South Florida pet owners warn of risks after dog dies following dental procedure

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida. – A South Florida family is mourning the loss of their beloved chihuahua, Daisy, after a routine dental procedure led to her unexpected death in October.

On Monday, they chose to speak out to warn other pet owners of the potential risks of sedation and advocate for greater transparency in veterinary care.

Patti Ward, Daisy’s owner, said she took all three of her chihuahuas for dental cleanings, including her eldest, Abbi, who needed extractions. Ward feared anesthesia, because his dogs had previously undergone non-invasive dental procedures.

“He’s a member of our family, he’s not just a dog,” Ward said.

When Ward picked up her dogs after the procedure, two of them appeared healthy and alert, but Daisy seemed lethargic and had trouble breathing.

“Abbi was her cute self and very happy to see mom, Rosie was very happy to see dad, and then when they brought Daisy out she was having trouble breathing and seemed very lethargic,” Ward said.

According to Ward, the vet assured him that Daisy’s symptoms were normal side effects of anesthesia and would go away. However, Daisy’s condition worsened throughout the night, requiring an emergency trip to the vet.

“They said no, she’s fine, we even did blood tests… but if you do an x-ray you’ll have to pay for it because there’s absolutely nothing wrong with her, it’s just the anesthesia,” Ward recalls.

By morning, Daisy’s condition had deteriorated to the point that she needed oxygen. Shortly after undergoing an X-ray on October 4, she died. The emergency vet determined that Daisy was suffering from a collapsed lung.

“We took her to an emergency vet…by the time they x-rayed her…she died,” Ward said.

Ward later learned that blood tests taken before the procedure indicated that Daisy had anemia. She said the results were only disclosed to her after the procedure, despite assurances from veterinary staff that any worrying findings would be communicated in advance.

“Why weren’t you informed of the blood test results before the dental work was done? » asked Local 10 animal advocate Jacey Birch.

“That’s the big question,” Ward responded. “It was a dental cleaning, it wasn’t an emergency so we would have stopped it.” They made this decision before even informing us.

The veterinarian reimbursed Ward nearly $3,000 for dental procedures, blood tests and emergency veterinary bills. Despite the financial reimbursement, Ward said she was not seeking revenge but hoped to raise awareness of the importance of thorough communication between pet owners and veterinarians.

“Realistically, the family is not looking for any sort of retaliation,” Birch said. “What they want to do is educate other pet parents so they don’t go through the same heartbreak and pain.”

Ward urges pet owners to insist on reviewing blood test results before allowing their pets to undergo procedures involving anesthesia.

“Insist that you hear what the blood tests are before sticking a needle in your dog to anesthetize him, that’s the priority, insist!” she said.

George Kirkman, Daisy’s other owner, echoed Ward’s sentiments, advocating for alternatives to traditional dental cleanings when sedation poses a risk.

“People need to know there are alternatives and hopefully we can make something better for someone else,” Kirkman said.

Daisy’s memory lives on in her family’s garden, where she is buried among blooming daisies – a reminder of the love she brought and the lessons her loss inspired.