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.

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.

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 AGRIEVOUS 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.

Things to do:

• View / Sign Stempy's GuestBook!
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To check the disciplinary records of Texas vets:

• General Disciplinary Information
• Disciplinary Records A-L
• Disciplinary Records M-Z

To file a complaint against a veterinarian in Texas:

• TSBVME Official Complaint Form
• TSBVME Complaint Information

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