Gizmo's Story
Gizmo passed away on October 12, 2009. He suffered for 3 1/2 years under the “care” of DR. R.DENNIS HEALD of Gulf Coast Texas Veterinary Specialists, in Houston , Texas . Gizmo was a very brave and loyal little Shih Tzu, who, with competent and responsible care, would still be with us today.
This all started at the end of the year, in 2005. Gizmo was being watched by a teen-aged neighbor of ours, who was trying to make some spending money for herself. Gizmo went through a hole in her fence and was loose for a while on the bayou, where he picked up some ticks. ( He was also in contact with her miniature rabbit, who , possibly, could have passed on some bacterial infection to Gizmo.) The groomer found the ticks on the inside of his thigh and removed them. They had been on him for some time- enough time to pass on an infection.
In December, 2005, I brought him to our regular vet because he was lethargic and appeared unwell. Blood tests indicated he had some sort of infection. A tick screen was done but came back negative for tick disease.( However, ticks can pass on all sorts of infections. ) My vet sent us to GCTVS for evaluation. DR.R.DENNIS HEALD became Gizmo’s doctor in February, 2006.
Dr. Heald’s records, which I requested after Gizmo’s tragic death, stated that Gizmo presented with lethargy, and something else, a CARDIAC MURMUR. Gizmo , at eight years old , had no previous history of a heart murmur. This should have been a signal to the doctor that this symptom, the murmur, was the problem. He chose to IGNORE THE HEART SYMPTOM. He did not CONSIDER, EVALUATE OR TREAT this sign of Gizmo’s illness. He did not send us to a veterinary cardiologist during the 3 ½ year period as Gizmo’s murmur went from mild , involving one heart valve, to CRITICAL, involving three leaking heart valves . The heart problem , LEFT UNTREATED BY DR.HEALD, destroyed Gizmo’s heart function. But read on. This was DR. HEALD’S FIRST CRITICAL MISTAKE and there are more.
THE DIAGNOSIS
Dr. Heald chose to ignore the heart murmur as a “clue” to Gizmo’s correct diagnosis. Instead, he diagnosed ” PROBABLE” AUTOIMMUNE JOINT DISEASE (HIS OWN REPORTS) as Gizmo’s diagnosis. He based this on the fact that Gizmo was not running and jumping on things as he used to. However, according to his own records, he was “unable to elicit discomfort” when he manipulated Gizmo’s joints. Joint pain being a symptom , of course, of A.D.J.! Gizmo WAS lethargic, so it was understandable that he didn’t have the STRENGTH to run and jump, An infection of the heart would cause lethargy. I believe that Gizmo had a bacterial infection of the heart valves which COULD and SHOULD HAVE BEEN TREATED IMMEDIATELY. DR.HEALD’S MISDIAGNOSIS OF “A.D.J” INSTEAD OF A HEART PROBLEM , WAS HIS SECOND CRITICAL MISTAKE.
" THE TREATMENT “
1. PREDNISONE
Dr. Heald prescribed PREDNISONE, a steroid and immunosuppressant drug that acts on almost the entire Immune system, and , in effect, shuts it down. It is much too powerful a drug to be given to an animal with “probable” (Dr. Heald’s words) Autoimmune Joint Disorder. He should have conferred with other Specialists at Gulf Coast at that time if his guess was only"PROBABLE" A.D.J. Dr. Heald, for his own reasons, failed to take this necessary step. YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GROSS MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE. He chose, instead, to treat Gizmo with TOXIC drugs for a disease he wasn't sure that my dog had!! Gizmo would suffer and perish, not from A.J.D., BUT FROM THE DRUGS THAT DR. HEALD USED TO TREAT IT.
The DEVASTATING SIDE EFFECTS that Gizmo suffered from PREDNISONE were as follows:
*Soft tissue damage of the ligament in his shoulder , which caused Gizmo a severe limp. The Orthopedic Surgeon confided in me and said it was a result of the Prednisone. An operation on the shoulder, a series of Adequan injections, and many weeks of physical therapy failed to help the limp. Dr. Heald referred to the ligament damage as Gizmo’s “other” problem, and never acknowledged that it was a Prednisone side effect!
*Gizmo developed a “buffalo hump” characteristic of long term use of Prednisone. (Osteoporosis is a side effect of Prednisone.)
*Prednisone can cause high blood pressure, and since Gizmo had a heart murmur ( leaking heart valves) the added effect on his heart would have been very detrimental.
*Prednisone side effects include eye problems . Gizmo developed eye problems while taking it, and Dr. Heald sent us to an eye specialist. This specialist prescribed “Cyclosporin”, which I now know, is another IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT. The doctors were wiping out my dog’s immune functioning, leaving his body with no natural defenses!
2. AZATHIAPRINE
The other drug that Dr. Heald prescribed was Azathiaprine. It is another IMMUNOSUPRESSANT drug. It was so toxic that I needed to wear gloves when I administered it to Gizmo. It is used as an anti Cancer drug, (but Gizmo did not have Cancer!) Like the Prednisone, the Azathiaprine decimated Gizmo’s immune system, with DEVASTATING AND DEADLY SIDE EFFECTS, as follow:
*CANCEROUS LESIONS OF THE SKIN In May, 2009 Dr. Heald referred me to the Dermatology department at GCTVS. The Dermatologist diagnosed Gizmo’s numerous skin lesions as “non-cancerous.” ( Skin lesions are a side-effect of the Azathiaprine. ) However , the lesions later changed from white or pink to brown, indicative of LYMPHOMA, another HORRIFIC side effect of the drug, and from which Gizmo suffered.
* MEDIASTONAL LYMPHOMA In September, 2009, I took Gizmo to a Cardiologist (on my own advisement). She did an ultrasound of his heart , and found that three out of four of the heart valves were leaking blood, seriously affecting the circulation throughout his body. The Cardiologist gave Gizmo blood pressure medication, but the severe damage due to LACK OF TREATMENT had put him in critical condition. She also gave me the tragic news that Gizmo had a large 3 cm. cancer (Lymphoma ) in his chest. LYMPHOMA, A SIDE EFFECT OF THE AZATHIAPRINE. She told me that the lymphoma was in its final stages, as well. My poor dog was DYING FROM A TREATABLE HEART CONDITION, AND A DRUG-INDUCED CANCER caused by TOXIC DRUGS he didn’t need!
CONCLUDING REMARKS
As the Cardiologist predicted, Gizmo passed away about six weeks after we saw her. Unfortunately, all the time and effort spent, and all the costly treatments over the years, (which I paid for gladly) were ineffectual in undoing the damage that the IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS did to Gizmo’s body. The autoimmune joint disease diagnosis was a pathetic attempt by Dr. Heald to latch on to a diagnosis without the accompanying PROOF of its’ existence! Furthermore, as Gizmo’s heart condition worsened , his lethargy continued , and he showed more and more side-effects from the drugs, Dr.Heald could only look dumb-founded! I guess he was. And he is the “specialist.”
In the last months of his life, when Gizmo’s Heart murmur got very much worse and he was mysteriously losing weight (Cancer), I took Gizmo to a Homeopathic Doctor . ( She is also a Licensed Vet.) . After the exam, she told me that what she saw was a “critically ill heart patient.” Dr. Heald, who was seeing Gizmo regularly , had never said that to me. In his personal records, Dr. Heald wrote, way back on Jan.22,2007, “Prognosis Guarded.” Yet, in all the Patient’s Reports that I received after each visit, Dr. Heald NEVER said Gizmo had a dismal or “guarded” prognosis! I should have been informed of my dog’s condition. And WHY was Gizmo’s prognosis guarded? Dr. Heald should have discussed this with me. I had a right to know so that I could make informed decisions about my pet’s care! Dr. Heald’s lack of candor was totally unprofessional, if not unethical.
The Homeopathic Doctor put Gizmo on preparations to support his heart , immune system, and for added nourishment as he was losing too much weight. We also knew about the Cancer at this time, and I knew these remedies wouldn’t hurt Gizmo, but would not save him either. But, she did inform me that if she had been treating Gizmo when he first got ill,(assuming that Dr. Heald’s diagnosis of “autoimmune joint disease” was correct, which it wasn‘t), she would have given him IMMUNITY BOOSTERS not dangerous IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS. Her approach allows the body to heal itself. The IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NOT DESTROYED. It sounds like a sensible and safe alternative to toxic drugs like Prednisone and Azathiaprine. If you are a pet owner who believes your pet has A.J.D., you have this TREATMENT OPTION to consider. This might be very useful information for some of you.
At this point, I stopped the Immunosuppressants. The Homeopathic Doctor put Gizmo on natural, “emergency Adrenal support” because when an animal has been on long-term Immunosuppressants, it is unlikely that the Adrenal Glands (part of the Immune System) will be able to function on their own when the medicines are stopped.
Gizmo left us at age 11. Some might surmise that this is an old age for a dog. However small dogs can live "well” into their teens. As an example, a neighbor of mine has a small dog who gets around quite well at 17 years old. And Gizmo’s suffering started at eight years of age and got worse, not better, under Dr. Heald’s supervision. I therefore, do not pay attention to any “old age” arguments on Gizmo’s passing.
I have written this as a word of caution for pet owners who have the RIGHT to expect competent, responsible and compassionate treatment for their pets.
I have written this because of DR. R.DENNIS HEALD whose NEGLIGENCE AND INCOMPETENCE caused the needless suffering and death of our beloved pet.
I have written this for Gizmo.