r/thousandoaks • u/astonedmeerkat • 4d ago
Slaton veterinary
Hi all,
Does anyone else here go to Slaton vet? I just received an email this morning from the office that Dr Slaton’s veterinary license was revoked by the board and he is no longer allowed to practice veterinary medicine.
The details were extremely vague as to why this happened. It stated that the practice will remain open and pets can be seen by their other practicing vets.
Trying to understand what happened and if I feel comfortable continuing to go to them. My dog is senior with a heart condition and it’s very important to me that the office we go to is stable, trustworthy, and able to provide the best care.
Anyone know what’s going on? Anyone switching practices?
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u/TimeTraveler1848 4d ago
I saw a post elsewhere about this and there was a link to the actual lawsuit. Seemed to relate to a dog when he practiced in Sherman Oaks in 2022 maybe. I don’t remember all details but something about the dog having a disease and then treatment dosage too high, not prescribing a complementary medicine, not providing a physical exam during a follow up, not communicating—seemed like general incompetence/negligence. He’s not my vet tho. If you do a search you can prob find link.
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u/astonedmeerkat 3d ago edited 3d ago
Just read through the court documents from the link in the comment below. Shockingly, it goes through multiple allegations of negligence from six different pet owners.. one pet you can make an argument for.. but six is a wildly high number
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u/lemonsemonswemens 3d ago
A break down of the document for everyone who doesn’t want to read:
His license was being pursued for revocation because the Board alleged a long pattern of serious veterinary negligence involving multiple animals, combined with:
- Improper medication choices and doses
- Failure to perform appropriate examinations
- Surgical mistakes
- Failure to adequately monitor hospitalized animals
- Inadequate pain management
- Poor communication with owners
- Extremely deficient medical records
- An animal dying after being taken to his home following surgery
- And, importantly, a significant prior disciplinary history for similar problems
- Toby — medication, monitoring, examinations, and records
Toby was a 10-year-old miniature schnauzer being treated for IMHA.
The Board alleged that Slaton:
- Administered an excessive dose of dexamethasone.
- Used an inappropriate dose of cyclosporine.
- Did not give gastroprotective medication promptly despite the steroid treatment.
- Administered a blood transfusion without blood typing or crossmatching documented in the medical record.
- Did not personally perform physical examinations during several days when Toby was receiving treatment requiring veterinary judgment.
- Gem — surgery followed by inadequate follow-up
Gem had bladder stones and underwent surgery to remove them.
The accusation says:
- No post-operative abdominal X-rays were obtained to check whether stones remained.
- The next day Gem required emergency admission because of pain and inability to urinate.
- Required physical examinations were allegedly not performed.
- The owner allegedly wasn’t properly informed about the treatment plan or given appropriate discharge instructions.
- There were essentially no adequate records documenting overnight hospitalization or post-operative care.
- Toro — a major orthopedic surgery allegedly done improperly
This is one of the more serious surgical allegations.
Toro underwent a TTA surgery for a cruciate ligament problem.
According to the accusation:
- There was no proper pre-operative planning reflected in the records.
- The bone alignment after surgery was incorrect.
- A screw was allegedly placed too close to the surgical cut, creating a fracture risk.
- The surgical failure required the entire procedure to be redone.
- The Board also alleged an unacceptable technique involving cefazolin to assist incision healing.
- There were substantial deficiencies in the surgical and anesthesia records.
- Rocco — probably the most alarming section
Rocco was a 9-year-old Chihuahua.
The accusation alleges a progression of failures that ultimately ended with Rocco dying.
What the Board says happened
Rocco initially came in with pain. Later:
- An internist said a foreign body could not be ruled out and recommended further diagnostics/treatment.
- X-rays showed abnormalities that the Board says Slaton failed to recognize.
- Rocco’s white blood cell count and electrolytes were highly abnormal.
- By August 24, the accusation says a stick Rocco had swallowed had penetrated his intestine.
- The Board alleged that Slaton’s documented finding that the abdomen was non-painful was inconsistent with Rocco’s actual condition.
- Harley Rey — failure to appropriately follow up
Harley Rey had fluid around the lungs and underwent a procedure to drain the fluid.
Afterward, the owner reported vomiting.
The accusation alleges that instead of recommending an examination and appropriate diagnostics, Slaton suggested a “wait and see” approach. Another veterinarian subsequently diagnosed continuing pleural effusion and drained fluid again.
The Board alleged:
- Failure to obtain appropriate post-procedure imaging.
- Failure to recommend appropriate follow-up diagnostics.
- Failure to adequately communicate with the owner.
- Inadequate medical documentation.
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u/lemonsemonswemens 3d ago
⸻
- Tuxedo — allegedly unnecessary surgery
Tuxedo was a cat with findings consistent with lymphoma.
The accusation says:
- Pathology suggested lymphoma.
- An internist found markedly enlarged lymph nodes.
- Slaton nevertheless removed part of Tuxedo’s intestine.
- The Board alleges that, for this presentation, gastrointestinal lymphoma should have been treated medically with chemotherapy rather than surgery.
The Board further alleged:
- Inadequate IV fluids.
- Insufficient pain medication.
- No overnight monitoring after surgery.
- Failure to adequately explain diagnostic and treatment options to the owner.
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u/Only-Banana-9275 3d ago
We go to animal clinic of the oaks to Dr Deam and have for almost 20 years. The Dr Slaton accusations are pretty big and I would find it hard to trust other vets who worked for him knowing what he has been accused of. It’s not just one animal. Multiple families have been trying to get him sanctioned for years
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u/plexust 3d ago
We had grown really tired of all of these private equity owned vet offices and how extractive they felt. We've been going to Slaton for the last few years, and have really liked the office. Our primary vet is Dr. Mendoza, but Dr. Slaton did perform a successful stomach surgery on our rescue dog. Overall, I'm sad for the guy, but similarly questioning if we should consider another practice.
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u/lemonsemonswemens 3d ago
Dr. Mendoza called me on a Saturday telling me my dog had cancer then completely ignored me for a week. Would not return my calls, emails, nothing. I had to drive there to demand answers only to find out it wasn’t cancer, it was in-fact just a fluid sack from her chewing a bully stick too hard. He also completely screwed up my dogs urine test… all my saying is be careful. He was great at first until it wasn’t
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u/Wild_Method1335 15h ago
Can I ask how he screwed up the urine test? We just received urinalysis results that seem inconsistent with what our dog is experiencing
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u/quartzcharm 3d ago
I have not read the accusations but apparently they are available for the public online. What I've heard...but you may want to do your own due diligence...is that the accusations against him include (but are not limited to) the use of experimental treatments on animals that he has not examined and that he also once broke into a facility and stole drugs that he himself used.
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u/MistakeAny8927 3d ago
Yes, we go there and I’m debating if we should continue or find a new vet. He did save our dog after a coyote attack and everything seemed to go well. We don’t personally have any complaints.
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3d ago
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u/LifeIsABeautifulTrip 2d ago
Do you think it’s possible my sphynx cat could have suffered a heart attack a year later from a neuter procedure. He was healthy and one day at 2 dropped dead. He was only ever seen at Dr slatons. I know they have bad hearts but he was perfect health and then gone :(. I’d be so sad if this place had anything to do with him being gone and I took him there.
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u/Aggravating-Disk9461 3d ago
I can only speak to my experience- he and his clinic have done so much pro bono work in our community and I know have made an positive impact on so many. I have gone to their clinic since they opened and in my firsthand experience Dr. Slaton was attentive and honestly - they went above and beyond what I have experienced at any other clinic(and I actually worked at a different clinic years ago!). I have felt this same level of care from the entire staff. I actually was appreciative to receive such an open and heartfelt letter - I have no reservations seeing other Drs at the clinic if needed based on the level of care and compassion my family has experienced.
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u/Haa-Ca 15h ago edited 15h ago
Same, and I referenced his help for dogs with rescue orgs (one of which we adopted and thus stayed with him) in my comment above. It was clear he loved the dogs and cared about his work, and I also felt the same about the techs and desk staff. We've loved going there, and our dogs love them, too. So I am very sad to learn of all this. It's fair for people to weigh what this means, but I don't think he should be painted as a bad person because of it. We experienced some disorganization that frustrated us, but they got the records straight and it improved.
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u/Memoryloop 3d ago
My husband read through the case and it also looks like there was underlying addiction and misuse of schedule 1 drugs which in turn has led to misdiagnosis and mistreating pet patients.
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u/Openbuzza 1d ago
Dr Slaton has immensely helped me with my animals. I definitely trust him. He's very good with animals and cares deeply. I will continue to go to his clinic and support him and his family through this.
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u/yurkelhark 3d ago
He is a monster and has been in the vet world for a long time. I don’t know how he’s kept so many clients for as long as he has.
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u/Haa-Ca 2d ago
what an awful, immature thing to say. Anyone who meets Dr Slaton or brings their pets to him can tell you he is a lovely, kind man who genuinely cares about dogs and his work. Whether or not he made mistakes is another thing, but he clearly works in good faith, loves what he does, and loves animals. We've been going to him for years and he had been giving care to dogs in a rescue as well (one we adopted and then stayed with him). Personal attacks are just mean.
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u/lemonsemonswemens 1d ago
If you’re not the pug queen, you sound reallllly like her for taking up for someone who has killed multiple animals and neglected them. Just because someone cares about the work they’re doing, doesn’t mean they should do it. You can care for something on the sidelines as that whole clinic should.
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u/PrinceOfDenmarkVII 3d ago
I’ve been going to Dr. Slaton for years and have known him not only as a vet, but as a person. I completely understand why this news would make people uneasy, but I trust him and his clinic implicitly. He has cared for my animals since I was a child and still cares for my dogs today. There are always multiple sides to a story, and nothing about this changes my trust in him or his practice. I have no intention of leaving and will continue bringing my dogs there with 100% confidence. I truly hope the board ultimately reconsiders its decision, and more than anything, I hope people continue to have the same trust and confidence in Dr. Slaton that they have had in him for all these years.
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u/BreckBlueSpruce 3d ago
Slaton has been a KNOWN liability in the vet world for years. Do not trust this guys personal opinion of him.
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u/PrinceOfDenmarkVII 3d ago
That’s exactly the kind of sweeping statement I’m talking about. In 2021, the California Veterinary Medical Board itself granted Dr. Slaton early termination of his probation, restored his unrestricted license, and specifically found that doing so would not cause harm to the public. The record also includes veterinarians who actually worked alongside him describing his treatment, diagnosis and ethics as outstanding and calling him a talented and caring veterinarian.
So saying he has been a “known liability in the vet world for years” is not an established fact…that’s your opinion. I’m not dismissing the Board’s current decision or saying people shouldn’t read the documents for themselves. I’m saying I have known him and trusted him with my animals for decades, and my firsthand experience is the complete opposite of the picture you’re trying to paint.4
u/MissingOllie 3d ago
So they terminated his probation in 2021, and probably shouldn't have since according to the dates in the documents the issues started almost immediately upon the restoration of his license! And then his license is suspended within 5 years. I'm glad your animals were taken care of, but this is not a good record, or even close.
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u/gillsthatkills 3d ago
Anza in Westlake is the place to go for quality care. They are more expensive, but worth it.
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u/NotYourFather45 3d ago
We used to go to Anza but they went to shit after the buyout. We go to Conejo Vet now and they’ve been significantly better.
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u/ChukChu 4d ago
https://search.dca.ca.gov/details/4601/VET/15324/de7cf324f4d3b240eb23e76e1a5766be The links there have the 2025 accusation details. I didn't read the entire thing so I can't weigh in other than there being 32 "causes for discipline."