I am so mad - at the breeder and at myself.

[Anna]

This breeder sold me a sick puppy.

 

Let me tell you the whole story.  I am so mad - I might be mispelling things.

So - We traveled 3 hours to pick up this puppy.

When we got there - she had all the puppies out in a little playpen - if front of her house.

Now - I made sure (as much as one is able) to read as much as I can from here and other websites about all the breeders b/c I didn;t want - what exactly happened to me.

I thought that I did my homework pretty well.  I didn't pick the breeders that had puppies for Way cheaper - b/c I didn't hear anything good/or bad about them.  I went with a slightly more expensive price -  but a breeder that people here wrote good things about.  I went to their groups and read as much as I can etc..

 

So - here I am thinking that - I really did my part in ensuring that I get a healthy pup.

(of course there is no guarantee - but I felt that I did my part)

 

So - while I am looking at the pups. a couple of the pups in the playpen poops.  they had very stinky diarrhea.  I sort of looked at the breeder and she told me that she just gave the pups some worm medicine and that causes that.   So - here i am - I don't know - what caused puppies to have diarrhea. 

so before I left - she gave me a little packet with white pills in it.  she said that her vet tells her to give it to the buyers - so that when the pups have diarrhea from the stress of going to a new home - I can give it to him.  uhhh.  a little confusion - b/c no one here said anything about this.  but again - I didn;t know. 

 

I picked out a pup and he did very well in the car.

So - we got home he didn't go to the bathroom for another couple of hours.  So finally he poops - its definetly very soft.  didn't think much of it = b/c she told me about the medicine.  so then during the night he has diarrhea in his crate.  then again - in the bath yard.   then he has another one in the house - but this time there is a little blood in it.

So - now I'm freaking out.  I checked out the little packet and it says - it is metronidazole.  so i looked it up and -= it said its for clearing up infections and parasites.  

 

I emailed the seller - she didn't get back to me for a whole day.  She says - that blood in the stool means giardia and that we need to give her the pills and have the vet do a fecal test.

I did start him in the medicine - and he actually didn't have any blood stool after that.  and he seems a little more energetic.  but still he seems a little lethargic.  and hasn't been going to the bathroom regularily

 

I don't know - what I am feeling right now.   I am so mad that - I traveled hours, paid hundreds of dollars for a sick puppy.  But I think also - I am so mad - is that she obviously knew that the pups were sick - but she didn't tell me and was passing it off as stress.

 

can someone - help me with this.  I am so upset.

I think I'm in some weird shock. 

 

[Kyoko]

 I am so sorry to hear this happened to you..... I would take him to the vet as soon as they open with poop sample and the meds, as some others suggested.... I am sure these things happens, but I really think it should not. People are paying good money for these puppies, and if they were such reputable breeders, they should ensure that mom and dad, as well as other dogs they may have are all healthy and puppies are healthy before they send them to foreverhome. My puppy came home perfectly healthy and never had any health problem. I got her from the small breeder, however, they were open to me coming to visit them and see mom and dad as well as the kennel any time I wanted, before I committed to the puppy. This is why I chose them....

However, I hope yur puppy gets better soon.... Goood luck and enjoy him!! I can't wait to see the pictures of him!!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Anna, I am sorry your pup is having problems.  I expect your health warranty requires you to take him to a Vet within 3 days and it is important to have him checked over thoroughly.  I know it is aggravating.  I got a dog from a breeder years ago that admitted later that the whole litter had coccidia.  My doodle Seda had ear infections when I got her.  The important thing is that your pup is basically sound, and has a nice temperament.  Send the breeder your Vet's report and the bill.  I have never heard of a "breeder" giving metronidazole for the stress of going to a new home.  I suspect she knew those puppies had an infection.  I wouldn't be using her again, or recommending her.

[Anna]

i am so anxious to go to the vet tomorrow.  i will feel so much better knowing what is going on.  Thanks for all your comments.  I just feel so bad for the puppy. 

 

the breeder said that she will pay for - whatever else medicine he needs.  but shouldn't the breeder also pay for the tests and things like that?  I don't mind paying for the vet visit/ exam - b/c I was going to take him for this initial exam anyway - but I shouldn't have to pay - for all the tests he's going to need - right?

 

Just so I prepare myself - how much are tests for giardia and ear infection and whatever else - you guys think the vet is going to test him for?  please .. please don't tell me its alot.   we spent so much money (well it was a lot for us) and the thought of spending hundreds more is so scary.

 

Is there anything specific I should ask the vet to do?

 

what if the pup - doesn't poop before we leave?  what should I do?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If your pup has giardia or even just plain old diarrhea, she should be pooping quite frequently. Start collecting some samples now.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

With Ned's ears, we paid for the vet visit and his puppy shots, the breeder paid for the putting him under, exploring to find the fox tails and meds.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Anna, I have had dogs my whole life. We picked up our pup last October and he had giardia. We got him from the same breeder we got our first doodle from. Her home and yard are immaculate. She was perfectly responsive when I asked her about his diarrhea. The fact that your breeder sent something home with you may not be too awful. My breeder said that puppies are so suseptible to giardia that she thinks she should send them home with the medicine. She had her vet call the prescription in to our pharmacy and paid for it. They can get it from drinking standing water. Although this is horribly upsetting for you, if you look in the puppy madness group there are lots of cases of puppies coming home with diarrhea. In fact I wonder why I never ran into it before!

 

I hope you are able to enjoy your little one and let go of the frustration soon. He will find his way into your heart, I'm sure. I'm glad tomorrow he can go to your vet and establish that relationship.

 

You may want to look into pet insurance. There are lots of discussions about that, too. In fact, there is a group just about poop! Everything will work out soon. If you decide to feed the puppy a food different from what the breeder fed him, be sure to very slowly make that change and don't do anything about it for a couple of weeks... otherwise more diarrhea will ensue.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

hi Anna

 

Take a deep breath - everything is probably ok.  Don't blame yourself or the breeder.  Most puppies need to be wormed because they are born with worms and giardia is everywhere so if he has that it is curable - just bad luck and a pain to cope with.

 

Do go with puppy to vet with stool sample and medication.  You would have needed to have your new pup have his first vet check and stool analysis right away anyway. 

 

It is very easy to get crazy upset with a new puppy.  I have had dogs all my life, and got all but one as a puppy.  I got Roo and it had been about eight years since I had had a puppy.  I took him to the vet for a check up and stool sample - all was well.  The next week I was right back because I thought the inside of his eyelids looked red.  The vet did not even charge me.  He said this would make such a good story for his vet friends that it was worth the free check.  He brought me in a mirror and asked me to look at the inside of my own eyelid.  Yup! sure enough red as a rose.  I was just a nervous mommy.  This vet had helped me through eight years of the life of my darling Thor who had severe difficult to control seizures.  He really thought this was a good one.

 

I am certain all will be well, although parasites are almost a given with a new puppy it is a mess when they aren't housebroken.  Hang in there.  This, too, will pass.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Maryann, I too took Daisy in because the inside of the bottom of her eye was red...I think I heard the Vet stifle a giggle, she said she is fine it's just the inside of her eye lid - WHATEVER I just didn't want Daisy to have anything wrong that I missed. Now that I am thinking about it Daisy's eye isn't red anymore - ha ha

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Sending you all well wishes. Hopefully it will be only a slight hic- up in a lifetime of love and enjoyment.

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Probably the worst is the breeder wasn't honest up front and let you know the situation, if this was done and explained properly you wouldn't of had to 'discover' these ailments and have the worry.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Ugh, that's terrible. I'm so sorry that happened to you!

 

When I got Sophie from my breeder she had giardia too. The breeder told me about it and offered to pay the vet bills. Well, She really only paid for the metronidosole, not the panacur granules, vet consults and poop tests which were all really expensive. She sent me metro in the mail for the last (fourth) round of treatment. well that didn't solve it so i've asked her for more and she hasn't responded to me.

 

It's frustrating for sure. I can't believe your breeder lied about it. It sucks because it's not like buying a sweater with a hole in it, you can't just return the puppy since you fall in love  with him/her instantly.

 

Pressure your breeder to pay all the vet bills and tell her how dissapointed you are that she tried to hide it. I don't think she should get away with that.

 

I'mreally sorry this happened. Good luck with everything and let us know how he's doing.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Anna, I'm so sorry that you're going through this with your new puppy.  What a shame that all the excitement is being clouded by worry.  My two Doods are being treated for giardia right now.  It is a nasty thing, but it's common and not dangerous if treated.  You got some great advice here.  The one thing I would add is that you will need to carefully wash your puppy after every poop.  I use baby wipes and clean his anal area well.  I also had the hair shaved there so that there was no possibility any fecal matter would get caught.  It is transmitted to humans by coming in contact with the infected fecal matter and then putting your hands in/near your mouth.  So, if the puppy licks his butt and then licks you, and you (or the kids) later put your hand to your mouth you could become infected.  This is also why constant hand washing is so important right now.  You will need to be diligent about immediately picking up the poop and treating the area.  Also, wash any areas in your home where the dog has pooped with hot water and a bleach solution to prevent re-infestation.  Good luck at the Vet, and I can't wait to hear more about your puppy...and yes we need some pictures.