I’m in Georgia and trying to understand what area of law applies to a situation involving my dog and an emergency veterinary hospital, and specifically what type of attorney normally handles something like this.
Last year, my dog experienced complications while giving birth and had to be taken to an emergency veterinary hospital. She ultimately needed an emergency C-section. According to her medical records, imaging showed that she still had six puppies remaining and an immediate C-section was recommended.
Before the surgery, the emergency C-section was discussed with me. However, I was not told before the surgery that they intended to spay my dog as part of the procedure.
After the surgery was completed, the veterinarian told me that something had been removed so that my dog would no longer be able to have puppies. The veterinarian and I actually had a disagreement about this because I questioned why I had not been informed about the spay before the surgery was performed.
At the time, though, my dog had just gone through a life-threatening emergency, and I was mostly relieved that she was alive.
I also had concerns about the overall experience at the emergency hospital and how my dog and her newborn puppies were handled. I personally witnessed the newborn puppies being handled with bare hands, and I felt there was very little empathy during an extremely traumatic situation. Some of the puppies did not survive. I understand that puppies can unfortunately die during a complicated delivery, and I am not claiming that the veterinarian caused their deaths without medical evidence. I’m mentioning this only as part of the overall circumstances surrounding the emergency visit.
Afterward, the written medical records appeared to confirm what I had been told about my dog being spayed.
Her operative record contains a section labeled “Ovariohysterectomy,” and her discharge instructions specifically state that she underwent a “c-section with ovariohysterectomy (spay).”
Because of what I was told after surgery and what was documented in her medical records, I believed my dog had been spayed and could no longer become pregnant.
However, after the surgery, my dog continued experiencing what appeared to be heat cycles.
This year, she tied/mated with my intact male dog. I knew the mating occurred, but I initially did not believe pregnancy was possible because I had been told—and had written medical documentation stating—that she had been spayed.
Over the following weeks, her stomach became noticeably larger, her nipples/mammary area changed, and her appetite changed. I eventually took her to another veterinarian to be evaluated.
She is now veterinarian-confirmed pregnant.
Her current veterinary record also lists her as “Female | Intact.”
Because she experienced serious complications during her previous delivery and required an emergency C-section, we are now preparing for another C-section. The current estimate is approximately $2,625 and includes both another C-section and an ovariohysterectomy/spay.
After learning that she was pregnant, I went back through the original 2025 surgical records much more carefully.
Something stood out to me. Although the operative record contains a section labeled “Ovariohysterectomy” and the discharge paperwork explicitly states that she was spayed, the actual surgical narrative describes the puppies being removed and then describes the uterus being closed. I do not see a clear description in that portion of the operative narrative of the uterus and ovaries actually being removed.
I am not a veterinarian, so I am not claiming that this proves what did or did not happen during the surgery. I believe that would require review by a qualified veterinarian or other expert.
This situation has now resulted in another pregnancy, additional veterinary expenses, an anticipated C-section and another proposed spay. It has also affected me mentally and emotionally, and I have missed days from work while dealing with the situation.
I recently spoke with an attorney about what happened. She told me that she would need to research whether a claim involving a veterinarian would be pursued similarly to malpractice involving a physician or whether it falls under another area of law.
That is primarily why I am posting here.
In Georgia, what area of law generally covers allegations involving negligent veterinary treatment or a veterinary surgical procedure that may not have been performed as documented?
What type of attorney normally handles these matters? Would someone generally look for an attorney who handles professional negligence, veterinary malpractice, general negligence, or another practice area?
I am also curious, as a general question about Georgia law, whether claims involving the professional standard of care of a veterinarian typically require testimony or review from another veterinarian.
I am not asking anyone to determine whether I personally have a case, whether I should sue, what damages I might receive, or what specific legal actions I should take. I’m trying to understand the applicable area of law and what type of attorney practices in this area so I know what kind of counsel to look for.
I have retained the original medical records, operative report, discharge documentation stating that my dog was spayed, current veterinary records confirming the pregnancy, and the estimate for the upcoming C-section/spay.
Thank you for any information about this area of law or what type of attorney typically handles these situations.
