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Image provided by: Guilderland Public Library
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You set your we will help you create a map to Come and find out why the Guilderland RealtyUSA office was awarded \The Best Place to Work\ by the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce. ? iiSI^ Ph. 518.456.5777 1826 Weblern Ave. Guilderland, NY 12084 Sam the cat on one of his favorite resting spots. Sam died in January of unknown causes. His death led to a complaint from his owner, William Gosch, ofWesterlo, and a one-month suspension for his vet, Harry F. Prussner, by the New York State Department of Education. Prussner suspended Gosch accuses vet of poor practices By Matt Cook WESTERLO — Sam the cat led a long life plagued by health problems and capped by a mys- terious death that resulted in the suspension of his vet by the New York State Department of Education. A complaint from Sam's owner, William Gosch, of West- erlo, prompted an education- department investigation. Vet- erinarian Harry F. Prussner, of Greenville, admitted to two in- stances of professional negli- gence at his Meadowstone Vet- erinary Hospital. According to Prussner's application for a con- sent order, he treated Sam for hypothyroidism without a blood test in 1996 and allowed an unli- censed person to administer an intravenous saline solution in 2003. Although none of the docu- mentation says Prussner is re- sponsible for Sam's death, Prussner is subject to a 24- month suspension, 23 months of which have been stayed. He will resume work in May. His license is on probation for two years and he owes a $1,000 fine. Earlier this month, Prussner was removed from his post as Rensselaerville town vet and re- placed by Diane Biederman. Prussner claims that Gosch is the one guilty of negligence. Gosch continued to allow his cat outside despite the vet's warn- ings that Sam was eating game, which was backing up his excre- tory system with flesh and fur, Prussner said. \For years, I begged him not to let the cat out,\ Prussner said. Gosch took Sam to Prussner on Jan. 22 to relieve stool impac- tion. By Jan. 24, he was dead. According to the vet's records, Sam had had the procedure done several times before. During the nearly 15 years Gosch owned him, the cat made over a hun- dred trips to Prussner, about 30 of which were for an enema, a surgical procedure for cats, re- quiring anesthesia. The \unexpected and suspi- cious\ nature of Sam's death, Gosch said, convinced him to look into Prussner's practice. He decided to lodge a complaint with the state, Gosch told The Enterprise, because ; he thought it would be more effective than a lawsuit, which could only recover the cost of the cat. Sam was a \walk-on Gosch said, a stray cat who wandered into his life. Sam lived indoors and outdoors. \From the get-go,\ Gosch said, he was suspicious of Prussner's treatment. He con- tinued to take his cat to Pruss- ner, though, as a matter of con- venience. \It was the question of a 10- minute drive versus a 45-minute drive,\ Gosch said. determine if Sam had significant kidney disease, the report says. Prussner told The Enterprise that he first suggested kidney disease because it is one of the top killers of older cats. After reading the histopathology re- port, Prussner said, his best guess is hypoxia, loss of oxygen to the brain. Sam's death, Prussner said, may have been avoidable if Sam 'AH that 15 years of service, of keeping that cat going, has obviously been forgotten.' Diagnosis by treatment The charges relate to earlier actions taken by the vet. In 1996, Prussner started Sam on treatment for hypothyroidism, a common affliction of cats, with- out a blood test. Records say Sam was losing hair on his back legs on that date. Prussner told The Enterprise that, instead of doing blood tests, he chose another option recom- mended by veterinary texts. He administered hypothyroid medi- cation and monitored the cat's reaction. \Well Prussner said, \he re- acted favorably.\ When Sam's condition im- proved, Prussner concluded that hypothyroidism was present. In any case, Prussner said, the dose of medication Sam was taking could not have killed him. Without blood tests, however, the Department of Education could not confirm that Pruss- ner's diagnosis was correct. The unlicensed administration of intravenous fluid was in January of 2003. According to Prussner's records, a few days earlier, Sam started vomitting, drooling, and eating and drink- ing very little. While the cause of Sam's death is not documented, ac- cording to Gosch's complaint, Prussner said it was due to kid- ney failure. A histopathology exam Gosch had done on Sam's body at the Guilderland Animal Hospital says Sam suffered from a mild infection in his kidney. But, the report says, \The tissues do not explain the death in this case.\ Lab data would be necessary to hadn't required so many enemas over the years and so much an- esthesia. Also, Prussner said, af- ter the first signs of Sam's im- paction, Gosch waited a few days for Prussner to get back from a veterinary convention in Florida instead of taking the cat to an- other clinic. Gosch's complaint includes a long list of accusations not ad- dressed by the Department of Education. They include that Prussner operates an unlicensed animal crematorium, stores con- trolled substances in unsecured locations, and failed to document the type and amount of anesthe- sia he administered Sam. \Trashed\ Officials for the Department of Education wouldn't comment on the investigation or if other complaints have been lodged against the vet. Prussner has never before been subject to dis- ciplinary action from the state. Prussner, who has been prac- ticing for over 34 years, said his reputation and his practice has been \trashed\ by Gosch. \All that 15 years of service, of keeping that cat going, has obvi- ously been forgotten,\ Prussner said. As for his Rensselaerville post, Prussner said he was surprised to be removed after 10 years without a problem. The town didn't even notify him, he said. He learned of it from The Enter- prise. The town vet is responsible for the medical treatment the ani- mals under the care of the town's dog-control officer. \I've never had any problem with him,\ said Cheryl Tefft- Baitsholts, who holds that post.
