Question for Puppy Breeders

[Tanya in KS]

We just brought home a new puppy last Friday (9-4) at 6 pm. When we first brought him home, he was a great pup! Playful, sleepy, etc - everything a puppy should be.

 

Last night, I noticed that the puppy was just "not right", droopy. He did cough a few times and that was all. I decided to take the pup to vet last night first thing in the morning. I got a 10 appt. Took him in and dr diagnosed bronchitis. Came home and at 2pm, puppy was WORSE! So I took him back in and now puppy is on IV through the night. :sad:

 

So I contacted the breeder to let her know what was going on... She is insisting that it did not come from her home.

 

Obviously, we will continue treatment. But as a breeder, does she have some responsiblity? What if something happens to him overnight?

 

I know that I maybe overacting but we are so sad and worried.

 

Any advice?:bigear:

 

Thanks!

[gingersmom]

If you had a contract with the breeder than the breeders responsibilites would be spelled out.

 

Unfortunately all breeders do not care about the puppies they sell (after they collect the money).

 

Hope your guy (girl?) is on the road to recovery.

[Cindyg]

Oh how sad.

 

The last breeder I bought from insisted on a vet exam within 48 hours of the puppy's arrival at home; that way if we brought a sick puppy home, we would (all) know it immediately. And the contract specified what the breeder would do if the puppy wasn't healthy.

 

Without such a contract (or at least an ethical breeder willing to do the right thing without one), you're probably on your own for this.

 

If the puppy dies (and I really hope not!) within a couple of weeks of coming home with you, I would *ask* the breeder for a replacement puppy; but you have no way to enforce that. And, you might not want another one of her puppies anyway.

 

I'm really sorry.