LI animal hospital left beloved dog to die, charged $2,500-a-night — and lied about his condition, grieving owners claim

A grieving Long Island couple is accusing a prominent Nassau County animal hospital of negligence and deception after their beloved 10-year-old Newfoundland, Bo, died following a $15,000 elective hip surgery.

Karen and Dave Freed told The Post that Long Island Veterinary Specialists (LIVS) in Plainview urged them to proceed with the costly procedure in June, claiming it could extend Bo’s life. However, the couple says the situation quickly spiraled into a nightmare — one they believe could have been avoided.

Prior to the surgery, Bo underwent X-rays to clear him for the operation. The Freeds said they were told everything looked good. But after surgery, they were informed Bo had developed a “light case” of pneumonia.

According to medical records reviewed by The Post, pre-op scans already showed signs of early-stage pneumonia and even a possible collapsed lung — findings the couple claims LIVS failed to disclose before proceeding with the surgery. Despite these serious risks, the hospital moved forward with the procedure, then charged $2,500 per night for Bo’s five-night stay, bringing the total bill to over $27,500.

“They kept telling us he was stable, that he was improving,” Karen said. “But he was suffering the whole time.”

Dave added, “I feel guilty because this surgery was supposed to help Bo live longer, and it ended up costing him his life.”

The couple alleges they were allowed to see Bo for only 10 minutes during his six-day hospitalization, and were led to believe he was receiving daily X-rays and ultrasounds — only to later learn the facility didn’t even have an ultrasound machine. They say medical reports confirmed Bo was dehydrated despite being on IV fluids and that he never received a feeding tube as promised.

During their brief visit, they say they found Bo lying on a concrete floor, with blood at his mouth — conditions they believe show he was neglected and mistreated in his final days.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association’s 2020 guidelines, animals with respiratory conditions like pneumonia or collapsed lungs face heightened risks under anesthesia. Proceeding with elective surgery under such conditions without informing the pet’s owners can be considered malpractice, as per the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The Freeds had Bo’s case independently reviewed by an outside veterinarian, who reportedly concluded that his treatment fell far below acceptable standards of care. The couple now plans to pursue legal action against LIVS and says any financial award would be donated to charity.

The surgeon who led Bo’s care has previously been named in at least two other lawsuits involving the deaths of pets and allegations of negligence. Fundraisers launched by other grieving families are seeking money to sue LIVS for what they also claim is malpractice.

Attorney Luis Trujillo, who represents plaintiffs in two of the suits, said, “What they’re doing is very profitable — but it’s blood money.”

Anonymous employee reviews on sites like Glassdoor and Indeed also accuse LIVS of putting profits over patients, falsifying medical records, and pressuring staff to cover up mistakes.

LIVS did not respond to The Post’s request for comment. The surgeon linked to Bo’s case also did not respond to messages sent to her personal phone.