My California Veterinary Specialists Experience

A Patient's Owner's Experience

PLEASE NOTE: These are my experiences and opinions only. They are not necessarily typical.

On the evening of 12/15/12 my 16 year old cat, Contessa (see photo), was hiding, had trouble walking, and looked ill. I immediately took her to California Veterinary Specialists (CalVet), currently located at 39809 Avenida Acacias, Suite E, Murrieta, CA 92563. Over the course of the next 5 days (until 12/20/12) CalVet treated my cat. She was diagnosed with kidney disease. One of the most important parameters in evaluating kidney function is blood creatinine levels, see http://www.felinecrf.org/how_bad_is_it.htm and http://www.felinecrf.org/is_there_any_hope.htm. Cats in stage III may live an average of a few healthy years, but cats in stage IV average a few months. CalVet reported stage III numbers (4.8 and 4.5) on their in-house Idexx machine and stage IV numbers (13.2, 12.6, 10.4, 9.0, and 9.4) on their in-house NOVA machine. Shortly after Contessa was released, 2 independent labs reported numbers of 6.1 and 3.3/4.3 respectively. Click on any number to see the actual report.

On one day, 12/18/12, within a short period of time, CalVet measured 10.4 on their NOVA machine and 4.5 on their Idexx machine. CalVet reported the 4.5 number to me (on 12/18/12) but not the 10.4 number. (I found the 10.4 number only after Contessa was released.) Then on 12/19/20 and 12/20/12 CalVet reported 9.0 and 9.4 respectively. The 10.4 number is consistent with the other NOVA measurements, but not consistent with the two Idexx measurements (4.8 and 4.5) or subsequent measurements by other DVMs (6.1, 3.3 and 4.3). The first measurement was 4.8 on the CalVet Idexx machine.

CalVet admitted to me, rather reluctantly, on 12/19/12 and 12/20/12 that they were trying to calibrate their machine(s). But rather than resolve the discrepancy between their NOVA and Idexx machines (simply send to an independent lab!), they ultimately assumed the NOVA values were correct. This led to the conclusion that Contessa had a poor prognosis. In fact, first Dr. Hogan and then Dr. Fang spoke with me on 12/16/12 and 12/17/12 respectively, and they were not hopeful (creatinine measurements were 13.2 and 12.6 respectively). Perhaps Contessa had an infection or ingested a toxin. Although I explained this was very unlikely, Contessa being an indoor cat. Dr. Fang writes, ". . . gave owner update, prognosis is guarded to poor, but owner wants to keep moving forward another day or 2." (Click on quote or here to see report.) However, Dr. Fang did report the 4.5 number to me on 12/18/12 and was positive and compassionate. Nevertheless, again, they also measured 10.4 on the same date (12/18/12), and on 12/19/20 and 12/20/12 CalVet reported 9.0 and 9.4 respectively. When Contessa was released, on 12/20/12, Dr. Simmons writes, ". . . Contessa may not have very good quality of life for a very extended period . . ." (Click on quote or here to see report.)

I was determined not to give up on my cat without a fight, despite the time and cost. I studied information from the Internet and my cat's medical records. On the evening of 12/19/12, I came to the realization that the NOVA numbers might be in error, and on 12/20/12, I discussed my theory with Dr. Tana Simmons and Dr. Kelly Lin. Both doctors dismissed my ideas and became upset. Contessa was released that day, 12/20/12, and I immediately (that day) took her to another DVM (Dr. Deol of French Valley, who was personable and helpful) and had her blood work done. Two days later, on 12/22/12, I again took her to another DVM (Emergency Pet Clinic of Temecula, EPCT) and had her blood work done. At that time her creatinine came back 3.3! At EPCT I worked with a DVM named Dr. Alonso Bayon. He told me how to use common antacids as phosphorous binders (very important), plus much other valuable advice.

Contessa went on to do spectacularly well. She purrs regularly, grooms herself, eats and drinks well, explores the house, has favorite resting spots, interacts with family members, loves to be petted and sleep with me, jumps on chairs and beds. She is a normal, healthy, fun-loving cat. She realizes her life was saved, and we have an even more special relationship. She has every indication of being one of those Stage III cats that can live for a few more years. Her phosphorous has dropped to normal (from dangerously high), and other secondary numbers are for the most part normal or good for a cat in Stage III kidney disease (see again 4.3 and click here to see blood analysis from 1/31/13 and click here to see urinalysis from 1/31/13). Please click here to see a video of Contessa on Mar-1-13.

By summer, Contessa was still getting better! On 7/30/13 I took her to be examined at Valley Veterinary Clinic in Murrieta. At that time her creatinine came back 3.4! And her secondary numbers were again also very good (see again 3.4 and click here to see blood analysis from 7/30/13 and click here to see urinalysis from 7/30/13). I asked Dr. Gary White to sign a statement regarding Contessa's health, which he did (click here to see this document from 7/30/13).

Since CalVet, Contessa's creatinine has been measured several times: 6.1, 3.3, 4.3, 4.2, 3.4, 3.6, 4.6

Also of note are the following. CalVet planned to charge $76.50/day to administer Pepcid AC intravenously. When I questioned this charge, they said they could give it in pill form for $9.45/day. However, they required that I supply the Pepcid AC (even though they had it on hand), so at 2am on 12/16/12 I went to a 24h Walmart and purchased a box of Pepcid AC for $0.98. I also questioned whether it was necessary to do a urine culture. Dr. Lin said it depended on whether bacteria was found in urine. Although bacteria was found (in abundance, report read "TNTC" or To Numerous To Count, click here to see), the culture (click on culture or here to see report) came back completely negative. This means CalVet probably simply contaminated the sample. On 3/14/13 I received a voicemail from CalVet (click here to play), and I called back to acknowledge I received it. Around that time (mid March 2013), I also received a collections letter from Transworld Systems Inc (click here to see), and I responded with, Transworld for California Veterinary Specialists Bill, http://faithreason.org/misc/contessacalvetbillTW.htm. Shortly thereafter I received a response from their lawyers (click here to see).

I took CalVet to Small Claims Court, and in addition to the evidence presented above, I obtained a statement from Dr. Sam Vaugh stating that CalVet committed veterinary medical malpractice. The defense (CalVet represented by Tana Simmons, Sarah Hogan, and Sumitra Price) claimed that their high creatinine measurements were actually correct for the Nova machine (simply a normal fluctuation), and that it didn't matter anyway, because the same treatment would have been given! The commissioner (Kathleen Jacobs, Hemet, CA court) ruled in their favor!

For more information, see California Veterinary Specialists Bill, http://faithreason.org/misc/contessacalvetbill.htm