Open letter to Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) Singapore 

We are writing to appeal to the authorities to review the framework and governance of pet healthcare in Singapore to ensure an acceptable level of care is adhered to by our veterinarian clinics. This is so that pet owners can have more assurance that the well-being of their pets is being properly taken care of.

At the time of writing, our pet dog, Ah Bee, has unfortunately already left us. While we recognize that he was already in ill health and that his days were numbered, the circumstances leading to his departure have left us devastated and saddled with immeasurable guilt and regret.

In May 2021, Ah Bee underwent elective cataract surgery with Mount Pleasant Group. The surgery was unsuccessful as he developed glaucoma through a complication. Instead of improving his vision, he was left blind in his operated eye. His health also started going downhill from then on and he was hospitalized on at least 3 occasions.

During his second hospitalization in December, he developed infection in both his operated eye and ears. When the vet was queried on why the infection was not picked up during 6 days of admission, she informed us that their focus was treating his vomiting and diarrhoea and it was not routine to check these areas. While this issue was not directly related to his death, this is an unacceptable standard of care.

On his last hospital admission at Mount Pleasant, he was discharged with a heart failure medication which was meant for another dog. We had unfortunately not noticed this error and only found out about it one day after he was euthanized. The side effects of this medication include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea and this corresponds to the symptoms he was exhibiting in his final days. We also suspect that the dosage of this medication was meant for a larger sized dog and the side effects of this would have been more serious in dogs with kidney disease which Ah Bee clearly had.

We are utterly disappointed and disillusioned by the process failure at Mount Pleasant hospital. We looked through past records and uncovered more errors such as the issuance of a bill previously bearing someone else's name and address. While it might seem a trivial matter to be handed a wrong bill, it goes to show that staff at Mount Pleasant do not have a proper countercheck system in place.

As a pet owner and a medical professional myself, I am aware of the dangers of such malpractice on patient outcome.

As such, I would urge the authorities to:

• Set down guidelines for veterinary care and review their care processes to ensure that standards are maintained.
• Form a neutral professional board, similar to the Singapore Medical Council to regulate conduct and ethics of veterinary clinics.
• Impose disciplinary action against errant vets and their establishments when guidelines are breached and standard of care is compromised.

With the above in place, pet owners can be more assured and comforted that their pets' negative experiences do not go unnoticed and their suffering not in vain. We need to improve the welfare of our pets while they are sick and being treated. To many people, they may be just an animal. But to us, they are our treasured family members.

Read my full story at

Tragic end to Ah Bee after Mount Pleasant gave the wrong drug

Afterword of Ah Bee's Tragic Demise

The Phone Call from Mount Pleasant    

No apology but an insensitive remark from Mount Pleasant   

Similar unfortunate vet incidents                                                                                   

Yours sincerely,

Dr Donna Chow & Mr Shaun Koh (Singapore)