A trip to the groomers resulted in the death of my sweet Hulk :(
Submitted by RememberingHulk on July 3, 2011 - 2:54pm
I took my 3 year old English Bulldog to the groomers to get his nails clipped and when I went back to pick him up he was gasping for air and his tongue was blue! I rushed him to the vet and it was too late, he didn't make it! This has been the hardest thing that I've had to go through! I feel so lost without my Hulk! The vet told me that he had a collapsed trachea causing him not to breathe. The groomer uses a grooming table with a collar and leash attached to prevent him from biting them as they clip his nails and the only thing I can determine is that the collar crushed his trachea! My question is what are my legal options with this? Has anyone ever sued a groomer for malpractice? No money will ever replace my hulk but I feel like they should have to pay for what they did to my baby!!
OMG!
I AM IN SHOCK! So very sorry for your loss of beautiful Hulk.
Your sweet Hulk
I am so sorry for the loss of your Dear Hulk.
Hulk...
This must be reported...it will only happen to another dog with similar respiratory sensitivity..your local humane society should be able to give you advice. I am so sorry for your loss....but do not tolerate this...I owned a bulldog for 13 years, they are very sensitive creatures....
Hi...My bulldog has a joint infection, left front leg. She had some swelling above the joint...I thought it was stress related...maybe even an old fracture from jumping off beds....but she is positive for sepsis in the joint. She is on antibiotics, being rs at a vet who specializes in bulldogs and I am just prayiing for the best. Thanks
So sorry to hear :(
That is devastating! I agree that no amount of money will replace him but something must be done. If you can save even one dog from this it is worth it. Try your local humane society or your local ASPCA chapter. I know that from now on I will be keeping a close eye on my Hank at the groomers. I'm so sorry for your loss I nothing can replace them!!
I'm so sorry!
I'm so sorry to hear of your devastating loss ofyour sweet Hulk. He was a very cute boy!! I don't really have any advice, but the idea to contact your local ASPCA seems like a good starting point to get things moving. That groomer definitely needs to know what has happened and how to prevent that so no one else has to go through your terrible loss.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Shannon and Winston :)
My swimming bully buddy!
Heartsick
I'm so sorry for your loss. What a bad experience. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Peggy and Stoney
OMG, I am SO, SO sorry!! My heart breaks for you!!!! Hulk
was such a sweet boy......Many, many ((( HUGS )))
Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!) ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!
And SOPHIE Bubbles *Rapscallion* (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
I'M SOOOOO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS!!!!!! I have tears in my eyes just thinking of what you're going thru!!!! Have these people ever done his nails b4? They should DEFINETLY be told of what you loss and what that means to you!!!! No of course you can't replace him, but they need to know!!!!! Same as everyones comments - call your local aspca....... Poor guy...... god bless you & your Hulk!
curious
did the groomer say "Anything" when he was doing the gasping or try to help?
The groomer said that he was
The groomer said that he was perfectly fine before she put him on the table to clip his nails and when she was done he was gasping for air and his tongue started to turn blue! She called me to let me know about it and I rushed over to get him, but what I don't understand is why didn't they rush him over to the vet as soon as this happened! When I got there he was laying in the floor gasping and wheezing and his tongue was blue and I paniced! I rushed him to the vet but it was too late :( This has been so hard to accept that my baby isn't coming back! I miss his snoring and snorting :( it's too quiet in my house now and I can't stand it! I was in shock for 2 days and didn't think to report it and I hope it's not too late! I'm going to make some phone calls tomorrow because something needs to be done so this doesn't happen again!
please do...
and update us. this sounds like the groomers fault on many levels
Silverback's Immaculate Interception, "James"
O M F G!
I had to stay away for a day after I read this, it is so upsetting. I do not know how you are supposed to deal with this and not go insane with grief and anger.
First of all, you have my absolute heartfelt condolences.
Second of all, I hope you sue their asses for everything they have for such gross handling of your boy Hulk! They have absolutely NO EXCUSE. No it will not bring your boy back, but they should NOT be able to just go about their business and life after they killed your dog!
{{hugs}} I am just so sorry.
Cathy and Audrey
How devestating!
I am so SO sorry that you are going through this, it is unthinkable. Why didn't the groomer call you right away? Had he ever had an episode like this before??
If the vet said it was a collapsed trachea, it sounds like injury from the collar, and NOT something that he was predisposed to. Which means, I would consider a legal claim, even though ALL of the money in the world can not replace him. I am sure you have head it many times before, but Hulk was a gorgeous boy! I am so sorry that this happened. I worry about this all of the time with one of my bulldogs, it is very scray to think how quickly it can happen.
So sad
I'm so sorry to hear this happened. :(
I am so sorry,
My heart is breaking for you and your family...such a horrible, horrible loss. I googled "pets legal aid" and a combination of words like that and there were some options. I would also call a personal claims lawyer and explain yoru case. Usually they will l et you know if you have a case they can prosecute, and if not they will make a reference.
I hope this helps. I really hope you can make them pay somehow. And again, I am so sorry.
Silverback's Immaculate Interception, "James"
so so so sorry!!!!!!!!....
so so so sorry!!!!!!!!.... something so routine should have ended in your baby boy's death... you should absolutely report it 100% and sue!.. no it wont bring him back, but it will serve to help future animals that go to that horrific place!!!.. Dozer and i will say an animal prayer for you and your little boy...
a prayer for u and your family...
"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together..."
Nicole and Dozer.
Nicole, Dozer and baby harley <3
damn -this makes me so mad...i had a similar thing happen..
but i was with Wyatt while they were trimming..i asked them to NOT put that "noose" around his neck..they didn't listen..they told me to please be quiet as i was upsetting my dog! I watched Wyatt quietly, for like 2 minutes, and saw his tongue going blue - - i told the jerk that my dog wasn't able to breath, he asked me to calm down - i gave him MORE than a couple choice 4-letter words, jumped over the counter, ripped the dog gone noose off him and ran out of the shop with Wyatt. NO ONE tells me how to handle my dog! No sir! Wyatt wa sfine in a couple minutes -thank god...
I'm SO sorry you are dealing with this...my fear was exactly why i insistedf on being there while they trimmed his toenails..
i certainly hope they AT LEAST apologized - nothing will ever be enough...i am so sorry for your loss...
Just Devastating News
I'm so sorry your your senseless loss. Unfortunately most groomers do not have enough bulldog knowledge to know it a noose is used it must not be tight on a bulldog. There are many breeds that can be "noosed up" but a bulldog is not one of them. The other concern with groomers is their drying crates. A bulldog should never go into a drying crate.
These groomers at stores like PetCo and Petsmart are just kids with no real dog experience.
I always encourage people to learn how to do (clip or dremel) toenails and give baths themselves.
Sorry for your loss of Hulk. It is very sad.
same exact thing happened to me
Im so sorry for your loss - my very 1st bulldog Jake died the exact same way. I took him to the groomers to get his nails clipped. He was wearing a harness but they put a choke chain and a muzzle on him. He suffocated to death. It was horrible. worst thing that ever happened to me. It took me 13 years before I got another bulldog so my heart goes out to you.
so sorry
We are so sorry to hear about what happened. We will keep u and ur family in our thoughts!
Goshh sitting here reading this
makes me sad, i pray that comfort and peace will be with you during this time.
This happened to me also......but I got lucky
I could not believe my eyes when I saw this post. The same thing happened to me last September. I took my two dogs to the groomer to get their nails done, noone was around so I stayed with them to learn how to dremel myself at home. Now I am so glad I did because had I not I would be in your shoes. I noticed a change in my bulldog (Otis) breathing and knew something was wrong, he was loosing color in his toungue. The groomer didn't even notice anything was wrong! I had her get me a cart and I rushed him to the car and then to the closest vet that thankfully was right down the street. I called ahead and they were ready for him. They said his temp was 105 and they had to get him cooled down ASAP. They gave him an iv and cooled him in the tub. I was sobbing and the vet was amazing, they kept sending a tech out to update me. It took about an hour and $100.00 (best money I ever spent) and we were on our way. I was so happy to see him again and am thankfull every day to still have him with me. I am so very sorry that two of you lost your sweet bullies, my heart breaks for you. I know that he will never have his nails done anywhere but home again!
AmberandOtis
Same story
I just had the same thing happen to my beautiful bulldog puppy, Dozer... He was fine before they took him back to clip his nails, they came back to tell my wife that he was bleeding from his mouth and nose... My wife rushed him to the animal hospital, but it was too late. Worse still, we had a necropsy done that came back pretty ambiguous as far as an exact cause...??? I talked to the groomers owner who took two weeks to tell me that it wasn't their fault. I'm devastated and lost.... What did you do about Hulk?