dealing

Failed to follow client instructions.

9/27/05

Honesty, Integrity, Fair Dealing

Failure to follow client instructions; Breach of verbal agreement

2003-37

10/16/03

Standard of Care

Depriving the client of the option not to proceed.

9/27/05

Standard of Care

Depriving the client with the option not to proceed so client could seek second opinion

2004-12

6/17/04

Record Keeping

Failed to maintain adequate patient records relating to any previous discussions.

11/1/03

Record Keeping

Failure to notate crucial information in patient records.

2004-05

2/19/04

Standard of Care

Failed to examine a sick
patient on October 13th

9/29/05

Standard of Care

Complete denial of service/care

2002-16

6/13/02

Standard of Care

Utilized acepromazine for the treatment of suspected seizures when acepromazine is contraindicated for such a condition.

9/29/05

Standard of Care

Prescribed and administered Acepromazine to patient despite being informed by client on 11/1/03 of patient's two prior seizures.

1994-09

10/6/94

Record Keeping

Failed to maintain records concerning acquisition and
disposition of the drugs as required by law.

Multiple      - See Timeline

Record Keeping

Failure to record dispensing of prescription diet.

2005-32

6/9/05

Standard of Care

Knew or should have known of notation in patient's record

9/29/05

Standard of Care

Knew or should have known about a notation that should have been in patient's records.

2005-38

6/6/05

Standard of Care

Failed to institute
a broad assessment and aggressive
therapeutic protocol.

11/03  thru  9/05

Standard of Care

Failed to institute a broad assessment and aggressive therapeutic protocol.

2005-16

2/17/05

Standard of Care

Attempted to induce vomiting, putting the patient at risk for aspiration, prior to identifying through radiographs or endoscope, the location of an object.

9/24/05

Standard of Care

Failure to identify through radiographs the location of an object prior to inserting a catheter and lodging it to stone

 

 

 

 

 

 

**NOTE: The alleged violations listed here are comparisons to previous case history of other veterinarians. This is not all of Dr. Thomas' alleged violations. See "Alleged Violations Chronologically and Individually" as well as "Timeline" for a thorough listing of all of the alleged violations.**



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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Regarding Ann K. Thomas, DVM, Mesquite, TX Complaint ~ Re: Stempy Munson

Submitted by: Greg & Cindy Munson

  On 10/13/2005, we requested a full and complete copy of Stempy's records, including his x-rays. On 10/18/2005, only his written records were faxed to us. We still have never received, nor have we seen, x-rays contained in his file, in DIRECT VIOLATION of board rule 573.52(c). Dr. Thomas told us on 10/13/2005, that unless she was served a subpoena, she would never provide us with Stempy's complete records.

    The lack of any follow up care or monitoring after the first surgery is one of many grievous errors. Dr. Thomas also states in Stempy's Records on 9/27/05 that she did a Perineal Urethrostomy. If the definition of a Urethrostomy is a permanent opening caudal to the os penis that is large enough to accomodate passage of most urethral calculi....well, that is NOT what was done. No permanent opening was made and Stempy remained intact. While we are certainly no veterinarians, it appears to us that maybe Dr. Thomas does not know the difference between a Urethrotomy and a Urethrostomy....scary thought! We think she may have done a Urethrotomy, however, she cut him open from his anus to his scrotum. She did not have permission to perform either procedure.  She states that it was an emergency procedure....if it was an emergency procedure on 9/27, then it was an emergency procedure on 9/24. Nothing had changed. She should have taken a radiograph on 9/24, then she would have known. We are NOT buying that she could not have called us to seek our permission. She did not want to call us because she knew she had messed up. She never even called to let us know his condition.

 Regards,

Greg & Cindy Munson


Please find attached the written professional opinion of a local veterinarian located here in the city of Mesquite:  ****(Note to website visitors: The veterinarian mentioned below was kind enough to provide the letter that follows; we thought we would be kind in return and x out their name and address information for obvious reasons. Of course, nothing was x'ed out on the original of this page that was submitted to the TSBVME. We are grateful for the letter we received. By the way, we feel confident in saying that Stempy would still be alive if we had found and chose this veterinarian in September 2003, instead of our devastating choice of "Dr." (...yea, right) Ann K. Thomas, DVM. We have to live with that horrific choice for the rest of our lives. You can be damn sure we won't make that mistake again...but it's too late for Stempy. As much as we blame ourselves for our wrong choice and our misplaced total trust of Ann K. Thomas, DVM, it shouldn't have to be our job to make sure the veterinarian knows her job. But, guess what? If you want to avoid the pain and heartbreak we have endured and are continuing to endure, you will MAKE IT YOUR JOB to make sure your veterinarian knows their job. It's a sad state of affairs, but that's just the way it is. Total trust? NEVER AGAIN!! We miss you, Stempy!!)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, DVM

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Veterinary Hospital

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mesquite, Texas 75149

xxx-xxx-xxxx 

                                                                    

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Letter from other vet:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, DVM

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Veterinary Hospital

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mesquite, Texas 75149

xxx-xxx-xxxx

 

Bladder and Urethral stones are common problems in dogs and cats. There is often an underlying infection or metabolic problem that causes the stones to form. Once a pet has been diagnosed and treated, our office recommends quarterly urinalyses to detect any changes that might cause the stones to recur.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*****Note to website visitors:

It should be obvious, but the key point in the letter above is the QUARTERLY URINALYSES------ "Dr." Thomas FAILED to perform, or even recommend, this most crucial step of his aftercare....FOR CLOSE TO 2 YEARS..... Folks, in our eyes, we allege that this failure can only be two things:

 1. VETERINARY NEGLIGENCE  or

 2. VETERINARY INCOMPETENCE

on the part of ANN K. THOMAS, DVM ...which, in her case, must mean:

  D(oesn't know)

  V(eterinary)

  M(edicine).

One more time ...... NEVER blindly trust your veterinarian!!


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Stempy - Christmas 2004 - 7 years old

What happened to Stempy?

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. 

In September 2005, Stempy again had a urethral obstruction that unblocked itself just prior to going to see Dr. Thomas. Despite his prior history, Dr. Thomas failed to take radiographs and failed to diagnose bladder stones, even though she was told he was obstructed and had been for a day until just prior to coming in. She said he just had elevated sperm in his urine and sent him home.  This event right here is a FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE and is BELOW the standard of care ESPECIALLY with his PRIOR HISTORY of stones WITH THIS VET!

WHY, please tell us, WHY wouldn't you take an x-ray when you have just been told that he had been blocked for a full day AND that WE suspected stones again?  Stempy had already had TWO prior episodes WITH HER. This is a MAJOR FAILURE on her part. She must have had an aversion to using her x-ray machine - was it outdated? Looking back on his care, we believe she purposely avoided using her x-ray machine multiple times - when any other vet would have AT LEAST recommended an x-ray! VIOLATION? We believe so. How could the Texas Vet Board just dismiss this case?.

ONLY TWO WEEKS LATER, Stempy again experienced a urethral obstruction from most likely the SAME STONE. FROM MOST LIKELY THE SAME STONE THAT FIRST OBSTRUCTED HIM BACK IN MARCH 2005!  (Calcium Oxalate stones do NOT dissolve or just disappear - MAJOR FAILURE BY DR. THOMAS - INEXCUSABLE!) She AGAIN failed to take radiographs to confirm diagnosis, location, and amount. She FAILED to properly wash the stone back to the bladder and tried jamming the catheter in to push the stone back to the bladder. She stated in his records that she was unable to collect a urine specimen. She sent Stempy home wearing a catheter and scheduled a cystotomy for the coming week.

How would she PASS a catheter and NOT be able to obtain a urine specimen? In fact, how did she relieve the distended bladder caused by the obstruction and yet NOT be able to obtain a urine specimen?  As we now know, she had LODGED the catheter to the stone, so much so that she told us the she was unable to remove the catheter. So this begs the question: How did she relieve the distended bladder? There was no cystocentesis done. Did she damage his urethra with the very forceful - and unsuccessful - catheterization? The FAILURE to x-ray on this day is OUTRAGEOUS. Yet, the Texas Vet Board looks the other way.

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. 

Two days post surgery, Dr. Thomas’ clinic DENIED care to Stempy when his condition was deteriorating.  The clinic stated that Stempy would be IN PAIN for 2 or 3 more days and then he would be fine and NOT to bring him in - YET they had just taken him completely OFF of painkillers! How INHUMANE is THAT? Violation? Evidently not in Texas.

The very next morning, three days post surgery….Stempy passed away. He was found unconscious and lifeless on his pillow. We rushed him to this vet to no avail.

It is our contention that Stempy passed away because of that unauthorized “surgery” that Dr. Thomas had NEVER performed before that would have NEVER have been needed had Dr. Thomas taken radiographs as needed and properly diagnosed and treated his condition. There is NO DOUBT in our minds that Dr. Thomas is 100% responsible for Stempy’s preventable death.  Her attitude and failure to properly care for him those 3 days after his unauthorized surgery - to the point that the clinic DENIED Stempy care the night before he died - is deeply disturbing. Did she WANT Stempy to die?

She butchered our little boy!

(**NOTE: Dr. Thomas never recommended or performed any blood tests prior to ANY of the surgical procedures she performed. Check the Records.)

(Visit the Expert Opinion page of this website.)

Greg & Cindy Munson

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






Do you need to check the DISCIPLINARY RECORDS
of a Texas veterinarian?

If you only want PART of the story, with incomplete information, including many disciplined vets who are not even included in the list...

click here.


If you want MUCH MUCH MORE of
the story, with disciplinary information
that is actually USEFUL to Texas citizens...

click here!

www.texasveterinaryrecords.com



MUFFY                        STEMPY
You are loved.
Muffy's Guardian AngelBurning candle.Burning candle.Stempy's Guardian Angel
MUFFY   2 CANDLES BURN   STEMPY

In Memory of
Muffy Munson
the best doggie in the whole world!

Muffy - Our backyard - circa 2003
February 10, 1988
October 10, 2005

Muffy, our beloved female Lhasa Apso, passed away due to old age and cancer 10 days after Stempy on October 10, 2005 at the grand old age of
17
¾ years old.

She is dearly loved and dearly missed!

WE LOVE YOU, MUFFY!


Stempy's Spirit soars.....

Stempy - our back porch - circa 2003

Stempy - June 1998 - 11 months old

Stempy's spot in the bed.

Cindy and Stempy circa 2002.


Stempy was an AKC champion-sired
male Shih Tzu. He was only 8 years old. He was truly a once in a lifetime dog.
In our opinion, he had about half
of his life taken away from him due
to the negligent and substandard
care he received at the hands
of his vet. Unfortunately,
Stempy's veterinarian was:


ANN K. THOMAS, DVM
Rodeo Dr. Veterinary Hospital
Rodeo Dr. Veterinary Hospital
Mesquite, Texas

In our opinion,
we think the DVM means:



(D)oesn't know
(V)eterinary
(M)edicine

Be sure to click the page links at the top of the page to learn all about the veterinary negligence that Stempy endured for 2 years because we were all-trusting of this vet. If only we had researched two years prior.....

You MUST do your research NOW
BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
!

No matter how great you "think" your vet may be, do not leave it to chance!

There is no 2nd chance for Stempy!

We miss you, little boy!

We will
NOT let you die in vain!

NEVER BLINDLY
TRUST YOUR VET!


Let us repeat that....


NEVER BLINDLY
TRUST YOUR VET!



In our opinion, ANN K. THOMAS, DVM is an incompetent vet based on our experience with her and we would NEVER, under any circumstances, recommend her to anybody with a pet!
In our opinion, Stempy is also a victim of the TEXAS STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS' complaint system that is supposed to PROTECT OUR PETS, but, instead, may very well be protecting GUILTY VETS!  Approximately 90% of ALL consumer complaints filed in Texas against veterinarians are DISMISSED as no violation found!
Notice: The material presented on each page of this website consists solely of the opinions, observations, interpretations, & personal experiences of Greg & Cindy Munson, co-authors of this website, & should be considered in that context. Also included on this website are text copies of material submitted to and received from the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, along with copies of the medical records, as received by Greg & Cindy Munson via facsimile, from Ann K. Thomas, DVM.
Copyright © 2006-2014 Greg and Cindy Munson. FOR STEMPY. All Rights Reserved.
Legal notice: The stempy.net website, along with Greg & Cindy Munson, make no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, reliability or fitness for a particular use of the information on this website. This information is ADVISORY ONLY & the website user assumes all liability & waives any & all claims or causes of action against this website, its hosts, and/or Greg & Cindy Munson for all uses of, & any reliance on, this information. This website, along with Greg & Cindy Munson, specifically disclaims any & all liability for any claims or damages that may result from providing the website or the information it contains,  including any websites maintained by third parties & linked to and/or from the stempy.net website. Links provided to other websites from the stempy.net website is not an endorsement of the third party website or its content. This paragraph shall accompany all distributions of this information & is incorporated into this information for all purposes.
Stempy - 1999 - 2 years oldStempy after getting buzzed at the groomer.Stempy after getting buzzed at the groomer.Stempy's last Christmas. 2004.Stempy on our back porch.Stempy - March 2005
We love you, Muffy!            Thank you for visiting Stempy's website!             We love you, Stempy!