Many suffered and at least one died. Veterinary malpractice and fraud most likely led to a Jack Russell Terrier named Jojo’s massive heart attack. Jojo’s owner tried his best to save him by giving Jojo CPR for 40 minutes but failed. The hospital was understaffed with only one Veterinarian on duty. This caused timely delays in diagnostics and the hospital never stabilized Jojo’s condition.  How is it possible that every pet received the standard of care they deserved? They didn’t and the staff’s treatment of the animals was shocking and their conduct was outrageous,” according to a customer of the Animal Hospital.

– Justice 4 Jojo

 

                                                                                         Agoura Hills Animal Hospital’s treatment fell below the standard of care.

The violations of the Veterinary Medical Act are listed below:

• • Failure to diagnose, failure to treat, failure to first consider the needs of the patient who is suffering and in serious pain.

• • Failure to order diagnostic testing – veterinary negligence

• • Failure to use the “ON-SITE LABORATORY” which is advertised on AHAH company’s website (agouravet.com) and the AHAH staff promised this service to Jojo on a conference call between referring DVM Fulop and I. 

• • Failure to disclose the non-operating services. AHAH fraudulent concealment; the staff told me in an email (10-10-22) that they were aware that the website was misleading. The website hasn’t been updated in years, I was told.

• • Failure to use the same day blood test results required to further treat the patient in the emergency situations which the AHAH staff agreed to provide on the conference call between DVM Fulop and I on 10-05-22

• • Failure to provide a safe environment for a senior dog in critical condition presenting signs of a life threatening heart disease. (Panting, tachycardia, pale gums, lethargy, not able to support his own weight….)

• • Failure to recognize and adequately evaluate Jojo in which they had 7 hours to do so. 

• • Failure to discharge a patient according to the standard of veterinary care. The patient who’s chief complaint, respiratory distress was never  stabilized. AHAH prematurely discharged Jojo who was in critical condition and in need of emergency care. Why wasn’t the standard medical treatment for CHF utilized in the treatment of Jojo? Why didn’t the hospital staff refer Jojo to an emergency hospital if they couldn’t provide the appropriate care?

• • Failure to notify client and get authorization for a unnecessarily surgery/procedure

• • Failure to follow the Referring Veterinarian Course of treatment – veterinary negligence

• • Failure to review patients history which AHAH had in their possession since 10-05-22 Both DVM Fulop and I sent the medical records to AHAH. I called on 10-05-22 to confirm receipt

• • Failure to refer patient to a 24hr emergency medical facility

• • Failure to hold a dog correctly who’s suffering from CHF. AHAH Vet Tech held Jojo incorrectly when she returned Jojo to us. 

• • Failure to prescribe the correct medications for a senior dog in distress with tachycardia – veterinary negligence

• • Failure to follow established protocol in treating CHF which includes administering oxygen and IV fluid. 

• • Failure to prescribe the correct medication to treat CHF. Vetmedin which DVM Berry prescribed Jojo can cause death in a senior dog. Jojo died after consuming his first dose. We suspect fraud. We believe DVM Goldman and DVM Berry received a kickback for prescribing Vetmedin. Why else would they prescribe a drug which takes months to start working. How about something to stabilize his current condition?

• • Animal abuse, “ Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly fails to provide medical attention necessary to prevent protracted suffering to any animal under the person’s custody or control.” Jojo had tachycardia 160+bpm and when I questioned DVM Goldman’s ethics, she simply shrugged her shoulders and said ,” I can do nothing until I have his blood work!”  DVM Goldman wrongfully discharged Jojo who was just hours away from death.

• • Animal Abuse, “ Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly inflicts unnecessary physical injury to any animal.” DVM Goldman performed an unnecessary unauthorized procedure inflicting pain on a critically injured animal. When we picked up Jojo (10-06-22) he was panting and his heart rate was 160+ bpm. His body was lifeless. I had to carry him with no support.

• • Animal Abuse “Cruel mistreatment” means to inflict unnecessary serious physical injury on an animal in a manner that causes protracted suffering to the animal. The Animal Hospital knew Jojo suffered from separation anxiety yet they stuck him in a locked cage for 6+. We agreed it would take no more than an hour. I begged the staff 3 times to please allow me to stay with Jojo. I said, I could stay and  hold him in the waiting room or my vehicle. The hospital manager said it would be quick, Jojo would not be caged and she promised me a phone call within the hour. Well 1 hour turned into 6+ hours and that phone call never happened. 

• • Failure to stabilize a patient ( life threatening Tachycardia) prior to discharge. It was a violation of the veterinary licensing statute to discharge Jojo in critical condition without properly treating CHF and stabilizing Jojo’s tachycardia. The needs of Jojo were neglected and Jojo suffered intense pain and died violently. 

• • Failure to properly manage a hospital facility which was understaffed. The waiting room was full at 3:30pm and they closed at 4:00pm. Staff was disorganized.

• • Failure to provide a safe environment for an animal in distress.

• • Failed to communicate Jojo’s deteriorating condition to us following observation of Jojo’s “semi-comatose” state,  to discuss treatment and/or referral options. 

• • Failure to establish a VCPR with their client

• • Failure to take ANY steps to STABILIZE the patient prior to discharge is a departure from accepted veterinary practices.

• • Failure to fulfill a Bailee’s duty

• • Failure to take steps to minimize the pain, suffering and to stabilize Jojo’s heart rate was a departure from accepted veterinary practices.