Animals Unattended During Overnight Stays at the Vets.

[Donna K & Quincy]

We have had some discussion on this before and finally now someone is bringing it to the media and calling for better rules. This happened in Canada but I fear incidents like these happen more than we know. Very few Vets have animals monitored overnight. For me, if they say they want to monitor my dog overnight there had better be someone watching, if not he is better off at home. While this particular vet does admit fault and settled the lawsuit, it is too little too late. If you have to leave your dog overnight, please ask if there will be someone watching before you make the decision to leave them.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/dog-paralyzed-after-vet-leaves-it-unattended...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Our Vet doesn't have anyone there overnight, so if your dog isn't able to go home, they must go to the Specialty (24hr) hospital.  When Guinness had Pancreatitis he was at the Specialty Hospital for a couple days and then they discharged him and he spent a few days at our Vet's (but came home each night).

[Lynda Kamrath]

Even with overnight supervision, I really do not like leaving my animals in the hospital.  Sometimes there is no choice, but they really belong with you.  I have brought Hondo home with 2 liters of fluid injected into him and he looked like he had saddle bags.  By Monday they were down, but at least he spend his last weekend at home with us.  Brings back such sad memories.

[Gail and Bailey]

Such a sad story.  My heart goes out to this woman.  I would never leave Bailey overnight unless it was a 24 hour facility!

[Sheila & Finnley]

Oh crud, you know I just assumed that someone was with the animals at my vets during the night. Maybe I have been way too naïve. I will be checking on this today. Finnley just happens to have an appointment for booster shots.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

I can't even think about a dog in distress and no one there to help.  I know the Pet ER by us does have 24 hour staff, but it is an ER only.  This has really opened my eyes to Libby staying anywhere unless I know someone is watching over her.  

[Miss Ellie]

I strongly agree Donna...we are so very fortunate here where we live that we have several vets that do have 24 hour facilities and there is always at least one vet & several vet technicians on duty.  It just boggles my mind that they feel it acceptable to leave such sick animals unattended...just breaks my heart...we wouldn't leave humans unattended what makes any animal any different...they deserve the same attention & care...and we their owners need to be their voices and make a change! 

[Robin and Libby Louise]

I don't think I thought about it too much because Libby's vet is also a 24 hour emergency facility, although thankfully she never needed to stay overnight.  When she had her emergency surgery when she was 1, it was at the University of Pennsylania and they brought in a surgical team at 2 a.m. to operate.  But definitely good to know as now I will always check!

[Carol and Banjo]

Donna,  Thank you for posting this.   Thankfully, we haven't had to  leave Banjo overnite.....and honestly, I don't think I would have even given it a thought that he might not have "supervision".   BIG eye opener!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Very good information Donna. Leaving dogs unattended is the practice here in Az as well and my Vet did inform me of this when I was getting a quote for Bella's spaying. I didn't use that Vet and brought her home with me within 2 hours of her waking from surgery. There was just no reason to leave her overnight in a cage hurting, alone and unattended. Yes it was work, but nothing any of us wouldn't do if we were made aware of how to provide proper post op care.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

From what I understand, there is no human present overnight at many dog boarding facilities, either. Granted, the dogs are not sick, but it still bothers me. As someone else said, my dogs aren't alone at home overnight, why would I pay to have them be alone somewhere else? 

[Stella]

I find it amazing how many vets charge extortionate fees for overnight stays that they often insist on, and then there is no one there to take care of them. No way I would ever leave my dog overnight unattended. If he is so sick, he needs to be there overnight, then he is so sick that he needs someone with him. I would be demanding that they give my dog so that I can take him home where he can have constant care.