The "malpractice" started when the veterinarian agreed to perform $28,000 worth of cancer treatment on a dog.
I am the biggest softie in the world when it comes to dogs, my dogs are my babies and I love them, but I could never justify $28K worth of chemo on a dog with a 12-15 yr maximum life expectancy.
If I even had $28K to spend on a dog that was that sick, I would have it humanely euthanized and donate that money to a local animal shelter or a fund to help low-income people afford veterinary care for their pets.
In this particular case, there is no gurantee that the dog would have lived much longer even of the vet had not made the mistake that he did, so $28K in damages is not an appropriate resolution. The vet should be required to replace the dog, plus perhaps a small amount for the emotional distress caused by his mistake.