Labradoodle puppy

[Elsa1]

Hi
I have a 9 week old labradoodle puppy called Daisy. Yesterday she had 3 ‘seizures’ foaming at the mouth, shaking & loss of bladder control. All lasted less than a couple of minutes. She’s presently under observation in the emergency vets. I am worried sick- although she’s only been with us for1 week, she’s already a much loved member of our family & is a real character. I insured her but the 1st14 days are excluded. I’m so worried that I’m not going to be able to afford the costs of vet treatment & tests but have no option but to try & provide the best care for her

 

[JoanneF]

Sorry, I have nothing helpful but you should tell her breeder. If any of the other pups have had problems, they need to know.

 

[Elsa1]

I certainly will be doing - just waiting for further info from vet - puppy is still in their care.

 

[excuseme]

Hello,
I'm just wondering where you live! Thinking of what plants she may have tried eating or even testing a poisonous animal

 

[Elsa1]

She has been very interested in all our garden plants & has persistently tried to chew them & eat leaves. We’ve barricaded everything off but we had wondered if she’d eaten something toxic & mentioned it to the vets last night.

 

[excuseme]

An episodic disorder that that may be a form of focal motor seizure has been commonly recognised in Labrador retrievers and other breeds (especially retriever crosses and poodles)
This disorder has been variable called atypical epilepsy, paroxysmal dyskinesia, orepsodic dyskinesia.

I wonder if either of the parents had any DNA health testing done for known hereditary problems in these two breeds
.
I do hope you can find a reasonable answer to your puppies problem.

.

 

[JudyN]

I really hope you have a good outcome. Do please let us know how she gets on - fingers and toes crossed for her.

 

[Elsa1]

Thanks for that info. I’m still waiting to hear from the vet so no diagnosis as yet. I will then contact the breeder when I have a definitive diagnosis. I’m obviously worried to bits & imagining worst case scenario’s. We may have only had the puppy a week but she’s a little lovey & feels a big part of the family already.

 

[Hemlock]

Hugs. I hope you have good news.

 

[Elsa1]

Not good news so far - vets think she has a malfunctioning liver - liver shunt. She’s had further blood tests today to try & confirm the diagnosis. If this test comes back positive then she’ll need an ultrasound scan, then possibly an mri scan then probably surgery to try to correct the problem. All of which is adding up to a massive vet bill of around £5 to £8k!
The vet today has said we may be able to bring her home this evening provided she remains seizure free - she’s now on anti seizure medication - while we wait for results of the latest blood test which may not come back until Monday.
All very worrying & distressing as when I’ve researched the condition they suspect she has, the surgery is very tricky & not always successful & she may end up on a lifetime of medication & restricted diet.
I have been in touch with the breeder to advise her what’s happened so that she can let the other puppies new owners know but quite frankly she seems out of her depth & has now admitted that the sire is not KC registered - I have been asking for his details since before we brought the puppy home last week. With the benefit of hindsight I feel let down & a victim of an ill informed/equipped ‘hobby’ breeder. Despite her offering a lifetime of support in her advert - I know feel this was an empty promise.
My poor little puppy probably has a very tough few weeks ahead of her & I’m feeling very upset.

 

[Flobo]

So, so sad to hear all this A really heart breaking and worrying time for you all...everything crossed also that little Daisy pulls through, thinking of you all x

 

[JoanneF]

I’m sorry to have to add this but you need to be practical. I mean this kindly, I’m saying the things you don’t want to think about; but it is important that you do, to weigh up everything properly.

First, it is possible that your insurance won’t cover this, unless the puppy came to you with insurance. If it does cover treatment (and that isn’t guaranteed if they treat it as pre-existing from birth) changing insurers in the future will mean anything related won’t be covered.

In law, dogs are treated like property (e.g. a kitchen appliance) so you might have a claim against the breeder for faulty goods. I know you have bonded with this puppy but it can only have been a week. Being detached, and objective, I can say this - think seriously about returning her. There are plenty of healthy puppies out there.

I wouldn’t fret about the sire’s paperwork. KC registration is only about ancestry, nothing to do with health or quality, and you can’t register your puppy in any case as she is a crossbreed.

I’m sorry to say these things but it is important for you to weigh up all the factors at play. I wish you and your puppy well, whatever you choose to do. Please keep us updated.

 

[JudyN]

My heart goes out to you. I really hope you have more positive news soon xx

 

[Elsa1]

I’m sorry to have to add this but you need to be practical. I mean this kindly, I’m saying the things you don’t want to think about; but it is important that you do, to weigh up everything properly.

First, it is possible that your insurance won’t cover this, unless the puppy came to you with insurance. If it does cover treatment (and that isn’t guaranteed if they treat it as pre-existing from birth) changing insurers in the future will mean anything related won’t be covered.

In law, dogs are treated like property (e.g. a kitchen appliance) so you might have a claim against the breeder for faulty goods. I know you have bonded with this puppy but it can only have been a week. Being detached, and objective, I can say this - think seriously about returning her. There are plenty of healthy puppies out there.

I wouldn’t fret about the sire’s paperwork. KC registration is only about ancestry, nothing to do with health or quality, and you can’t register your puppy in any case as she is a crossbreed.

I’m sorry to say these things but it is important for you to weigh up all the factors at play. I wish you and your puppy well, whatever you choose to do. Please keep us updated.

I’m sorry to have to add this but you need to be practical. I mean this kindly, I’m saying the things you don’t want to think about; but it is important that you do, to weigh up everything properly.

First, it is possible that your insurance won’t cover this, unless the puppy came to you with insurance. If it does cover treatment (and that isn’t guaranteed if they treat it as pre-existing from birth) changing insurers in the future will mean anything related won’t be covered.

In law, dogs are treated like property (e.g. a kitchen appliance) so you might have a claim against the breeder for faulty goods. I know you have bonded with this puppy but it can only have been a week. Being detached, and objective, I can say this - think seriously about returning her. There are plenty of healthy puppies out there.

I wouldn’t fret about the sire’s paperwork. KC registration is only about ancestry, nothing to do with health or quality, and you can’t register your puppy in any case as she is a crossbreed.

I’m sorry to say these things but it is important for you to weigh up all the factors at play. I wish you and your puppy well, whatever you choose to do. Please keep us updated.

 

[Elsa1]

Thanks for all the helpful advice. We have already asked the breeder to consider giving us a contribution towards the vets bills - she is going to discuss it with her husband & get back to us - but I suspect unless we pursue it & take a stronger stance we won’t hear from her.
On a brighter note, the puppy has been stable all day & the vets are letting us bring her home (on anti seizure meds) tonight while we wait for the latest blood results. No point paying unnecessary vet fees for another night in the hospital.
Its just a waiting game now.
I get that we’ve only had her a week & I think I could harden myself to return her to the breeder if that becomes an option but I rather suspect it will be an uphill struggle.

 

[JoanneF]

If it gets to that stage, there is a solicitor who specialises in dog law.

Trevor Cooper at www.doglaw.co.uk

 

[RGC]

You have my best wishes. You’re going through an ordeal which you don’t deserve and my heart goes out to Daisy. Hope things get better for both of you.

 

[Hemlock]

It would be worth you getting in touch with the Deerhound breeders' group. Liver shunt is endemic in the Scottish Deerhound, and they have a lot of useful information to share. Might help you with the decision-making.

My thoughts are with you.

 

[Elsa1]

Many thanks for this useful info - still waiting for final test results then will be able to move forward.

 

[Elsa1]

Update - bile absorption blood tests came back normal. Still in the dark as to what caused the seizures. Good news is that she’s not had any furthe seizures since we stopped the medication on Sunday. I’m left feeling mystified & a little uneasy as to what her future health may be.