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SunSeeker

(51,295 posts)
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 07:44 PM Feb 2014

Family Sues Petco After Calif. Boy, 10, Dies from Rat Bite Fever

The family of a 10-year-old-boy who died from rat bite fever is now suing Petco for the boy’s death. Aiden Pankey died last summer from rat bite fever, a disease reportedly carried by a rodent purchased from a Petco in San Diego, Calif., according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

...
Two weeks after buying the male rat, the boy was struck with what his grandmother called “flu-like symptoms” and died over the course of 48 hours.
...

“I put him to bed after a day at the doctor’s office and the next thing I knew it just was too late,” she said. ”I went into his room and he couldn’t speak. He was unstable on his feet. I got him down to my room and he collapsed on the floor. I called 911 because it was scaring me that his breathing was shallow and he seemed to be losing his ability to function.”

The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office said in a report issued to ABC News that “despite aggressive resuscitative efforts, death was pronounced.”


http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/02/family-sues-petco-after-calif-boy-10-dies-from-rat-bite-fever/

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Family Sues Petco After Calif. Boy, 10, Dies from Rat Bite Fever (Original Post) SunSeeker Feb 2014 OP
... CFLDem Feb 2014 #1
This sort of thing is partly why I quit treating pocket pets in my practice. kestrel91316 Feb 2014 #2
 

CFLDem

(2,083 posts)
1. ...
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 07:54 PM
Feb 2014


My rats were awesome pets. It's too bad this tragedy happened. I hope it doesn't discourage any potential responsible rat guardians.
 

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)
2. This sort of thing is partly why I quit treating pocket pets in my practice.
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 08:51 PM
Feb 2014

I was worried about forgetting to tell pocket pet owners about some obscure disease risk or another and getting sued, in spite of malpractice insurance.

I don't need the headache or to get my name dragged through the mud in the LA Times, lol.

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