Heart Murmur Grade 3 in 9 week old puppy
Submitted by Sashas mom on May 20, 2011 - 4:57pmSo, I take my new baby in for a check up and the vet tells me he has a heart murmur of grade 4. Continues to explain.
I then take him to my regular vet who tells me it's a grade 3-4. He is 9 weeks old. Of course, the breeder never had
anything like this happen before!! This was to be my breeding program male. I can't send him back...fell in love with him
by now and she claims she will just sell him to somebody else.
Anybody relate to this?
Thanks....
She does not sound like a very ethical breeder. If she is a
member of the BCA then I would file a complaint. She should stand behind her dogs and be helpful to you. I would NOT breed this one. I have never had a dog with a heart murmur but I know some can live a good life having them- it all depends on severity. Good luck and I am so sorry that your new baby has this. It is so hard not to fall in love with them in a nanosecond.
heart murmur
I asked if she'd refund my money. I'd still be h appy to keep him, altho he is a sick little
guy now with kennel cough. I just want to cry.
heart murmur
I was told he was show material. I know nobody, not even you, can promise that at this age. Believe me, I am
learning a lot the hard way. I'm not in this to make money, to breed, or to show. I just wanted a quality male
and followed BCA and AKC guidelines, which she is on!!! So, obviously, that doesn't mean much. Now, I'm not
even sure he will live...vet says it's either Kennel Cough or Distemper. I'm not having fun, so you can stop
shaking your head.
I can...
Sebastian was diagnosed with a grade 3 heart murmur at the same age. BUT, my breeder found it before I picked him and called me about it. Her vet assured her it was just a murmur and he would probably outgrow it. She gave me her vet's phone number so I could call and talk to her before making my decision to still take him. Obviously, I decided to take him, because like you, I was attached already. After getting him home and having my vet check him out, found out it was more than just a murmur, it was severe pulmonic stenosis (had an echo done at Michigan State), prognosis: doesn't qualify for surgery, so life span extremely shortened. My breeder offered to help pay for part of the medical costs or replace him, and she didn't want him back, I could keep him and get another puppy. That's where Oliver comes in. My breeder is still in contact with me to check on Sebastian and she removed both of his parents from her breeding program so nothing like this ever happens agan. She also found a different vet because she was extremely upset that her vet didn't pick up on how serious it was when I had 3 different vets pick up on it righ away. Sorry your breeder is being such a dirt bag, but the puppy is very lucky to have you.
Kim, Remy Le Beau, Lord Sebastian, and Sir Oliver
Oliver
Did I see you posted that Oliver has a blue eye? I'm glad your breeder has helped you and stayed in contact but she needs to reevaluate her breeding program and the reasons she is breeding. When a breeder has both parents IMO it is a huge red flag, screams BYB all the way. Most of us go outside to find a quality stud dog to breed to, typically at a cost of $1,000 - $2,000 and IMO it is very difficult to find the right dog. Blue eyes come from a recessive gene and those parents should also be removed from her breeding program or she needs to do a great deal of study to determine where the problem is.
Thank you
for your compassion. I only wanted a healthy male dog. These breeeders that are in it for the money
should be... well, you get it.
Well I hope
you don't go down the path of this person you got this puppy from. Obviously she is not an ethical breeder. She should have known the puppy had a heart murmur. The puppy should have had a well puppy exam from a qualified vet at 7 weeks, prior to ever being placed in your home and a copy of that exam should have been provided to you. Also no one can tell if a 9 week old puppy is show materiel or breeding material, no reputable breeder would sell a puppy for breeding purposes. My puppies are sold on limited registration (No breeding/showing rights) unless they are the litter pick and sold to a home that is actively showing. Once the show potential puppy has reached an age to be evaluated for show then the limited registration can be lifted. Only After age 2 and the dog has succesfully been evaluated by qualified breeders/judges to determine if the dog is of quality to be used in a breeding oprogram. Also health and temperment needs to be evaluated over time. Many health issues will show up as the dog ages.
Seems like alot of our new puppy owners on this forum are getting involved with people (I can't refer to them as breeders) who are puppy millers and not breeding quality dogs. You are the 3rd person recently with a puppy with heart problems.
Please do your homework when looking for reputable breeders.
I've had Bulldogs for 15yrs, have shown for 7 years and had my first litter almost a year ago. I'm shaking my head at someone who buys a 9 week old puppy to use for stud.
I am truly sorry that this is your first experience. Keep us
informed on how he is doing. Give him lots of hugs.
Thanks for
your kind words and support. He will be tested in a couple of weeks. I will!!! You are not full of yourself like
other feedback above. Thank you!!