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Seida Valley Veterinarian Loses License for Incompetence, Negligence

Mobile Clinic Owner's Actions Led to the Deaths of Several Animals in Rural Area

SACRAMENTO — The owner of a Seida Valley area mobile pet clinic has lost his veterinarian's license after an investigation by the Department of Consumer Affairs' Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) into several botched surgeries and allegations of substandard practices.

An administrative law judge found Dr. Eugene M. Kravis acted incompetently and negligently while performing surgery on three dogs, two of which died as a result of the procedures. He revoked both Dr. Kravis' veterinary medical license and the permit for his Areawide Mobile Pet Clinic, effective December 7, 2006. Kravis was also ordered to pay the $12,882.75 cost of the VMB's investigation.

"The Department is very pleased with the result of the Board's investigation," said Charlene Zettel, Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). "The revocation underscores how importantly we view the high standards set by California vets."

The VMB's investigation found that Dr. Kravis had failed to properly place ligatures on a dog's uterine stump and pedicles during the spaying of a springer spaniel in July 2003, and removed a "potato-sized" tumor from another dog in April 2004, only to be unable to close or even properly dress the wound. The springer spaniel died as a result of Dr. Kravis' actions, while the other dog's death was hastened.

In another April 2004 case, Dr. Kravis failed to remove both ovaries from a dog brought in to be spayed and returned the animal to the owner in a still-heavily anesthetized state. He later failed to remove all stitches from the procedure. That dog survived, but another veterinarian had to remove the ovary that Dr. Kravis missed.

In the most recent case, in July 2005, Dr. Kravis treated a dog he diagnosed as suffering from heatstroke with a highly caustic drug designed exclusively for euthanizing animals. The dog died two days later.

The VMB also found that that Dr. Kravis failed to maintain proper medical records. In the case of the surgeries, investigators could find no record of Dr. Kravis having collected the animals' case histories, physical exam data and other information consistent with surgical procedures. The investigation also found Dr. Kravis' mobile clinic lacked the proper equipment to meet basic demands in the field — such as the treatment of heat stroke, allergic reactions, broken bones, lacerations and other common medical needs.

In his revocation order, the judge noted that Dr. Kravis had been fined by the VMB in 2001 for failure to ligate a dog's testicular vessels during a neuter procedure.

VMB Executive Officer Sue Geranen said that because of the nature of Dr. Kravis' practice, area consumers will likely have to travel for vet services, at least in the short term.

"Areawide Mobile Pet Clinic brought convenient veterinary services into a largely rural and underserved area. But the Board believes — and we think pet-lovers will agree — that substandard care is too great a price to pay for convenience," said Geranen said.

The mission of the Veterinary Medical Board is to provide protection for consumers and animals through proper licensing of veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians, and through vigorous, objective enforcement of the California Veterinary Practice Act. Learn more on the Board's Web site at www.vmb.ca.gov.

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