Wunjo Dies After Caudle Surgery; Report Raises License Questions

Wunjo, a Husky mix who had lived with Nicole Maxwell’s family for a decade, died at home after surgery at Nashville’s Caudle Veterinary Clinic, NewsChannel 5 reported. The station identified Prashant Pandya as the person who treated him and reported that he did not hold a Tennessee veterinary license.

Maxwell told WTVF that the operation was scheduled for September 8 after an examination of a growing lump. She said Wunjo remained limp at home and later stopped breathing. Her account does not establish what caused his death.

WKRN reported on September 16 that Tennessee’s Department of Health and Attorney General’s office said they were looking into complaints. The station also found the clinic apparently closed, but did not establish that a regulator had ordered it shut. Neither complaint review nor a closed door establishes wrongdoing or the cause of Wunjo’s death.

The reports differ on the operation’s date: WTVF and WKRN give September 8, while WSMV gives September 9. Buddylio has not reviewed a clinical record that resolves that discrepancy. WTVF said Pandya declined its questions; WSMV reported that the clinic did not respond to its calls.

The names and records need to be kept separate

The clinic’s team page identifies Dr. F.K. Pandya. WTVF describes a father and son at the clinic and names the younger Prashant in this case. The report does not establish that every practitioner at the clinic lacks a license.

The Tennessee veterinary board’s December 2, 2020 minutes list “Pandya Prashant Fatchkumar” under “Veterinarian- Closed.” That historical entry does not explain the closure or establish his September 2026 status. It is not evidence by itself that a previously issued license was revoked.

How to check an individual practitioner

The Tennessee veterinary board links to the state’s license verification service. Ask the clinic for the full name of the person providing care, then use the profession and that person’s name in the state search. The system’s instructions warn that spelling differences can prevent a match.

An individual license and a veterinary facility’s premises permit are separate credentials. A search for the clinic name alone does not answer whether a particular person holds a professional license. If a name or result is unclear, the board lists 615 to 532 to 5090 for questions.

Buddylio has not obtained an agency case record or an individual result from the current state licensing search. The reported complaint review comes from WKRN’s account of the agencies’ responses.

How we reported this: Buddylio reviewed the named sources, checked the organizations and figures shown above, and added context for animal lovers. Any illustration is labeled and does not depict the actual animals or scene. No official cause of death finding, shutdown order or formal charge was established by the reviewed sources. Articles are editorial content, not veterinary advice.