Police say Prashant Pandya, 45, never held a Tennessee veterinary license but presented himself as a DVM at an East Nashville clinic where pet owners reported problems following procedures.
A Nashville, Tennessee, man who police say was never licensed to practice veterinary medicine faces a felony charge after pet owners reported problems after procedures on their dogs and cats at an East Nashville clinic.1
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Community Crimes detectives arrested Prashant Pandya, 45, on November 3 in an investigation centered on Caudle Veterinary Clinic, according to a department news release.1 Detectives also searched the clinic under a warrant the same day. Police anticipate additional charges against Pandya as the investigation continues.1
Pandya has never held a Tennessee license to practice veterinary medicine, according to MNPD. Citing state reports, the release states that Pandya applied for a license but failed the required examinations.1
Police allege Pandya nonetheless presented himself as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He used the title “Dr. Pandya” and wore a white coat bearing the title “Dr. P.F. Pandya DVM,” the release states.1
NewsChannel 5 in Nashville reported that licensing records it obtained show Pandya failed the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination at least 10 times.2 The MNPD release does not say how many attempts Pandya made.1
According to Pandya’s arrest affidavit, as reported by the Tennessean, investigators obtained an audio recording in which Pandya spoke with a witness about a surgery he performed on the witness’s dog. The dog died shortly after the procedure, the affidavit states. During that conversation, Pandya said he was the clinic’s only veterinarian and that his father had stopped practicing.3
The affidavit also points to a social media post that showed a photo of Pandya and announced him as lead veterinarian.3
As of November 4, the Caudle Vet Clinic website attributes more than 45 years of small animal practice experience to “Dr. F.K. Pandya and his expert team.” The site does not say how F.K. Pandya is related to Prashant Pandya. It also says the clinic has licensed veterinarians on staff.4
The investigation began in September after pet owners complained about “adverse outcomes” from procedures their dogs and cats underwent at the clinic, according to MNPD. Detectives worked the case with the District Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Detectives know of at least 7 such cases between August 2025 and September 2026.1
The release does not describe the procedures or outcomes involved. It also does not explain the DEA’s role in the investigation.1
MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron told WKRN that the case surfaced because community members were raising concerns about the clinic.5 In September, WSMV reported on a Nashville pet owner who said her dog died hours after surgery at the clinic. The owner told the station she searched the state’s license verification website and found no record for Pandya.6
Davidson County court records list the charge against Pandya as impersonation of a licensed professional, a felony.7 Under state law, a person who lacks a required professional license commits that offense by practicing the profession or by pretending to be licensed in it. The offense is a Class E felony.8
Class E is the least serious of Tennessee’s 5 felony classes. State law authorizes a sentence of 1 to 6 years in prison for a Class E felony and allows a jury to assess a fine of up to $3,000.9
Separately, the Tennessee Veterinary Practice Act requires anyone who wishes to practice veterinary medicine in the state to obtain a license from the state board. Practicing without one violates the act.10
Court records list Pandya’s next appearance as December 11 in Davidson County General Sessions Court. As of November 4, the records listed no attorney for Pandya.7 MNPD had not publicly announced results of the clinic search as of the same date.
References
