A vet faces being struck off for trying to “spiritually heal” a dying dog.

Marie-Louise Schlemm is accused of “disgraceful conduct” with regards to a Jack Russell terrier, named Ratzy, and the dog’s owner, who she also purported to have treated.

The incidents took place while she worked at Coastway Veterinary Group in Freshfield Business Park, Brighton, in May 2010.

Yesterday (November 19) Ms Schlemm, of Brighton, appeared before a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons panel for the start of an eight-day hearing.

Pre-hearing papers say the vetinary practitioner repeatedly contacted the victim, named only as Ms B, between May 22 and May 25 2010.

Eastern medicine

It is stated that during this period she performed chakra – the Eastern medicine where the centres of spiritual powers in the body are rebalanced – on Ms B.

All of this contact and treatment was unsolicited and not in her capacity as a vet, the papers say.

Ms Schlemm is accused of making telephone calls, visiting the victim’s home in Hove and sending her text messages.

The papers claim that Ms Schlemm said the victim and Ratzy should move in with her.

She is accused of calling a fellow vet “a witch” in a conversation with Ms B and deliberately misleading the woman over the condition of her dog.

Ms Schlemm is said to have taken money from the victim for purposes “other than legitimate veterinary treatment”.

She also allegedly told Ms B “there was no need” for her to be ill, made comments about the amount of medication she was on and told her that staff at the animal charity PDSA had “missed something” and that Ratzy was not dying.

The hearing continues.

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