From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-01-12 02:13:43 UTC
Subject: RE: Death from Vet Visit
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3394678.1042337623513.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Author wrote:
> > I took her to another vet, and asked for an autopsy. I just got the results back today.
> She died, because of massive internal bleeding from a stick in the heart. Her body also showed other stick marks in other areas, but what killed her, according to the autopsy was the stick to the heart. He stated that taking blood from the heart is what is sometimes done to lab animals, and it usually kills them. He also stated that that, the man should NOT have taken blood that way.
Dear Harold: Cardiac sticks are done extremely uncommon, and usually only when a large amount of blood is required, such as for a transfusion. I really have not heard of anyone needing to do this for any form of routine bloodwork - it is certainly outside of the practice norm.
I think this is a case where you should talk to the vet directly, rather than asking others what his reasons were. Unfortunately, we can tell you why it might be necesary in clinical practice, but this is very much out of the ordinary.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM