Investigation launched after dog dies at pet hospital in Gillingham

KentOnline / KMTV

Lee Taylor says he's heartbroken after his 8-year-old dog Diesel passed away from what he suspects is the wrong combination of tablets. Abby Hook reports.

Transcript

00:00This is the moment an eight-year-old dog named Diesel took his last breath.

00:22He died at an animal hospital run by PDSA, a place where owners who can't afford to pay

00:27veterinary costs can get their pets treated.

00:31Online, PDSA is described as a vet charity for pets in need.

00:35They care for thousands of animals up and down the country, but here at the Pet Hospital

00:40in Gillingham is where Lee came in with his dog and left without him.

00:45Now in an email, Lee's been told an investigation is underway to find out why.

00:50The first four days, five days, I think I had about six hours sleep.

00:54I just could not focus.

00:55I just kept going online, just looking, I was thinking, why, he's dead, what could

01:03I change?

01:04What could I do?

01:06But there wasn't anything, because I don't know anything, I'm not a vet, I'm not a doctor.

01:13If this can happen to me, and I'm quite cautious about a lot of things, it can happen to anybody,

01:19and I just want them to be held accountable for what's happened.

01:23So I've lost a member of my family now, and I know he was in pain as well, and it's just

01:31been eating at me and just nonstop, and it's just destroying my head, absolutely destroying

01:36my head.

01:37On the 9th April, Lee picked up a prescription for prednisolone, a steroid to treat a rash on

01:44Diesel's skin.

01:45But Lee believes the reason Diesel died six days later was down to a lethal mixture of

01:51that steroid and an anti-inflammatory drug Diesel had been taking since December for arthritis.

01:57That's called meloxicam.

02:00In fact, he was last prescribed it just one week before, highlighted here on Diesel's

02:06medical record.

02:07These drugs together can cause gastric ulceration, which is what the vets noted as the presumed

02:14diagnosis.

02:16In a statement, PDSA have said, we're very sorry to hear about the sad loss of Diesel,

02:23and offer our most sincere condolences.

02:25We treat complaints very seriously and fully investigate so we can discuss and support owners

02:30through any concerns.

02:32An investigation is now underway by the client services team for impartial review.

02:37As the investigation has just begun, we're unable to share more and appreciate patience

02:42whilst we thoroughly explore all matters raised.

02:47Lee's been told he'll have to wait until June for the investigation to conclude, but that

02:52PDSA are working with the Gillingham Pet Hospital.

02:55In the meantime, he's desperately missing his best friend and best support.

02:59All while wondering, what went so wrong?

03:09Abbie Hook for KMTV in Gillingham.

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