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View Full Version : Help!! Vet recommends pup be returned to breeder.


tinat2004
01-28-2009, 10:39 PM
Hi everyone, my name is Tina and i'm new to the site. I wanted to post an introduction but I feel this is an urgent matter and my family and I really need some responses from other doberman owners.

You see, a week ago we got Rocky (a red, 7 week old gorgeous male). I guess in all of the excitement my family didn't check him well. He seemed very healthy, but shy until he was brought home. He's such a smart and sweet boy. We love him to death already! He's quite attached to us, as we are to him. While playing the other day, my dad noticed that his paws looked strange and that Rocky was walking oddly. My parents took him to the vet and this is exactly what the vet wrote on Rocky's patient sheet:

"Abnormal stance/gait. Walking on tips of toes. Carpus abnormal. Need radiographs to diagnose. Suspect congenital malformation. Recommend returning to breeder."

This is the ABSOLUTE LAST THING we want to do. We DO NOT want to return him. We love the little guy to pieces and he is so happy with us. We were left heartbroken a couple of years ago after our mastiff died, and since then Rocky has brought a whole new joy into our hearts. However like our mastiff in the past, we fear that Rocky will suffer from bone and joint problems in the future once he gets older that will prevent him from leading a full, happy, and playful life.

We spoke to the breeder and told her of the situation. She claims she never knew and also refuses to pay for any veterinary expenses (like possible surgeries) and also refuses to refund our money. She does, however, say that she will exchange us Rocky for a new puppy but we can't imagine replacing Rocky for his brother. We just can't do that.

In an effort to save us from having to return him, my family and I are looking to this community for any insight, knowledge, and experience to guide and help us. Does anyone have any suggestions or know what we can possibly do to help him? Thank you.

EDIT: I did a search on google and I found this http://medycynawet.edu.pl/pdf2006/czerwiec/20066s06490651.pdf which is a research that has the condition (pictures included) of Rocky's condition. The left being the before photos and the right being the after photos. This research basically suggests that this condition is found in puppies 6-8 weeks when they are taken away from their mothers too early. It says that puppies that nurse longer are not seen with this condition. Its a matter of nursing and nutrition. It also says that when padded with thick cotton and braced with a splint, the condition was healed in approx. 10 days. I DONT UNDERSTAND why my vet is being this way. This is the vet we went to before with my past dog, and he has always been so shady and I never trusted his opinion. I don't understand why my mother chose to take him back to this vet. He is constantly negative and has a bad attitude, which is why I believe him to be disreputable veterinarian.

Rich S
01-29-2009, 07:38 AM
Hi there folks, welcome to the site.

My first recommendation would be to get a second option. Gather more information and make a decision.

If the dog is healthy and pain free, it sounds to me like he can have a happy life with your family. If it is simply a matter of waking funny, you will find that Rocky has so much more to offer.

Good luck and please keep us updated.

Rich

triplecminis
01-29-2009, 08:02 AM
I think their are many things to think about... the overall structure of the puppy now and what he will be as he matures.. your talking about adding allot more weight on those legs. get a second opinion and remember not to get your feelings hurt your vet is looking out for you... you should get what you paid for a healthy puppy not one who may need constant attention. If you have that kind of money for surgeries and corrective splints... then it is not a problem but are you truly prepare to take on the full medical needs of this puppy??? by all means I am not trying to be mean...and I fully understand getting attached to the puppy I have one too that got sick on me and I am over 1800.00 in vet bills to date with more to come. but I am at least dealing with a breeder who is willing to help.

jelly8bean
01-29-2009, 09:16 AM
Yes, please get a second opinion and think about what sort of life Rocky is going to have and what you really wanted when you got the puppy. If as triple says you are prepared financially and emotionally to deal with this puppy and to create a lifestyle he can thrive in, by all means follow your heart. But 7 weeks was young for a puppy to leave the mom, and your breeder's response is not generating faith in my about her commitement to the breed.

tinat2004
01-29-2009, 10:09 AM
Yes we are definitely going to get a second opinion. I've honestly never trusted the vet my parents took Rocky to, so a second vet's opinion is important. Has anyone had experience with this condition though? Reading the research I provided, it seems like a simple way to correct condition, but I could be wrong.

MLR
01-29-2009, 10:22 AM
By all means get a second opinion. You need a vet you are comfortable with. Another thing you can do is to put the pup on Esbilac puppy replacer milk asap. They sell this is most pet stores or you can order it on line from Dr.'s Foster & Smith. I didn't read all the information on the site you gave but if mother's milk has anything to do with it that will surely help the situation. Be prepared for some runny stools if your dobe is already eating solid food. Maybe start out with half the rate recommended for his size and see how it goes. This is the first I've heard of this condition. I have, however, successfully fostered any number of kittens with replacer milk and also used it with my youngest dobe when her mother's milk started to dry up when she was two weeks old. It must have worked because she doesn't have any bone/joint problems and she's 2 1/2 now. Hope this helps.

tinat2004
01-29-2009, 10:43 AM
Thanks for the replies! He's currently at another vet. I wish I could be there, but i'm back in college, which is why I feel so helpless in the situation. All I can do is research online and get suggestions from you guys. As for financially, i'm trying to do my part in that too. MLR, that sounds like a great suggestion. The research link I posted definitely suggests its a nutritional issue from being away from the mother too soon, and i'm giving my mom the name of that replacer milk so that she can buy it asap.

Rich S, yes Rocky is so healthy and happy! He runs around and is soo playful. He does not seem to be in any pain at all which is why it was never noticed until recently. Its just funny walking. But we know all too well from past experience what future joint problems can mean for a big breed, so we want to correct this as soon as possible without it being a strain on us financially. I understand there will be expenses to pay, but a splint has to cost less than surgery right?

Does anyone know what a split will cost for a (now) 8 week old?

Update! We got a second opinion from another vet. He said that he knows of instances where that kind of condition heals on its own, especially since Rocky is still a baby. He doesn't recommend a splint either because it might interfere with the natural healing. According to him, we should get Rocky off of puppy food and start feeding him high quality adult food. With the right nutrition, he'll heal on its own. This is soooo much better than what the 1st vet said (who didn't even examine rocky, he just looked at him!) So we will get to keep Rocky into our home, and this is the best news ever for my family :)

magtie
01-29-2009, 02:31 PM
well keep us posted

jelly8bean
01-29-2009, 04:16 PM
Yeah for Rocky! I'm so glad he can have you in his life.

jelly8bean
01-30-2009, 10:53 AM
Found a link with some more info on what appears to be your puppies condition

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/knuckling_over.htm

This has some good recomendations on feeding..

tinat2004
01-30-2009, 11:05 AM
Thanks! This is very helpful

VonDoom
01-31-2009, 01:05 PM
I would consider, switching to Eagle Pack Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Formula 23% Protein / 12% Fat / Calories - 375 kcal/cup

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd184/stained_class/f55d1deb.jpg (http://www.eaglepack.com/Pages/HS_LGPuppy.html)

I can tell you from personal expierance the claims Eagle Pack makes on there website are no joke.
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH...AND EXPERIENCE In Formulating Large and Giant Breed Diets (http://www.eaglepack.com/Pages/EP_PetHealth.html#lgnt)

Im also adding a link to a website belonging to an authority on this subject. Please read over her pages there are tons and tons of enlightening articles. I would believe this can be corrected with proper nutritional care.
http://www.greatdanelady.com/index.html