Florence Court orders veterinarian to compensate pet owners for animal suffering

The Court of Appeal of Florence has issued a ruling (sentence no. 2634/2026) ordering a veterinarian to pay damages to the family of a 13-year-old Cocker Spaniel named Matilda. The court determined that professional responsibility extends beyond performing medical procedures to include the effective management of an animal's pain and suffering.

The case originated in 2017 when the dog suffered sudden oral hemorrhaging. Despite various interventions, including dental extractions and a transfusion, the animal underwent a prolonged period of suffering before dying. While a lower court initially dismissed the claim due to a lack of proven causal links to the death, the Court of Appeal ordered a deeper technical review.

This review identified professional failures, including the omission of pre-operative diagnostic tests, inadequate dental extraction techniques that caused lesions, and deficiencies in managing the hemorrhage. Notably, the ruling establishes that compensation can be granted not only to the formal owner but also to those who share a continuous bond of affection and care with the pet.