Rest in Peace, Aja

It was already weeks ago when my grandmother lost her 3 year old female Chihuahua named Aja. Losing a beloved pet is really hard to anyone, including myself who recently lost my first 7 year old Shih Tzu. Most of the dogs I know either die of old age or die of sickness. Sickness that are detected too late that they were already infected by a parvo virus. It was sad losing pets in these ways. But there is a harder way, in which my 72 year old grandmother experienced, and that is losing a pet which was apparently a victim of a veterinary clinic's personel malpractice.



Aja was observed at home for 2 days of being very "matamlay" from her normal self of being so hyperactive as what most of the Chihuahuas are known for. She has no fever. She eats normally. Her feces are of a normal dog, no traces of blood or water in it. For an inexperienced eye she is not infected of parvo virus. And as what a normal pet owner would do if you cannot explain what's happening to your dog is to go to a veterinarian and have her clinically observed and checked.



Aja was brought to Ronan Veterinary Clinic in Fairview. This clinic has been the family's and friends' vet for ages, in short the clinic is a "trusted" vet clinic in the area. As told, she was checked by a uniformed clinic personel named May. Aja has no fever when checked and since she has no fever she was apparently injected by May with the yearly booster.



In less than 48 hours all were surprised to find Aja lifeless, dead. My grandmother was heartbroken and seeked a 2nd opinion on what Aja's sickness might have been that suddenly caused her death. It was told that sudden lack of energy in small breed of dogs particulary Chihuahuas are called hypoglycemia. This is an illness caused by a drop in blood sugar levels that happen quickly. Dropping blood sugar levels can cause weakness to a dog in which Aja experienced. And the immediate stabilizer for this? Simple. Just rub honey or corn syrup on the dog's gums to normalize the sugar level.



Apparently what the personel did was immediately inject her of the yearly dog booster rather than observing and performing more tests to know the dog's illness.



With this abrupt loss of a loving pet, they called the vet clinic to inquire about the person "May" who apparently checked and injected the dog. Found out that apparently she is not a registered Veterinarian Doctor but is practicing as such. An act which is against the law specifically stated in Sec. 30 of REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9268, Article IV:



Sec. 30. Unlawful Practice of Veterinary Medicine. - It shall be unlawful for any person to practice veterinary medicine and any of its allied branches, including veterinary dentistry, without a valid and existing Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card issued by the Board of Veterinary Medicine and the Commission.



As read in Sec. 33 : Any person who violates any provision of this Act and its rules and regulations shall, upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (50,000.00) nor more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (100,000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years or both fine and imprisonment for each and every offense at the discretion of the court.



Yes there are laws against veterinary malpractice, but ofcourse my grandmother didn't pursue anything legal against anyone. Losing a pet is hard enough for her. May this serve as a warning to pet owners. We love are pets like family and we don't want to lose them this way. Rest in Peace, Aja...