Misdiagnosis/ Medical malpractice of Dr McDonald at TAH Sonstraal, Durbanville

The First week in September I think it is around the 3rd, we took our dog to Sonstraal TAH in Durbanville as we came home and saw that our dogs L paw is skew. We arrived there and she was seen by Dr McDonald.

He asked what was wrong the her and we explained that we arrived home and found her paw looking like this. We placed her on the examination table without her being examined as he said that is looks like that she has no pain as she is standing on the paw. He wanted to know if she was born like that or is it something recently noticed. We said to him that she was born perfectly fine and it was something noticed when we arrived home, so we are not sure whether she has hurt her paw.

He went to the computer trying to lock into the internet and was struggling. He asked to be excused and came back after 5min stating the following that our dogs has Carpal Valgus Syndrome and that is common in puppies of big breed dogs. He basically asked that we must read up on the condition and and follow the guidelines the internet gave.

The reception staff however is the most friendliest ever, it was advised we change her food from Hills to Eukanuba and that is what we did.

Consultation was charged in full even thought nothing was done. Dr McDonald said that he is sorry that he can not perform any miracles today. That in itself when a doctor sees it as a miracle that can not be performed, his mindset is wrong.

At home after reading up on the diagnosis, something was not adding up to the diagnosis provided as it was only one paw. The syndrome affects either both the front, back or all 4 paws and there should not be any pain present. Yet it was only the one. Two weeks passed and I was not happy with the paw at all because when ever she want to play, she will just lay flat down as there was something she wanted to say that her paw was sore.

The following day she started to limp as she could not keep up with the Jack Russel. I decided to take her to TAH in Bellville and she was diagnosed with a fractured paw.

My poor puppy was in pain and she was said to have a syndrome and we were not to worry about it as no miracles can be done. If Dr McDonald at least did the X-ray to exclude the fracture and not advised us to leave it as is, where would it have end.

I read a lot of reviews where people are continuously complaining about wrong diagnosis of this particular doctor. Does it mean we first have to read reviews on someone before taking your dog to a VET who you trust and believe that they will render ethical and standardized services to your pets as if it was your own. It is not as if we ask this for free.

This is poor negligence and a HUGE eye opener to the other branches in itself. We expect to go to the doctor and get the treatment deserved. Is this being addressed to this doctor that he is playing with lives is in actual concern. Just as humans experience pain, our pets do as well and yet we are the only one who can speak on their behalf and to be alert when their well being is compromised.

My baby received an operation on the 20 September 2019 at all costs that could have been avoided if the fracture was confirmed on initial first visit and the growth that took place prior the two and a half weeks and the bone grew past the fracture and caused more damage.

They have to cut a 2cm out of the ulna bone and replaced the gap with fat extracted from her liver. This for me was so scary as why she must go through all of this pain at only 5 months. The fact that this could have been avoided bring such anger and unnecessary costs that no one budgets for at that given time hence she was taken immediately to the doctor to have avoided this complication. She is a puppy and have minimal understanding as to why she can not move around and being kept in a confined space all the time and be on drugs to force her sleep so that she does not hurt the operated paw. Nevertheless the sleep deprived as you can not have a peaceful night rest due to every time she moves, I must be up.

Have to put in leave to look after her for the next following week not to enjoy my leave and rest, but to look after her and this all at the cost of negligence that Dr McDonald brought upon my baby's life. Costs for the surgery was R11 000 and routine check ups of +- R1200 at each follow up besides the first initial visit for the wrong diagnosis of R2200. Where does he take responsibility for these costs that was primarily caused by him and taking ownership for his negligence and beheld accountable.

I was fortunate to have met very good doctors at the TAH Bellville branch who quickly acted upon the treatment of her paw. They are very busy on a daily basis but very thorough when assessments are done. So far she is doing well but it is however a very long process to recovery. The way the team assisted and communicates are appreciated for this difficult time we are going through.

I do believe that it is not about the money and bills, it is about the value driven health care services expected when we place lives into the hands of those who truly care and takes responsibility for their actions.

At this stage I am emotionally and physically drained that I do not see it fit to take action but I hope that management do address the complaint and have speedy alternatives in place as I do not want any other FUR_BABY to endure the same. If this doctor is not fit for duty or have a passion for his job, he is still practicing under the company brand of TAH and not setting a preventable approach to health care services before cure needs to be initiated.