Regina veterinarian under fire after questionable assessments

WATCH: Former clients of the Northgate Animal Hospital are speaking out about their poor experiences with one vet at the clinic. Mick Favel has more.

A Regina veterinarian is under fire after three former clients of the Northgate Animal Hospital came forward with their experiences.

The complaints span a four-year period.

Aliyah Lush said her cat was sneezing and having trouble breathing. It was also sleeping a lot and not eating.

On April 21 of this year, Lush brought her cat to the Northgate Animal Hospital where she was seen by Dr. Davinder Bath.

After an examination by Bath, Lush was given medications for the cat.

“We thought that everything was okay and then all of a sudden she began to get worse,” Lush said.

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Within a few days, the cat regressed.

After seeking a second opinion from another veterinarian, it was determined the cat had a fever.

The pet was given fluids, steroids and antibiotics. Within 24 hours, Lush’s cat began to recover.

“I don’t think it would end as well if we didn’t get that second opinion. The fever alone could have done bad damage,” she said.

In 2022, Jennifer Buchanan brought her injured dog to the Northgate Animal Hospital.

She says Dr. Bath made an assessment and told Buchanan the dog needed surgery to fix the wound.

Buchanan declined the surgery and sought a second opinion. This led to finding out the dog did not need surgery.

The unneeded surgery for her dog led Buchanan to creating the Facebook page, “Revoke Dr. Bath’s Veterinary License.”

Since its creation, the group has more than 1,000 members.

Buchanan encourages the public to file a complaint to the Saskatchewan Veterinarian Medical Association (SVMA) if a vet makes a serious mistake.

“This is the only way that anything is going to be done. The more complaints they have, the more factual basis we have to go on,” she told CTV News.

Ryleah Leeper filed a complaint against Dr. Bath which eventually reached the discipline committee of the SVMA.

In May of 2020, Leeper took her cat to the Northgate Animal Hospital due to it being sluggish and lethargic.

Dr. Bath determined the cat’s bladder had ruptured and needed surgery.

The cat was returned with a wound on its back. The wound would later grow larger and required two more surgeries.

The cause of the wound was determined to be from a heating pad which malfunctioned during the bladder surgery done by Dr. Bath.

“I made a claim with the SVMA in regard to his mistreatment of my cat,” Leeper said.

The SVMA report concluded Dr. Bath made four breaches, including failing to provide veterinary care that is appropriate and adequate.

Danish Shah is the legal representative of Dr. Bath and says there are allegations against his client which have not gone through the proper channels.

Shah says many allegations, particularly online, do not give Dr. Bath the opportunity to explain himself and respond in that forum.

“I don’t think he has been given the opportunity to say what he has to say or address it,” he explained.

“The Northgate Animal Hospital is transparent and open to how their process works. The public is permitted to look at the clinic and assess whether they want to bring their pets. The clinic holds no animosity towards anyone.”

Shah encourages anyone with concerns to use the proper methods and contact the SVMA.

“I am a huge supporter of everyone having the ability to complain in the appropriate forum,” he added. “But also the person who the complaint is made against having the ability to respond in that forum, and then a process that’s followed.”