A veterinarian caused undue pain to two dogs last year when he began suturing their wounds before providing any anesthesia or other pain medication, according to a disciplinary order made public last month by the Board of Veterinary Medicine. Mac A. Dudley, 62, who practices at Brooklyn Pet Hospital in Brooklyn Center, administered anesthesia only after each dog, one male and one female, yelped in pain. The wounds had opened up after sterilization surgery on the dogs the day before.
The board also determined Dudley used the same unsterilized needle, suture material and instruments on both patients. An employee used the same rectal thermometer on both dogs without sterilizing it between procedures. One dog's surgical wound became infected. Dudley received a two-year suspension of his license that will only go into effect if he doesn't comply with stipulations made by the board. He must observe a minimum of 6 hours of anethesia and surgical procedures including the spay and neutering of various animals, as well as perform four sterilization procedures under the observation of a board-approved veterinarian. He must also undergo at least 20 hours of continuing education in anethesia and pain management and another 20 hours in surgical practice, including the use of proper suture material. Read the full report here.
