Veterinarian Punished After Extracting 19 Teeth from Dog Without Consent

A Montreal veterinarian is now facing disciplinary action following a 2018 incident involving a massive tooth extraction operation performed on a Yorkshire terrier without the owner's consent.

According to CTV News, the dog owner—whose name remains anonymous—reportedly dropped off their pet, Joaquim, with Dr. Myreille Gauvin at the Clinique Veterinaire Jarry for a routine dental appointment.

Upon returning to the office to pick up the dog, however, the owner was reportedly "visibly upset" to learn that Dr. Gauvin had extracted 19 of Joaquim's teeth without their permission.

"I had explained to Joaquim's owner that it was probable that extractions would be required," Dr. Gauvin later explained in a statement. "But I admit that I did not obtain his consent before actually proceeding with the extraction of the 19 teeth."

After learning about the dental surgery, the owner reportedly took Joaquim out of Dr. Gauvin's care, before the pup could even have its catheter removed, or be prescribed painkillers and antibiotics. The owner then took Joaquim to another veterinarian, Dr. Keenan Pedneault, for an assessment. According to Dr. Pedneault, "there were only two stitches visible in the animal's mouth. All other extraction sites are left open."

The unexpected extractions and undressed wounds were not the only issues found with Joaquim's care. Apparently, Dr. Gauvin did not perform an X-ray on the pup prior to the operation, and the subsequent painkillers given to Joaquim were said to not be up to code. Performing an X-ray would have been a necessary step in gathering a complete picture of Joaquim's health and determining the best steps forward for the dog's care, say her owners.

In response to the allegations, Dr. Gauvin has said that since the incident, she always stitches up extraction sites. She added that "at the time, the clinic did not have a dental X-ray machine," meaning that an X-ray would not have been possible.

"I now routinely do dental X-rays before tooth extraction," she said, having bought a machine since the incident. She also noted that she now always receives owners' consent before performing operations like teeth extractions.

Quebec's veterinarian disciplinary council has put Dr. Gauvin on a "three-week delisting period." She will also have to pay a fine of $5,500 CAD, in addition to legal fees and some of Joaquim's veterinary costs.

This certainly isn't the first time a veterinarian has come under fire for questionable practices. In one of the most extreme cases, a vet in 2019 was caught injecting puppies with liquid heroin so they could be used as drug mules.

Uncommon Knowledge

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