LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A Las Vegas family is heartbroken and have lingering questions about their dogs care at a prominent Las Vegas veterinarian clinic.
For so many people, their pets are just part of their family and that is why it was so painfully clear there was something wrong with their 3 year old Dachshund named Leah.
"She loved to cuddle but toward the end she would just hide behind the couch for hours," said Emily Rademann.
The Rademann family says the problems became apparent in August 2018 when Leah's energy, appetite and demeanor changed.
Over the next several weeks, several vet visits but no real improvements.
The family turned to the Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center near Tropicana and Durango in October 2018.
Paperwork provided to 13 Investigates shows the extensive and expensive tests that were ordered to figure out what was wrong.
The Rademann's say nothing worked and Leah kept getting worse.
The Rademann's also claim the meter kept running on the medical bills.
"What are you really paying for, that big of an amount, I think they spent $3000 or more there in a few months," said Olivia Rademann.
Olivia says communication was slow and it took multiple calls and even weeks to get answers on test results.
"If you would've said from the beginning that she was doing bad, all of this would not have snowballed the same way," said Olivia.
The Rademann's claim blood work eventually pointed to liver failure and sought a second opinion at a facility in Arizona.
But, for Leah, her condition was grave.
"It was really hard for me, because she was always around me and it was especially tough for the family because we've never seen her like that," said Emily.
13 Investigates requested an on-camera interview with LVVSC for weeks but a hospital official declined.
"It's just really sad," said Olivia.
"You trust these people, you put your trust in these doctors," added Olivia.
13 Investigates has spotlighted the facility before after a woman claims a misplaced feeding tube killed her dog in 2017.
The LVVSC has drawn attention from state investigators before.
READ: State of Nevada Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners letter to LVVSC
According to a letter of reprimand, the facility received notice after another dog owner was charged for tests and procedures but waited weeks for results.
The dog was eventually put down.
State investigators found the facility violated the veterinarian board's regulations including principles and ethics from the American Veterinary Medical Association, specifically a failure to 'treat clients and the general public with respect.'
Authorities ordered the facility to pay more than $2,000 dollars for investigative costs and fees.
The letter of reprimand ordered, among other things, better communication of any test results or other diagnoses.
RELATED: HOW TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE VETERINARY BOARD
Leah's family is in the process of filing a formal complaint with state authorities to make sure nothing was over looked in their case and their heartache is not repeated.
